10 | April 2026
Next Gen, New Churches, and Faithfulness in the Southwest Region We can always look around and see what the world is doing, or we can look around and celebrate what God is doing. There is always such a big difference! By Reagan Wagoner, Southwest Region catalyst
Partnership Event with CCC and Send Cincinnati - I attended a partnership event between one of our asso- ciations, the Cincinnati Church Collective (CCC), led by Pastor Chuck Smith, and Send Cincinnati at The Valley Church. CCC now has 31 churches partnering together, up from fewer than ten churches just a few years ago. Thirty church planters and partners gathered to discuss Easter outreach — one pastor to another. Church Planter Faithfulness — I had a conversation with a planter, and he showed me his church budget. It was small, but his church is still planning to give to its association, send 6% as a NAMB church planter to the Cooperative Program, and has 10% budgeted overall to go towards giving outside the church. I am grateful for pastors who still desire to be a part of something greater than themselves. I can’t wait to see how God uses their unseen faithfulness in leading their churches to give to the kingdom. Next Gen Lunch – Recently, my church, Grace Point, hosted about 40 people for our Next Gen Lunch. Pastor Austin Mathis, SCBO second vice president, reminded us that students are not just looking for a place to be- long, but a place to believe. Speaking from Deuteronomy 6, Mathis shared that truth comes first, since faith that cannot say what it believes has no destination. This is why we must continue to share the gospel with the next generation, because, if we don’t, the world will repeat a false message to them over and over again! Mathis shared that we must teach them that there is a cost, an anchor, and something meaning- ful in following Jesus. I am thankful for those who know the importance of helping the next generation meet Je- sus now.
Where else do you hear good news? It’s hard to find in our world today, unless you are watching and waiting to see what God is going to do! And as many of us learned when we were younger… God is good… all the time! And all the time… God is good! In the first quarter of 2026, the Southwest Region is cel - ebrating God’s goodness. Send Network Training Cohort - Recently, eight church planters began Send Network Training. This is the larg- est cohort we have ever had in our region! These church planters are praying, planning, working other jobs, and even meeting outside of our cohorts as they get ready for the task ahead of them.
The new Send Network Training Cohort.
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5