In looking ahead to The Gathering next summer, we thought it would be helpful to share the experiences of someone who has led a group from their church as part of a previous Gathering.
By Kyle Substad
Youth and Family Pastor
Faith Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MinnesotaI brought a group of twelve students from our Minneapolis church to The Gathering in 2022 and was extremely blessed by the intentionality of the entire week. The Gathering is a balanced blend of mission trip and youth conference, giving students a space to connect with Jesus and a space to spread his love, for fun and transformation, to focus on spiritual growth and foster deeper relationships, for students to use their God-given gifts and step into situations outside their comfort zones. What more could a youth pastor hope for in a week-long experience?
One of the beautiful things about The Gathering is that its impact extends beyond the trip itself. Students are challenged to think through what it might look like for them to live on mission in their contexts as they return home. The Gathering gives students an opportunity to recognize how they have been “blessed to be a blessing” in their families, schools, neighborhoods, and churches. I see The Gathering not simply as a mission trip but as a launching point for a life of mission.
How Can We Afford This?
One of the biggest hindrances in sending a group to The Gathering is the price tag. After adding up the conference fee, transportation, and a handful of other costs, the price may seem a bit daunting! However, through efforts like low-prep fundraisers and support letters, our church has put together a fundraising plan with the goal of helping students raise 75% of their total cost, making the per-student price of the trip very feasible – cheaper than any summer camp! Check out a sample of our Payment Schedule as well as our How to Pay document detailing the efforts being made to reduce the out-of-pocket cost.
How Can We Get Students/Parents on Board?
Consider hosting a twenty-minute parent/student informational meeting sometime in the next month. Highlight specific details about the trip, share fundraising plans, show some of the promo videos, and try to paint a picture of what the students’ experience will be like. This will help foster excitement for the trip and help ease any parent/student concerns about the unknown.
Parents want clear communication regarding cost, as that is often the biggest barrier. Put together a detailed, estimated budget for the entire trip (conference fees, transportation cost, extra meals, a fun day, etc.). Communicate clearly with parents when payments are due and what the plan is to make the cost more manageable.
All this planning takes work. Budgeting takes work. Coordinating fundraisers takes work. But the benefits of prioritizing The Gathering next summer makes the work well worth it!
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 – Part of a year-long cohort, this third and final gathering focuses on Becoming a Missional People.
- Year of Equipping – Part of a new cohort of emerging leaders in the NAB, this final in-person gathering will be joining with Blue Ocean.
- Multipliers Summit – This gathering of the NAB Multipliers Community is all about the soul care of the multiplier couple.
- Bonfire – 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. Not only that, but registration is now open! 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.)
When God took on flesh and was born to a young couple in the small town of Bethlehem, this was exactly the “pathway through the wilderness,” the “rivers in the dry wasteland” that Isaiah wrote about 700 years prior. God was up to something new in the person of Jesus; he was blazing new trails that would forever alter how mankind would relate with their Creator.
In our desire as the NAB to continue growing as people of God, following where he leads, we, too, have begun a new thing. The Year of Equipping is a new cohort uniquely designed to reach active members and leaders of our churches who are in their twenties and thirties. This first cohort consists of twelve men and women from five regional associations across the US and Canada. When you give to the Ministry Resource Fund, you are helping, in part, to support the work of engaging and equipping the generation who will continue to serve the Church, and the NAB, for decades to come.
Give to the 2024 Christmas Offering
Due to the Canada Post strike that is currently ongoing, we are unable to receive any Canadian gifts through the mail.
Until the strike has been resolved, we suggest any donations be made through our website: nabconference.org/give. If you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact Briana Eaton at beaton@nabconf.org or 916‑797‑6251. She will be more than happy to assist you.
For US residents, other than USPS putting a hold on all mail to Canada, mailing has not been impacted by the strike, so you can continue to send your gifts as normal.
As you consider donating to the NAB in tax year 2024, here are a few factors to keep in mind to make sure that we are able to give you a tax receipt for calendar year 2024:
- If you are sending a check, please make sure it is dated no later than December 31, 2024, and the envelope is postmarked no later than December 31, 2024.
- Online credit card transactions must be charged and processed no later than December 31, 2024.
- Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) forms must be received at the NAB’s Roseville, California, office no later than December 16, 2024.
- In order to donate stock prior to the end of the year, notification must be received at the NAB’s Roseville, California, office no later than December 10, 2024.
Please note the NAB International Office is closed beginning at 4:00 p.m. (Pacific) on Monday, December 23, 2024, and reopens at 7:00 a.m. (Pacific) on Thursday, January 2, 2025.