Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists — June 17, 2026 | | Here's your recap of the SBC Annual Meeting | | Executive Director Monty Patton shares some highlights and updates from the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando June 9-10. | | Deaf Arizona pastor honored at Gateway lunch | | |
Pastor Jermey Fass of Silent Hope Church was one of two Gateway Seminary graduates to receive the distinguished alumni award at the seminary’s annual lunch on June 10 at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando.
The distinguished alumni award celebrates a lifetime of faithful leadership and ministry service.
Gateway Seminary President Adam Groza recognized Fass, the founding pastor of Silent Hope Church, with the award. Silent Hope is a deaf-led church in the East Valley.
Fass is the first deaf graduate from Gateway with a master of theological studies through the seminary’s Arizona campus.
Today, Fass is gracefully and faithfully facing a diagnosis of stage four lung cancer.
| | Connecting at the SBC in Orlando | | |
Arizona Southern Baptists connected at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando last week. On Monday, June 8, the Arizona Mission Network hosted a dessert fellowship for Southern Baptists from Western states (pictured top left, top right and bottom left). More than 125 people attended.
Then on Tuesday, June 9, the network hosted a table of 10 at the SBC Ministers Wives Luncheon for Arizona pastors' wives and women in ministry (pictured bottom right).
| | Arizonans elected to SBC trustee, committee posts | | |
Several Arizona Southern Baptists played a role or were elected to positions during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando, June 9-10. Those include:
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Chad Murrell, lead pastor of Vista Church in Scottsdale, elected to a trustee term with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).
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Andrew Bailey, pastor of Cross Church Surprise, chosen to serve as the chair of the Committee on Order of Business for 2027.
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Jackie Allen, Send Network regional director, elected as the alternate preacher for the 2027 convention in Indianapolis.
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Steve Shook, a member of Foothills Baptist Church in Phoenix, and Ashley Evans, missional engagement director for the Arizona Mission Network, elected to serve on the 2026-2027 Committee on Nominations.
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Andrew Marchbanks, executive pastor of First Southern Baptist Church at Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale, and Brian McCoy, lead pastor of Foothills Baptist Church in Phoenix, appointed to the Committee on Committees prior to the meeting.
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William Bagwell, a member of Vista Church in Scottsdale, and Don Vickers, associational mission strategist for Yuma Baptist Association, served on the 2025-2026 Committee on Nominations.
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Eric Woods, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Overgaard and associational mission strategist for Desert Pines Association served on the Registration Committee.
Read the Related Story
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On stage in Orlando
Pastor Andrew Bailey of Cross Church Surprise speaks at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 10. Bailey was selected to serve as chair of the Committee on Order of Business for 2027 and presented the committee's proposal for the 2027 convention preacher, alternate preacher and music director.
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Pray for Zona Camp
June 29 - July 3
In less than two weeks, more than 1,000 teens and adults from churches around Arizona will make the trek to California Baptist University for Zona Camp! Of those, about 730 are students. Please pray for each student and leader attending camp this year.
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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
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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
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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
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Jeremy Butler
June 7-13
Jeremy is a Christian Challenge campus missionary serving with Campus Community Church in Tucson. He has previously been serving as campus missionary on the University of Arizona campus but is beginning a new Christian Challenge chapter on Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus. The Pima Community College system has nearly 20,000 students with five campuses around the Tucson area. The Downtown Pima chapter will be Christian Challenge’s first opportunity to minister through the Pima Community College system.
How to Pray:
- For Jeremy as he leads a small group Bible study (called a Challenge Community) on this campus.
- For Jeremy and the believers in his group to have opportunities to make gospel appointments with non-believers.
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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 | | | | |
