The following was first published in the September edition of the Missional Initiatives Newsletter. We are reprinting it here to invite any who are interested in joining the informational Zoom meeting on January 30 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific), linked below.
By Dr. Luke Miller
Pastor at Sunrise Community Church in Sacramento, California, & Member of the NAB Missional Initiatives teaching team
In 2006, Sara and I stepped off a plane in Tel Aviv and made our way to our new home in Jerusalem, where we would spend the next three years. Coming from a small town of 500 in Saskatchewan, we found ourselves on the other side of the planet for school. Those three years were transformative, filled with friendships that have lasted and moments where the Bible came to life like never before. We had countless visitors join us as we gave tours of Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.
One of our greatest joys was witnessing the same spiritual transformation in others as they stood where Jesus taught and read Matthew 5–7, walked the Valley of Elah where David and Goliath battled, or spent a Sabbath praying in front of the Temple Mount. Passages they had studied their whole lives experienced a renaissance in their own spiritual formation. At the early part of the 20th century, Herman Gunkel introduced the phrase Sitz im Volksleben or ‘setting in the life of the people,’ which later evolved into the widely known Sitz im Leben, meaning ‘situation in life.’
While I hope you’re impressed by my recall of academic German, these concepts are what truly bring the Scriptures to life for those visiting Israel. Understanding how the first readers of The Word understood Jesus’s teachings gives us great insight into his ministry and work. At the NAB, we’ve worked hard to train pastors and church leaders to understand the context of their neighborhoods and discern how God is using them and the local church. Our Blue Ocean training helps pastors over the course of a year to discern what a church on mission with God looks like in their own Sitz im Leben.
The NAB has a deep commitment to training pastors and churches to see them succeed in their ministry context. This is one of the reasons why I am thrilled to announce NAB Study Tours. . . .
If you are interested in finding out more about NAB Study Tour: Israel 2025, we’re hosting an informational Zoom meeting on January 30 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific). Simply click on the link below to register for the meeting to learn all about this amazing opportunity!
NAB Study Tour Registration and Details
Every year, we invite every NAB church to set aside the Sunday before Palm Sunday as Spring Missions Sunday, a day to share stories of what God is up to through and raise money for NAB International Missions.
This year, Spring Mission Sunday is scheduled for April 6, 2025.
The resources are still in the process of being put together, but you can visit springmissions.com to find the resources once they available. You can also request custom resources for your church by clicking the link below. (Please make sure your request is made by March 16, 2025, to allow us time to get them to you.)
Every spring for the last number of years, leaders from across the NAB have been gathering together in Chicago, Illinois, for a week of events that have proven themselves to be crucial touchpoints within the NAB. These events include:
- Blue Ocean (April 27–29) – Part of a year-long cohort, this third and final gathering focuses on Becoming a Missional People.
- Year of Equipping (April 27–29) – Part of a new cohort of emerging leaders in the NAB, this final in-person gathering will be joining with Blue Ocean.
- Multipliers Summit (April 28–30) – This gathering of the NAB Multipliers Community is all about the soul care of the multiplier couple.
- Bonfire (April 29–May 1) – This is an annual reunion of NAB leaders who have given themselves to joining God on mission in their various contexts.
In addition to these groups, other groups, such as the Missions Advisory Team, the NAB Governing Board, and EYELET, will also be meeting during this week.
Whether you come to one group or a handful, registration for all the events will take place through a single portal. Just click on the link below to find out more details and register.
(Cost varies depending on the events you attend and whether you pay by USD or CND.)
Every three years, middle and high school students from across the NAB come together in Orange County for an experience unlike any other. For five jam-packed days, students hear from gifted speakers, sing praises to God, dive into the Word, engage in service projects, and interact with others from across Canada and the US.
The Gathering takes places July 13–18, 2025.
Payments can be made online or by check (just be sure the envelope is dated by January 10). If you need help getting started with planning, training, or fundraising, or you are just looking for promotional videos, click on The Gathering Info.