Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists — August 26, 2026 | | Arizona Mission Offering + Unity Conference | | |
For Neri Borja, Unity Conference became more than just an annual event. Over the years, it helped shape his leadership, ministry perspective and calling.
By supporting Hispanic Ministries, the Arizona Mission Offering makes it possible for youth and young adults to encounter Christ at Unity Conference, which is this weekend, Aug. 28-29.
| | We Connect: 2026 Arizona Mission Offering | | |
In August and September, Arizona Mission Network churches are partnering to receive the Arizona Mission Offering (AMO).
Together, we aim to raise $225,000 to support seven ministries that make a big impact in our state. They are:
- Disaster Relief
- Planting Churches
- Zona Youth Camp
- Christian Challenge
- Hispanic Ministries
- Ministers in Crisis
- Associational Collaborations
We have lots of resources you can utilize as you promote the offering at your church. You can find a social media kit, a promotional video, bulletin inserts, posters and more at azmn.org/amo-resources.
Give through your church or online at azmn.org/amo.
Thanks for supporting these impactful ministries!
| | AZMN sets new baptism goal for 2027 | | |
Following a 20-year high for reported baptisms in 2025, the Arizona Mission Network has a new challenge for churches: Baptize 3,500 people in 2026 and 4,000 people in 2027.
God is at work in Arizona — and we want to celebrate together.
If you have photos or videos from 2025 baptisms at your church, we want to see them! Share your photos and/or videos at azmn.link/BaptismPhotos, and we’ll compile them to showcase how God is changing lives in churches all over Arizona.
We’ll share these photos and videos online, on social media and in a variety of other ways, so please make sure you have the permission of the people featured before you submit any media, including parent or guardian permission for photos and videos of minors.
If you have any issues submitting photos or videos, please email office@azmn.org.
Read the full story
| | From preschool volunteers to young adult leaders, Next Gen Conference draws 250 | | |
Last weekend, about 250 people gathered for the Next Gen Conference at North Phoenix Baptist Church.
Volunteers, ministry leaders and pastors who serve in preschool, kids, youth and young adult ministries came together Aug. 21-22 for equipping and connection.
“We want to help people see that the next generation isn’t something of the future, but it is now,” said Kailee Rutledge, one of the organizers of the conference. “So there is a responsibility to equip ourselves so that we can reach them now. Because if we wait, we might miss them.”
Read the full story
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AMO: How a graphic designer found her ministry through Christian Challenge
Brittney Barnett arrived at Northern Arizona University the fall of 2020 with plans to become a graphic designer in agricultural communications.
God had other plans.
As a freshman, she became involved in Christian Challenge at NAU. While there, she attended a weekly Challenge Community (missional Bible study) and participated in evangelism, discipleship, leadership and missions activities offered by Christian Challenge and Challenge Church.
Barnett was raised in a Christian household and received Christ at a young age but had never been baptized. After a semester at Christian Challenge, Barnett made the decision to get baptized at her home church in New Mexico.
“After getting baptized and continuing to attend Challenge events, I began to grow in my faith so much,” she said.
During this time, she became involved in evangelism and began leading her own Challenge Community.
Read the full story
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AMO: Support for a pastor during a hard season
Meet Jeff Vanderford, 12-year pastor of Authentic Life Church in Tucson. Happily married for more than 20 years to his wife, Jessica, father of four children and known as “the extrovert’s extrovert,” one would think needing help when falling would be the least of his concerns.
Vanderford says differently.
God had taught Vanderford a difficult lesson back in 2011. His life was a whirlwind of church activity that he describes as “being done for God instead of His doing it through me.” It was an existence filled with anxiety and stress.
One day, his body said, “Enough.” Sitting alone in his church office, a side of his face went completely numb. Not able to call for help and not knowing what was wrong, he thought he was going to die. The terrifying experience resulted in his taking a short break from the ministry while he sought medical treatment.
The lesson about ministering alone was learned.
Read the full story
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This weekend! Unity Conference
Unity Conference is a life-changing conference for youth and young adults who are ages 12 to 25, and it's THIS WEEKEND!
At Unity, your students and young adults will learn to go deeper in their faith and stand firm in a shifting world.
When: Friday, Aug. 28 - Saturday, Aug. 29
Where: Tierra Fértil, 11358 S. Ave. 9 East, Yuma
Cost: $25
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What Next? Conference
Queen Creek, Sept. 24
If you’re a midsize church of 125+ 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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Workshop on Biblical Exposition
Paradise Valley, Oct. 14-16
This three-day training will encourage and equip pastors in the skills needed to read, understand and proclaim the Word of God. This year's workshop will focus on Preaching Wisdom Literature.
Register here
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Send Network One Day
Queen Creek, Nov. 11
Send Network One Day is a local, one-day event designed to inspire and equip believers to take the next step in God’s mission. Through prayer, worship, learning and collaboration, participants will discover practical tools and fresh vision for multiplying disciples and churches in their community. Join others from Arizona as we come together to see how God can move when His people unite for the Great Commission.
Register here
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ASBC Annual Meeting
Queen Creek, Nov. 12
Join the Arizona Mission Network family for the annual meeting. The ministry fair and business session will be the morning of Thursday, Nov. 12. The Connect Conference will take place in the afternoon and will feature a message from Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board.
Get more details here
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Bruce Cannon
August 16-22
Bruce serves as the Associational Mission Strategist for the River Valley Baptist Association. Bruce travels nearly 20,000 miles each year, investing time with pastors and key leaders in the 30 churches (25 in Arizona and 5 in eastern California) that are a part of the association. His main focus is church leadership training and presenting targeted church seminars to help congregations grow in specific areas. He also preaches in various churches in the association about 40 Sundays each year. Bruce and his wife, Sue, previously lived in Montana, relocating to Arizona in 2019. They have two grown sons.
How to Pray
- For the next generation of church leadership, both formal and informal.
- For financial security for River Valley’s pastors.
- For Bruce’s successor, as Bruce plans to retire in December 2027.
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Learn More and Share
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.
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| Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists | azmn.org | | | | |
