By Wayne Stapleton
VP of Cross-Cultural Engagement and Emerging Leader Engagement
Hope is confident expectation of future good, rooted in the character and power of God to keep the promises he has made. Biblical hope is not merely focused on the future; it drives our present actions, informs our current prayers, shapes our vision of what God is doing now. It is this same hope that gives us cause to be excited and hopeful for the future of the NAB because God is doing a good thing in our conference now among our younger leaders. He has blessed our conference of churches with many thoughtful, faith-filled young people who are leading now and will be leading our conference for years to come.
When Cam and I began outlining how the Year of Equipping would work, our emphasis began with the teaching. This cohort of emerging leaders has a similar rhythm to Blue Ocean: we teach on the missional identity of God, our formation as we join him on mission, and what it looks like in community. We planned readings, we structured sessions where the emerging leaders would not just be receivers of teaching but also processors and, in some cases, facilitate discussion themselves. We wanted the experience to be well-rounded and deeply engaging.
And yet I also hoped that a significant by-product of this cohort would be relational. As I reached out to the various candidates about this time last year, I wondered about how they would interact, I dreamed about NAB bonds being forged across regions and nations, and I prayed that the learning would be in community beyond the scope of the material alone – that they would also learn about themselves and each other.
As we wrap up Year 1, our goals are being realized. The participants have shared with us how much they have appreciated the conversations and the readings. We have heard how their experiences in the Year of Equipping have shaped their ministries. We see great friendships forming, connections that will season and guide their ministries in the NAB in the years and decades to come.
We are so thankful that God has been moving through this cohort: in the video calls we take from our various ministry sites or homes, as well as the in-person meetings in which we have gotten to know one another, learn, and have fun together. While we cannot predict the future, we can say with certainty that we have just scratched the surface on the amazing resources God has given to our churches in the form of our younger leaders in the NAB. Their insight; their love of the Lord, his Word, and his mission; and their openness to be challenged and to grow has been amazing. As Year 1 draws to a close, we celebrate what God has been doing in and through this group, and we plan Year 2 with great hopefulness.
If you are or know a twenty-something leader in your church, we welcome you to apply for the Year 2 cohort using the link below. The deadline to apply is June 20.
Apply for Year of Equipping: Year 2
The April edition of MIT Monthly, the Missional Initiatives newsletter, arrived in email inboxes last week, and, as always, it is full of stories, resources, and practices to help and encourage you as you seek what God is up to in your neighborhood and join him on mission.
This month’s newsletter includes a reflection from Matt Styles on how his limited experience in birdwatching has helped him as he seeks to discern God’s presence and work in the world, a story from Shane Durnell on how his one-year-old is a better missionary than he is, and two resources to aid you on your missional journey: a podcast from Geoff Holsclaw and David Fitch and a book on farming. It also includes a teaser for something new in the Missional Initiatives world; you will just need to check out the newsletter to see exactly what that is.
Check Out the April Newsletter
Every three years, youth, young adults, and leaders from across the NAB come together in Orange County, California, for an experience unlike any other. The Gathering is a week of of powerful worship, impactful service projects, and tons of fun. The next Gathering is taking place July 2025.
If your groups has registered, or plans to register, the deadline for final payment is May 12, 2025, which can be made via the NAB online platform or by mail. (Please notify us if you have mailed payments by emailing us youth@nabconf.org.)
