Develop new relationships. Deepen old ones. Be intentional. Hear from God. Be refreshed. Be challenged.
These opening remarks from Aaron Box, national director of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, laid the groundwork for Gathering 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Between the Pastors’ Conference (July 21-23) and the National Convention (July 23-25), a total of 281 attendees (adults, children, youth and staff) experienced times of uplifting worship, encouraging messages and a celebration of what God is doing across the country.
Themed “Cultivate: Living on mission with Jesus,” Gathering provided an opportunity to recommit to the great commission to share the hope of Christ with others.
In alignment with the USMB core commitments to disciple others, develop leaders and multiply the church, Box presented a new tagline at Gathering for USMB’s mission: Disciple. Develop. Deploy.
Highlights from the week included:
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- God’s work among USMB churches—especially in Utah over the past two decades
- Powerful messages from USMB pastors and leaders
- Meaningful workshops on sabbath, reaching members of the Latter-day Saints Church, leading a youth group, taking sabbatical, the great commission and more
- Inspirational worship led by Greenhouse Community Church (Saratoga Springs, Utah)
- Affirmation of the reversion clause in the USMB bylaws
- Nearly $22,000 donated and pledged for missions and church planting during the church multiplication celebration on Friday night (seven times the amount from 2024)
Planting, watering, growth
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”—1 Cor. 3:6
With Gathering’s theme verse being 1 Corinthians 3:6, the concepts of planting, watering and growing others showed up in several sessions, especially at the Pastors’ Conference.
Jon Annin shared his experience of working the ground that was struggling to stay alive when he took on the role of lead pastor at Stony Brook Church in Omaha, Nebraska. With about 33 people worshipping when he arrived, the church is now happy and healthy—and has planted another campus in nearby Springfield.
Aaron Halvorsen, lead pastor of Community Bible Church in Olathe, Kansas, continued the theme while discussing how to water seeds of faith that have already been planted. Using a story he wrote for the Christian Leader earlier this year, Halvorsen explained that pastoring what others have planted “doesn’t take genius—just diligence.”
To close the circle, Box encouraged participants to look beyond themselves and work to grow others to continue the work of ministry. He reminded attendees to think about what would survive beyond them—to lean into the idea of becoming disciples who make disciples.
“What would it look like to serve with keeping in mind that I have limited years, and I don’t know when my tenure will end?” Box asked. “We are all temporary workers. We are all interim.”
Swoboda speaks on doubt, being teachable
A.J. Swoboda, author, professor, speaker and pastor from Eugene, Oregon, served as keynote speaker to close the Pastors’ Conference and launch the National Convention.
At the Pastors’ Conference, Swoboda presented “The Way of Thomas: Pastoring people through the theological journey.” Using the story of Thomas doubting the resurrection of Christ, Swoboda unpacked how to walk with individuals through doubt and deconstruction.
Instead of looking down on or judging those who deconstruct or wrestle with doubt, Swoboda encouraged listeners to instead consider these individuals as the future of the church.
“Doubters are not our problems,” Swoboda said. “They’re our future missionaries.”
In the National Convention keynote, Swoboda discussed the virtue of being a teachable person, highlighted in his book A Teachable Spirit: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyone.
“To be a teachable person is actually vulnerable business,” Swoboda said. “To be teachable is to admit there is something you do not know.”
Swoboda added: “The church should be the place where humble learners should thrive.”
Leadership development is a culture
Andy Owen and Kyle Goings of Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas, shared the stage during the National Convention to unpack the results of a recent survey they conducted among USMB pastors and ministry leaders.
After hearing from 34 churches, they reported that while leadership development is generally viewed as important by all ministry leaders, it can be challenging to see progress in this area.
“Leadership development isn’t being ignored,” Goings said. “It’s being postponed.”
One survey respondent said: “You’ve shown me a massive issue at our church. I’m not sure what to do next.”
Owen and Goings reminded attendees that helping people discover God’s calling for their lives is at the heart of leadership development. They encouraged leaders to begin noticing others they could invite into leadership opportunities, start including younger participants (such as high schoolers), create a budget that reflects the priorities of leadership development, empower others to run with projects and programs and consider starting small (with one trustworthy person).
