Another USMB Gathering is in the books, and once again I’m heading home encouraged and grateful. I’ve had the privilege of attending the national USMB convention since 2008, and every one has been meaningful in its own way. But this year’s Gathering in Salt Lake City felt especially significant.
One of the first things I noticed was the crowd. It felt younger than ever before. Not only were there more young leaders attending, but this was also the largest number of youth workers I’ve ever seen at a USMB Gathering. As someone who has dedicated his life to the next generation, that was incredibly encouraging. It gave me hope that more churches are investing in raising up young leaders and prioritizing ministry to students.
Speaking of students, I got the chance to attend the workshop, “So I’m Running a Youth Group,” led by Ben Wheeler. There is something refreshing about being in a room full of people who are just as passionate about teenagers as you are. We exchanged ideas, laughed together, and were reminded that while youth ministry can be challenging, we are not doing it alone.
Since we were in Salt Lake City, I also took the opportunity to tour the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Temple Square visitor experience. The renovated visitor center now includes detailed replicas of several rooms found inside their temples and offers visitors a much more open look at practices that were once rarely discussed publicly. Several local MB’s mentioned how much more Jesus-centered the presentation has become compared to years past. The artwork, language, and emphasis on Jesus were certainly noticeable. Yet as I walked through the exhibits, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. It served as a reminder that while the name of Jesus may be spoken often, the biblical gospel is about much more than simply mentioning Him.
The Gathering itself was filled with excellent worship and encouraging teaching. I especially appreciated the messages from AJ Swoboda, whose biblical teaching was both thoughtful and challenging. I’m not a note taker, but I did take some notes in the Whova app. Also, a shout-out to Cody Meyer, who got the overall engagement score with Whova, and I came in a distant second place, but it was fun while we were there.
The business sessions were another highlight. We celebrated encouraging news: baptisms are increasing, our national ministry budget is healthy, and new church plants continue to take root. One evening was dedicated entirely to hearing how God is working through our churches in Utah, and those testimonies were a powerful reminder that God is building His Church in every corner of our conference.
On a personal note, I had the privilege of speaking during one of the main sessions alongside my boss, Andy Owen. Together we taught on leadership development and why it matters, why many churches struggle to prioritize it, and how we can intentionally raise up the next generation of ministry leaders. I wish we had been given more time because there is so much to say on this topic, but I was honored to share my heart and to encourage churches to begin investing in future leaders today, not someday.
There was also an exciting announcement that National Pastors Orientation (NPO) will be expanding its vision and changing its name to Ministry Leaders Orientation (M-LO). The event will return to San Diego in April 2027 with a broader focus on equipping ministry leaders across a variety of roles. I’ll be sharing more information about that opportunity in the coming weeks.
My church took a bunch of staff memembers to this convention so I had travel buddies there and back. It was so much easier with friends. As I came home, I found myself grateful not just for another convention, but for what it represents. God continues to work through the U.S. Mennonite Brethren family. New leaders are emerging. Churches are planting churches. Lives are being changed. And perhaps most encouraging to me, more people than ever seem committed to reaching and discipling the next generation.
I’m already looking forward to wherever the Gathering lands in 2028.
You know I’ll be there.
