A record number of pastors from four of five USMB districts met in San Diego, California, for USMB’s National Pastors’ Orientation, March 24-26.
Thirty-six pastors and spouses registered for the event, with 27 U.S. Board of Faith and Life members, district ministers, agency representatives and USMB staff members adding to an overall attendance of 63. That number ties the record set at the first-ever NPO in 2005, a time when USMB paid for all expenses including travel. USMB began subsidizing the costs in 2008. Today, attendees pay a registration fee, which covers meals and a fraction of their hotel stay.
The NPO is designed to introduce pastors new to the pastorate or new to USMB to Mennonite Brethren theology and practice, and it continues to be a popular and well-rated event. Of note in 2025 was the 13 children’s and youth workers present in San Diego, comprising 36 percent of the pastors and spouses who attended. USMB NextGen sponsored six youth workers.
“The National Pastors’ Orientation is one of USMB’s most formative events,” says NextGen chair Kyle Goings. “It’s a foundational step for new ministry leaders to discover our identity as a denominational family, build meaningful relationships with fellow pastors and hopefully be inspired to get involved. That’s why we believe it’s essential for youth pastors to attend—and why we’re committed to investing in their participation.”
The three-day event, hosted by the BFL, featured eight sessions led by BFL members, USMB National Director Aaron Box, district ministers and others.
According to the post-event survey, the highest rated sessions included an overview of what it means to be both Anabaptist and evangelical, a session about generational differences and a discussion of the implications of living as peacemakers. Additional topics included Mennonite Brethren identity, history and distinctives, and reports given by representatives from Christian Leader, Multiply, MB Foundation, Tabor College, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and ICOMB.
“I particularly enjoyed hearing from passionate experts in MB history and theology,” wrote one attendee in the post-event survey. “It helped me to fall in love with this movement even more.”
Although the NPO is designed to educate about what it means to be Mennonite Brethren and the resources available to pastors, an equally important objective is to encourage interaction and relationship-building among peers.
On Day 1, BFL chair Jesse Swiers and his wife, Rhonda, Central District administrative assistant, facilitated light-hearted get-to-know-you activities, at one point standing on chairs to referee a game requiring two teams to race to find specified items to hand to a district minister.
Most of the eight sessions included interactive elements among table groups. For example, table groups read various Scripture passages and discussed how the verses informed their views of peacemaking and compared passages in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles to discuss the reports of historical events surrounding King Josiah’s death, practicing the community hermeneutics characteristic of Anabaptism.
Attendees spent time praying together and for each other. Stephen Humber, Multiply, and Fred and Esther Leonard, Mountain View Church, Fresno, California, offered prayer by appointment Monday and Tuesday.
Each morning began with a devotional.
Micah Bentley, Axiom Church, Peoria, Arizona, led times of worship through singing Monday and Tuesday mornings and near the end of the event Wednesday prior to a time of communion and prayer.
Tuesday afternoon’s schedule featured free time. Most attendees opted to participate in a group whale-watching activity sponsored by MB Foundation, which provided an informal time to connect with others. Though chilly on the water and despite a lack of whale sightings, attendees seemed to enjoy the outing and the opportunity to see a reported hundreds of dolphins.
According to the survey, making connections with other local church pastors and national and district leaders ranked highest for participants in terms of value.
“My favorite part was the people and being able to make connections,” wrote one attendee. “As a new pastor, this has encouraged me and given me opportunities for future ministry partnership.”
NPO attendees were the first to learn that USMB Gathering 2026 is heading to Salt Lake City, Utah, July 21-25, 2026. Upon revealing the destination and inviting attendees to search for a magnet in the shape of Utah under their chairs, event planner J.L. Martin said USMB staff is excited about going to Salt Lake City because the hotel is close to the airport downtown near Temple Square and other attractions. Salt Lake City features breathtaking mountain views and is in the Pacific District. Additionally, the event happens to fall during Pioneer Day, an annual celebration that will give attendees a unique window into the LDS faith.
The NPO is held every two years on odd-numbered years, and all recently licensed pastors are strongly encouraged to attend. The next NPO will take place April 12-14, 2027, in San Diego. Interested pastors should contact their district minister for more information about attending the NPO.
To view more photos from the NPO, visit www.usmb.org/npo.
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor. She joined the CL staff in September 2017 with six years of experience as a professional journalist. Shafer is an award-winning writer, having received three 2016 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award in 2022. Shafer graduated from Tabor College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Communications/Journalism and Biblical/Religious Studies. She and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
