Three Questions is a semi-regular series introducing individuals across the NAB by asking them about their story, their ministry, and what they are learning. These features on members of our NAB family also provide great opportunities to pray for them as we get to know more of their story. This week, we hear from John Cassidy, the lead pastor at Hope Community Church in Antelope, California.
What’s your story?
I was born in Sacramento, California, and raised in Citrus Heights. As a young adult, I moved all over the greater Sacramento area—living in fourteen different places over five years. That season made me love this area even more and helped shape my heart for the communities that call it home.
I grew up in a Christian family. After witnessing a miracle, my parents moved from a Catholic background into a Pentecostal church, and I was brought along. Early on, my understanding of faith was more fear than grace. I was terrified of hell and repeatedly asked Jesus into my heart, hoping I could somehow stay out of trouble with God. As a teenager, I walked away from Jesus altogether. I didn’t understand grace—only failure—and I lived for years believing God was done with me.
When I was 20, something finally clicked. I realized that even though I had walked away from God, he hadn’t walked away from me. For the first time, I began to understand grace—not something I earned, but something freely given. That realization changed everything. I turned back to Jesus, and I’ve been following him ever since.
A few years later, while attending a prayer retreat, I sensed a clear call from God into full-time ministry. I was so certain that I went home and put in my two weeks’ notice at my job—young, unprepared, and without a clear plan. God used that season to teach me dependence and obedience. I served wherever I could, volunteering in youth ministry and prayer gatherings. Three months later, I was hired part time at a Christian school, and shortly after that, the church I was serving stepped out in faith and hired me full time as the Middle School ministry director. That season taught me that God doesn’t wait until you feel ready—he teaches you on the way. . . .
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.
We invite every NAB church to join in the 2026 Spring Missions Sunday, March 29, by praying intentionally for the nations and by giving generously to the Global Missions Fund. 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.
For the past few weeks, we have highlighted the speakers for the various groups, including the speakers for Multipliers Summit and Missional Alumni; this week, we are pleased to announce the speakers for the evening sessions of Bonfire:
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.
The NAB has begun the search process to find the person God has set aside for us as our next CFO.
The CFO provides overall financial leadership and management for the International Office of the North American Baptist Conference, ensuring faithful stewardship of resources that advance the NAB’s mission to make disciples, develop godly leaders, and multiply churches across North America. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the CFO oversees financial strategy, operations, and ministry support functions with excellence, integrity, and a commitment to the NAB’s Gospel-centered purpose.
To see the full job description and how to apply, click on the link below. (The CFO position can be worked either remotely or from the NAB office in Roseville, California.)