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Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists — July 15, 2026

Executive Director Monty Patton and Eddy Pearson, the AZMN evangelism and discipleship director, talk about the number of students who made decisions at Zona Camp and what that means for your church.

In 2025, Arizona Mission Network churches surpassed a baptism goal set before the pandemic and recorded the highest number of baptisms in 20 years.

“Yes — Jesus still saves!” said Monty Patton, AZMN executive director. 



“Based on the ACP (Annual Church Profile) reports received, churches surpassed the goal of 3,000 baptisms by reporting 3,245,” Patton wrote in his May report to the Convention Council. “This is 459 more than in 2024, which was previously the strongest year in the past 19 years.”

Zona Camp was the best. Here's why.

On the last night of Zona Camp, you can’t help but grin. 

Hundreds of teens press toward the stage, arms raised, jumping and dancing as they belt out the final songs of Zona Camp. 

The worship band Monroe leads the celebration, and for the final songs, the camp pastor Trey VanCamp and his family join in on stage. It’s the culmination of a week of spiritual decisions and moments with God. And it’s worth celebrating. 

More than 1,000 people attended Zona Camp this year at California Baptist University (CBU) from June 29 through July 3 in Riverside. Thirty-three churches participated. Final numbers show that of the 730 students, 24 made salvation decisions, 32 recommitted their lives to Christ, 39 responded to a call to ministry and 235 responded for prayer, among other decisions.

Over the course of the week, VanCamp, the lead pastor at Passion Creek Church in Queen Creek, preached around the camp theme Unashamed. From stage, VanCamp shared that he himself attended Zona as a student about 19 years ago.

“The Zona team thinks very intentionally about where our teenagers are at and what do we need to talk about and how do we talk about it,” said Chad Murrell, the Zona Camp director. “Pastor Trey has been talking a lot this year about the shame that students carry and how we hide our sin because of that shame and how we need to be confessional and willing to let the church come alongside us and walk with us to overcome our temptations and our struggles.” 

Read the full story

Disaster Relief serves in Louisiana, Colorado

On Monday, a team of seven Arizona Disaster Relief volunteers arrived in Louisiana to help with mud-out recovery following flooding there.

Another two volunteers arrived in Colorado on Tuesday to help with incident command for area wildfires. Additional volunteers from Arizona are expected to follow as specific needs are communicated.

Rural Evangelism Discipleship Summit

Huachuca City, Aug. 20-21

The Rural Evangelism Discipleship Summit will focus on ISOLATION.

• The reality of isolation
• Conflict and isolation
• Friendships and isolation
• Ministry partnerships and isolation
• Gratefulness despite isolation

The first 30 registrants will be eligible for a free room at the recommended hotel for Aug. 20-22.

Learn more and register

Next Gen Conference

Phoenix, Aug. 21-22

Join ministry leaders, pastors and volunteers from across Arizona for dynamic sessions, practical breakouts and powerful worship experiences designed to spark vision and strengthen your ministry. You’ll leave with fresh ideas, renewed passion and a network of peers who share your heart for the next generation.

Register here

Arise AZ Conference

Sedona, Sept. 18-19

Invite women from your church to gather with others around the bold theme “UNAFRAID — My God Will Make a Way” at Arise AZ. Whether they come weary, expectant or simply hungry for more of God, they will leave refreshed, equipped and empowered to walk forward unafraid.

Get tickets

What Next? Conference

Queen Creek, Sept. 24

If you’re a midsize church of 150+ and are looking for practical next steps to help your church grow to 300 and beyond, this conversation is for you. This is not a lecture but rather a conversation with peers and with those who have led through growth barriers on how to lead to the next stage.

Register here

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These prayer profiles are excerpted from the 2026 Missions Prayer Guide, which features Arizonans whose ministries in our state and overseas are supported by your church's gifts through the Cooperative Program. Read more about the individuals and share with your church by downloading bulletin inserts and presentation slides here. Download the 2026 Missions Prayer Guide or request printed copies for you or your church here.