The NAB Sending Church Cohort has just finished its third year, and the fruit should encourage us all in the NAB family.
This cohort is designed to provide networking and learning to leaders from any church in the process of or exploring sending out a church planter or revitalizer.
Each year, the cohort meets twice in two different NAB churches actively multiplying, with the goal of learning from leaders on the ground at those host churches.
This fall in Edmonton, Alberta, was our second gathering of the cohort, led by Jeremy Putz, lead pastor at Central Baptist Church.
As Jeremy told the story of Central’s multiplication journey, two beautiful emphases came up again and again:
1. Desperate Corporate Prayer
Just about every time God called Central into something new (or stopped them from something new), it came out of a season of desperate prayer – whether it was 41-day, church-wide prayer efforts, the Leadership Council praying together at potential sites, or prayer walks through communities. The goal each time was to discern God’s activity and then chase after where he seems to be at work – a concept central to the NAB’s own missional/formational heart.
2. Communal/Team Discernment and Engagement
So many of Central’s stories of significant movement have an underpinning of communal discernment – church leaders routinely seeking the wisdom of elderly leaders, teams praying and listening together, or even the form all Central congregants are encouraged to fill out regularly to report what they sense God is saying to them and the church.
There is a deep conviction underneath it all that discerning God’s activity is not simply the work of the lead pastor. Our thanks go out to Jeremy Putz and Central and their willingness to open up their story – the wins, mistakes, lessons, and convictions underneath it all – and for the quality of conversation among those who attended.
Group discussions are core to the Sending Church Cohort, and we workshop next steps together. Each cohort is generally 10–15 people who meet for a fruitful 24 hours together twice a year, ideally once in the US and once in Canada.
Planning is already underway for our first of the two 2027 cohort gatherings. This first stop will take place March 3–4 at Crosspointe Christian Church in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, where we will learn from their journey and the new planter, Charles Getz from Redemption Church. Details for our second gathering in the fall of 2027 are still in development, but we hope to be back in Alberta.
Is your church actively multiplying or exploring it for the future? If so, this cohort is for you. Find out more by emailing Stu Streeter.
With this year’s Advent, we are trying something new. For the first time ever, we will be printing the Advent devotionals in a booklet, making it easier for you to take part in the devotionals together as a congregation, Bible study, or small group.
For those who have signed up to receive the devotional emails, we will still be sending them as usual, as well as posting them on the NAB website, but the physical booklet will allow you to go to that special place of connection with the Lord with no screens to distract you.
If you are interested in receiving a physical copy of the devotionals, the best way to get one is to make sure you are on the list to receive the NAB’s free, bi-annual magazine, Onward; a free copy of this year’s Advent devotionals will be bundled with every copy.
Want to sign up? Today is the last day to fill out the form at the link below to make sure you get added to the mailing list in time!
Churches, we also have slides and bulletin inserts you can down to promote this year’s Advent at your church, as well as a form to sign up to receive copies for your own use (with a suggested donation of $2 for every copy requested). Use the link below to find the resources or sign up for extra copies.
The deadline to sign up extra copies of the devotional for your small groups or welcome tables is also today!
advent resources and extra copies
The 2026/2027 cohort of Blue Ocean is now accepting applications.
Blue Ocean is a transformative one-year learning experience. You’ll be part of a cohort that journeys together throughout the year, exploring what it means to join God on mission, be formed into the character of Christ, and dwell in your neighborhood – sharing and living out the Gospel. This program includes three in-person learning modules, each held in a different location across the US and Canada.
Participants come from across North America, each of whom serve in leadership roles at NAB churches of varying sizes and ministry styles. Our modules are thoughtfully designed to integrate teaching, conversation, hands-on activities, shared experiences, and meals, creating a holistic and immersive experience.
The first module meets in Vancouver, British Columbia, October 20–23, 2026.
Find out more about Blue Ocean on the NAB website. You can also reach out to Deb Judas with any questions.
The next NAB Gateway FUSE trip is happening next summer, July 27–August 10 in the Philippines.
For decades, Gateway has led short-term mission teams that consisted of people from multiple churches brought together on a single team, which is why we call them FUSE Teams. These teams typically have have members from across North America and beyond (we’ve had FUSE Team members come from as far and wide as South Korea and Singapore).
This FUSE trip will be partnering with the Bicol Center for Christian leadership, led by NAB missionaries Claire and Tim Marker. Find out more about the various ministries they lead at BCCL.
If you will be age 17 to mid-20s by July 2027 and interested in learning firsthand what international mission work is all about, we invite you to apply for this FUSE trip. Applications are now open.