By C. J. Tubig
Pastor of Children’s Ministry and Community Outreach, Grace Baptist Church in Calgary, Alberta
About two months ago, a group of emerging leaders from NAB Conference churches gathered in Detroit, Michigan, as part of the Year of Equipping Emerging Leader Cohort. While we had spent months meeting over Zoom, this marked only the second time we were together in person. We gathered not only to learn more about the Father but to deepen our relationships with one another.
Over the past few months, we have read various books and articles, listened to different voices, and engaged in meaningful discussions. More than that, we have also practiced what it means to abide in the Spirit of God, dwelling in his presence and Word and asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding. While learning from others is an important part of leadership and our journey with Jesus, I believe true formation by the Holy Spirit matters even more.
As we continue this journey together—learning about God in community, rediscovering his grace for us and the world, and responding to his call to love beyond the walls of the church—I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and joy in what the next few months will bring.
During our time together at a retreat centre in Detroit, I was amazed by the beauty of God’s creation and was reminded of the beauty of the Creator himself. To behold the beauty of God is a gift I may never fully comprehend, but to do so alongside others makes it especially meaningful. In this cohort, I have found a community that looks to God with awe and seeks to love those around them—walking with others not perfectly but with faithfulness and grace.
To anyone prayerfully considering this cohort in the years ahead, I would encourage you to take the leap, even if you feel uncertain or not quite ready. Often, it is in those very places of hesitation that God meets us most tenderly. Trust him with your yes and know that in this community you will find not only leaders who teach but people who will walk beside you as you grow in understanding God’s heart and his mission.
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If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about Year of Equipping or taking part in the next cohort when it kicks off in the fall, reach out to Wayne Stapleton, VP of Emerging Leader Engagement.
Spring Missions Sunday is March 29.
We invite every NAB church to join in by praying intentionally for the nations and by giving generously to the Global Missions Fund as part of the 2026 Spring Missions Offering.
Even as God continues to work powerfully through the faithfulness of NAB missionaries and partners, there remain large portions of the world with little or no access to the Gospel. The kind of mission work to build this access does not happen quickly, and it cannot happen alone. It requires patient discernment, deep dependence on prayer, and long term commitment through the local church. That is why the NAB’s Global Missions Fund remains essential. While individual missionaries are supported through partnering churches and personal networks, the Global Missions Fund provides the shared foundation that allows NAB International Missions to send, support, and care for workers with wisdom and faithfulness for the long haul.
To find out more about the 2026 Spring Missions Offering, you can visit SpringMissions.com or follow the links below.
Bonfire 2026 registration is open! This year, Bonfire will be taking place in Medina, Ohio, May 5–8, 2026.
This year, we are streamlining this event in a way we hope reflects this purpose. There will be two main evening sessions for the entire group, including dinner, fellowship, worship, and a unified speaker. During the days, each attendee will join their specific group gathering, or Ministry Track – Multipliers Summit, MAT, Missional Initiatives alum, etc. – to engage with each other.
The evening speakers for Bonfire will be NAB pastors Doug Kempton from Detroit, Michigan, and Rev. Rob Cripps, from Toronto, Ontario. During the day, those attending Multipliers Summit will hear from Jeremy and Monica Chambers, while those in the Missional Alumni track will be spending time with Alan Roxburgh.
It is our hope that Bonfire 2026 will serve you, equip you, and encourage you in ways both specific to your individual group but also in broad ways as a vital member of our conference of churches.
A few weeks back, we held our ninth Fit Assessment. These few days together with potential church planters, church revitalizers, and international missionaries are intended to help each candidate and couple discern together their best next step in ministry. Our February Fit Assessment was in Roseville, California, hosted by Grace Collective Church – a church whose pastor went through Fit Assessment exactly one year prior.
Already we are looking ahead to the next Fit Assessment in Edmonton, Alberta, at the end of May. If you are or know anyone interested in even just dipping a toe in what it would mean to plant or revitalize a church or serve as an international missionary, we guarantee these few days will provide you a clear picture of your strengths are and what skills you will need to sharpen, as well as tangible steps to take as you follow God where he is leading.
To learn more or apply, follow the link below.