There’s so much to celebrate in the NAB Multipliers community this year!
This past spring, we hosted our first-ever Canadian Fit Assessment – a fruitful partnership between the NAB International Office and the Alberta Baptist Association where God’s hand was evident from start to finish. Just last week, Heartland Community Church in Medina, Ohio, opened its doors for another Fit Assessment. Seventeen NAB leaders – including George Johnson, the new Great Lakes Association regional minister – assessed four new couples pursuing God’s call toward church multiplication and international missions.
Now our focus shifts to the second installment of this year’s Sending Church Cohort – an immersive, on-location learning experience that puts the movement back into the hands of the local church and her people. This cohort brings you face-to-face with some of our most gifted multipliers, learning directly from their real-world triumphs and trials.
Our September 16–17 gathering in Prince George, British Columbia, will be hosted by:
- Curtis Reimer – NAB Governing Board Member and lead pastor of College Heights Baptist Church
- Micah Brookhart – Church planter of Garden City Church
Their story is the kind we love in the NAB: former youth pastor and youth group member now serve together as ministry partners. Curtis and College Heights felt called to help plant a church, and Micah sensed God’s call to lead one. Together, they stepped out in faith, and the result is a story every sending church can learn from.
We’re also thrilled to welcome Craig Whitney, founder and president of Multiply, author of The Antioch Way, and a trusted guide in helping churches call, equip, and send planters from within their own congregations.
If your church is ready to explore its next steps in multiplying the reach of the Gospel, this cohort is for you. There are still limited spots available for the September 16–17, 2025, gathering in Prince George, British Columbia. Connect with Stu Streeter, VP of Church Multiplication, at the link below to start a conversation about joining the Sending Church Cohort.
Join the movement – let’s keep multiplying, together.
A few weeks back, the Great Lakes Association announced they had chosen Rev. Dr. George Johnson to take on the role as their new regional minister. Terry Holley, who announced his retirement earlier this year, finishes out at the end of August, and George officially picks up the baton beginning September 1. One of the primary roles of the regional minister for the GLA is to serve as a mentor and coach for the pastors who lead the 26 churches across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and northern Kentucky.
For the past 35 years, George has been pastoring at Hope Community Baptist Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan; he will continue to serve on the pastoral staff there in a part-time capacity while he serves in this new position, also on a part-time basis. George also serves as the vice moderator on the NAB Governing Board, as voted by NAB churches at the 2024 Triennial.
Let us all as the NAB family pray for George and his family as he takes on this new role, as well as Terry Holley and his family as he transitions into what God has next for him.
You can click on the link below to send George your congratulations.
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. We meet three times a year in three different cities across the United States and Canada for multi-day retreats. Blue Ocean includes pastors, leaders, and regional ministers from across the NAB. Each cohort represents a cross-section of regions, church sizes, and ministry styles. The discussions are both encouraging and challenging.
Module 1
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Dates: October 21–24, 2025
Topic: Missional Theology – Joining in with the God of Mission
Module 2
Location: TBD
Dates: February 1–4, 2026
Topic: Missional Formation – Becoming Like Christ
Module 3
Location: Medina, Ohio
Dates: May 5–8, 2026
Topic: A Missional People – Becoming a Sent People
There is no cost for Blue Ocean, though participants are responsible for covering their travel and accommodation costs. All other costs are covered by the NAB.
Sign Up for Blue Ocean 2025/26
While we await the final episode of this season of the NAB Stories podcast, if you have taken the time to listen the podcast this season, would you be kind enough to fill out a survey using the link below? It shouldn’t take more than 3–5 minutes.
And keep your eyes out for news about the next season. There are more podcast episodes to come!