Table of Life Church in Easton, Pennsylvania, is one of the newest NAB church plants. For more than a month now, Pastor Zach McAlack has been writing a series of posts on their website that we think will encourage and challenge you.
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When I first stepped into student ministry, I didn’t have a title. I wasn’t pastor, director, just me. But what I had was a group of teenagers, a church that welcomed me in, and the free time of an emerging adult. I wasn’t tasked with programming or preaching regularly. I wasn’t writing lesson plans or organizing events. Mostly, I just spent time with teenagers. I listened. I asked questions. I laughed a lot. The early years at New Hope Community Church, Davisville Church, and Highland Park Presbyterian Church shaped my understanding of what it means to be called. As I was trying to make sense of my own walk with Jesus, these students trusted me and allowed me to walk through life with them. They taught me how to care for people: 10-year-old Emily going through radiation treatment for her brain tumor, Cade going home everyday to an empty house, Cooper developing epilepsy, Adam and Freddy fearing their parents’ divorce. Each of these taught me pastoral care by allowing me to love and support them.
My sense of vocation started long before I had anything resembling a formal ministry job. I wasn’t being “useful” in any measurable way. There were no spreadsheets, sermon archives, or performance reviews. What I was doing—though I couldn’t have named it then—was pastoring. I was simply present with students, walking with them, praying with them, paying attention to what God might be doing in their lives. And in that simplicity, I felt alive. I began to realize: this is what I am here for. . . .
This past July, 230 students descended on Orange County, California, for six days to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they served with local nonprofits as part of The Gathering.
While all who attended The Gathering contributed to the cost of putting on such a massive undertaking, much of the expense was offset by the Ministry Resource Fund. This all-purpose fund is crucial for ongoing ministries across the North American Baptist Conference.
When you give to the 2025 Fall Offering, you are actively supporting ministry opportunities like The Gathering, as well as others like Blue Ocean, Year of Equipping, and much, much more. You can read more about what took place at The Gathering, as well as discover ways to give, by following the link below.
In addition to giving to the Fall Offering, we invite every NAB church to take a Thanksgiving offering in support of the Ministry Resource Fund. When you click on the link below, you will find slides, videos, bulletin inserts, and more, all designed to help you promote the 2025 Fall Offering during your service.
The season of Advent is nearly upon us, and with it comes the annual NAB Advent devotionals. Check out the description below, and if you aren’t already signed up to receive these daily devotionals, you can do so at the link below.
Like a Child: The 2025 NAB Advent Devotionals
Advent is a season of looking back while looking forward. We remember the birth of Jesus – and all that led up to it and came after – which took place during this period when the people of Israel were waiting expectantly for the arrival (advent) of the Messiah. We look ahead to the second coming, or arrival, of Christ, when he will usher in the fullness of his Kingdom and bring full restoration to all creation.
Both backward and forward. One eye on the past while the other remains here in the present pointed toward the future.
With this duality in mind, join with churches and individuals across the NAB as we step into the nativity story this year, looking both backward – seeing how God became like a child for our sake – and toward the present and future – examining how Jesus calls us to become like children so that we might enter into his Kingdom in preparation for his return.
All twenty-six devotionals (November 30 through December 25) will be made available to download and share with your church or small group beginning November 20. You can also sign up to receive them in your inbox each day through the link below.
sign up for advent devotionals
The Fall 2025 edition of Onward is out now! If you live in the US, it should have already reached you; for those in Canada, we have been told it will be mailed tomorrow, so you should see it soon!
This newest issue is all about emerging leaders, with a special focus on The Gathering from this past summer. Nearly every piece of this issue focuses on the world of emerging leaders, those younger generations in our churches who are poised to lead, or already doing so.
If you haven’t already received your free copy of Onward in the mail and would like to stay abreast of the news, stories, and updates from the NAB family, you can follow the sign-up link below to be added to the mailing list.