By Randy Schmor
NAB Gateway Director
If you read Drew Steinhart’s article a few weeks ago, I hope you have been thinking, “How could my church be a part of a sister-church partnership?” In a number of ways, Drew laid out the beautiful things that characterize the opportunity a sister-church partnership can provide in close, cross-cultural relationships with brothers and sisters you get to know, serve alongside, and discover global mission together with.
Gateway officially introduced the idea of sister-church partnership to the NAB family at the 2012 Triennial in Orlando, Florida, though we had introduced them to churches in the years prior as opportunities for leaders and pastors of churches to investigate long-term, cross-cultural, mutual relationships with a church/ministry internationally. It starts with hosting and inviting NAB Gateway to facilitate a four-hour Sister-Church Partnership Orientation. There your church leadership will discover sister-church partnerships to be a process of seeing how missional/Kingdom theology, global church identity, mutual relationship building toward partnership, and collaborative mission are designed to come together in partnerships that have the chance to endure for many years.
You’ll also discover that NAB Gateway has sister-church partnerships in a variety of countries and settings, with many different ministry and missional objectives that each sister-church partnership has agreed to collaborate on. Take short-term mission teams, for example. We have found these are best done within a sister-church partnership context where a long-term relationship influences what the teams will do. It is within these long-term relationships where both partners discover that mission trips are but one aspect, among many, of a thriving partnership. . . .
find out more about sister-church partnerships
Eastertide is the season in the Christian calendar following Resurrection Sunday and running up to Pentecost Sunday. In the life of the disciples, these days were a time of change as they came to understand the true meaning of the cross and the empty tomb. The resurrection forever changed them; for them, it was not merely an event, but an ongoing transformational life – one shaped and powered by the Holy Spirit for the sake of the Kingdom, one that must be practiced every single day.
Starting April 8 and ending on May 24, Pentecost Sunday, the Missional Initiatives Team is sending out a 21-day Eastertide devotional series, releasing new devotionals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This special devotional series will help us lean into the same Resurrection Way the disciples learned to live.
If you are interested in receiving these devotionals, simply sign up below and select the box for the devotionals. Those who are already receiving the daily Lent devotionals will need to sign up for these separately, as they are sent out by the Missional Initiatives Team.
Sign up for the eastertide devotionals
This year, we are streamlining Bonfire in a way we hope reflects its purpose. There will be two main evening sessions for the entire group, including dinner, fellowship, worship, and unified speakers. During the days, each attendee will join their specific group gathering, or Ministry Track – Multipliers Summit, MAT, Missional Alumni, etc. – to engage with each other.
This year, based on much feedback, we are streamlining this event in a way we hope reflects this purpose. Bonfire will now be the name we use to refer to the overarching event, the main umbrella under which these various gatherings of NAB leaders meet. 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 Alumni, etc. – to engage with each other.
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.
Bonfire is May 5–8, 2026, in Medina, Ohio.
The deadline to register is April 15!
Additionally, if you want to get the cheapest hotel rate, you will need to book ASAP, as the group rate expires soon!
A few weeks back, we held our ninth Fit Assessment. These few days together with potential church planters, church revitalizers, and international missionaries are intended to help each candidate and couple discern together their best next step in ministry. Our February Fit Assessment was in Roseville, California, hosted by Grace Collective Church – a church whose pastor went through Fit Assessment exactly one year prior.
Already we are looking ahead to the next Fit Assessment in Edmonton, Alberta, at the end of May. If you are or know anyone interested in even just dipping a toe in what it would mean to plant or revitalize a church or serve as an international missionary, we guarantee these few days will provide you a clear picture of your strengths are and what skills you will need to sharpen, as well as tangible steps to take as you follow God where he is leading.
To learn more or apply, follow the link below.