God’s work in Utah
After being in Salt Lake City in 2018, the return of Gathering to Utah in 2026 provided an opportunity to learn about the growth and expansion of Mennonite Brethren churches and campuses across the state, including Greenhouse Community Church, Lakeview Church and South Mountain Community Church.
This growth was underlined by Tel and Marley Dyer of Greenhouse Community Church in Saratoga Springs, Utah. After being active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Dyers shared how God moved in their lives separately and as a couple to draw them into a relationship with him.
Jason and Alicia Unruh also testified of God’s work on their lives as they shared their call to lead a new Lakeview Church campus in Heber City, Utah. Jason Unruh said he and Alicia are “stacking yeses to God” as they walk in faith to where God is calling them.
God’s work in Utah was also highlighted at a luncheon, hosted by MB Foundation, celebrating the partnership between the foundation and MB churches in the state over the past two decades.
During Friday night’s church multiplication and celebration event, Paul Robie, former lead pastor of South Mountain Community Church, shared about his own journey ministering in the state, explaining about how he became burdened for Utah and desire to serve God wherever it promoted the kingdom.
Also on Friday night, Jason Starinieri, campus pastor of Stony Brook Church—Springfield in Nebraska, gave an overview of how God had been working in the last several months at the new church plant.
In addition, Fred Leonard, U.S. regional team leader for Multiply and lead pastor of Mountain View Church in Fresno, California, laid out a challenge for attendees to pray, go and give to missions—not for themselves but for God’s glory.
“We do missions because there are places God does not receive glory,” Leonard said.
Attendees raised and pledged over $22,000 Friday night toward missions and church planting, seven times more than what was raised at Gathering 2024.
Leadership positions affirmed
In addition to dynamic speakers and workshops, delegates participated in business sessions during the National Convention, including voting for leadership positions across USMB and affiliate boards. Delegates affirmed the following nominees:
USMB Leadership Board
- Jared Pulliam—incumbent from Portland, Oregon
- Gaven Banik—incumbent from Hartford, South Dakota
- Joan Warkentin—incumbent from Wichita, Kansas
- Amy Jackson—incumbent from Morganton, North Carolina
- Staci Janzen—incumbent from Hillsboro, Kansas
- Chris Eidse—Bakersfield, California
USMB Leadership Board—Executive Team
- Dave Thiessen, chair—incumbent from Clovis, California
- Jared Pulliam, vice-chair—incumbent from Portland, Oregon
- Joan Warkentin, secretary—incumbent from Wichita, Kansas
- Gavin Banik, treasurer—incumbent from Hartford, South Dakota
U.S. Board of Faith and Life
- Jesse Swiers—incumbent from Callaway, Minnesota
Multiply
- Aaron Halvorsen—incumbent from Olathe, Kansas
- Vince Balakian—incumbent from Dinuba, California
MB Foundation
- Lance Dockins—Edmond, Oklahoma
- Greg Reimer—Wichita, Kansas
- Mark Walbert—Roseville, California
Historical Commission
- Valerie Rempel—incumbent from Fresno, California
Revised reversion clause passes
In other business, delegates affirmed the revised language to the reversion clause in the USMB bylaws. After a revised version of the clause was voted down at Gathering 2024, the Leadership Board worked to create an updated version that provided clarity while also remaining flexible.
After voicing concern at the 2024 convention, Josh Wilson, delegate from Shafter (California) MB Church, expressed gratitude for the new proposal and efforts by leaders on revising the clause.
“I can now urge that we adopt it,” Wilson said during the business session, in preparation to vote on the revised language. “I have been very pleased with the work the Leadership Board has done in the last two years.”
The updated language now reads as follows:
Should a member church withdraw from the district conference of which they are a member or have its membership in the Conference terminated, unless they receive written consent from the district executive board, their capital assets and real property assets will become the property of the district conference of which they are a member. If they are not a member of a district conference, unless they receive written consent from the Conference national leadership board, their capital assets and real property assets will become the property of the Conference. Should a member church dissolve, file for bankruptcy protection under applicable laws, or become insolvent, the real property assets of such member church shall become the property of the district conference of which such church is a member, or, if none, of the Conference.
Lacey joined the Christian Leader staff as editor in July 2025. She has more than two decades of experience in editorial writing and strategic communications, creating and editing content for newspaper, magazines, websites and email campaigns. Lacey, her husband and their two girls live in Wichita, Kansas, and attend Ridgepoint Church.
