Highlights from the 2025 Biennial Mission Summit
From July 3–6, 2025, American Baptists from across the United States and Puerto Rico gathered in Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2025 Biennial Mission Summit. With the theme “Come Seek Living Water,” the event welcomed attendees of all ages into four days of worship, learning, fellowship, and Spirit-led renewal.
Rooted in Jesus’ invitation in John 4, the Biennial Mission Summit called participants to come, seek, and live by the life-giving water of Christ. Below are the highlights from each day of this vibrant denominational gathering:
Thursday, July 3 – Engage, Welcome, and Caucuses Begin
The Welcome Session officially opened the Biennial with celebration and shared purpose.
A number of Caucus meetings began on Thursday, bringing together diverse groups within the denomination for focused fellowship, dialogue, and planning.
Throughout the Biennial, the Engage track which began on Thursday provided seminarians and new ministers with dedicated opportunities for networking, mentoring, and conversation about ministry leadership, transitions, and call. On Thursday, attendees explored ministry resources, met ABCUSA partners, and joined together for the start of the event’s worship and learning experiences.
The National Black Caucus of American Baptist Churches hosted a Thursday Evening Worship Service, offering a powerful time of praise and spiritual centering.
Friday, July 4 – Empower and Celebrate
Several organizations hosted breakfast gatherings Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. These breakfast events provided attendees opportunities for fellowship, prayer, and conversation to start each day in community around areas of common interest.
American Baptist Women’s Ministries’ Women and Girl’s Day began Friday with sessions and celebration centered on the leadership and witness of women and girls in the church.
The MMBB Luncheon provided insight and encouragement around financial stewardship, benefits, and retirement resources for clergy and church leaders. The luncheon event included a recognition of Dr. Louis Barbarin, Executive Director of MMBB Financial Services, who is retiring in August after 33 years serving American Baptist Churches.
A warm welcome came from Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr., who delivered a Proclamation from the City of Omaha recognizing American Baptist Churches USA and celebrating their presence in the city, and naming July 3 “American Baptist Churches Day” in Omaha.
Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain, General Secretary of ABCUSA, preached during the Friday Afternoon Worship service, offering a message titled “COME: Gathering at the Well.” Her sermon invited the church to the source of living water and to the shared table of Christ’s reconciling love.
Attendees then enjoyed a Picnic Celebration, filled with laughter, music, food, games, and community.
Saturday, July 5 – Equip and Reveal
Throughout the day following breakfast events and a “Wild Church: Against the Current” early morning worship service hosted by the Creation Justice Network, attendees participated in a number of workshops throughout the day, including ABC Basics, providing knowledge to help individuals and congregations strengthen their ministry and denominational connection. Saturday offered two sessions for workshops, with the second session including a time for the “Mission Summit Conversations,” which were an open opportunity for anyone attending the 2025 Biennial Mission Summit to engage in meaningful dialogue around topics of mission and ministry. During the 2025 Mission Summit Conversations, participants had the opportunity to view a documentary film entitled “A Case for Love”. Following the viewing of the film in plenary space, participants were invited to join a small group to engage in dialogue about the film around the following Mission Table priorities of: Empowering Young Adults and Youth; Peacemaking in a Culture of Violence; Mental Health; Creation Care; Building the Beloved Community through Collaboration; Discipleship and Disciple Making; and Claim, Distinguish, and Proclaim the Markers of American Baptists.
Learn more about all the workshops offered in our schedule, here.
In Saturday Evening Worship, Rev. Dr. TaNikka Sheppard, Executive Minister of the Cleveland Baptist Association, preached a compelling message titled “SEEK: Thirsting for Living Water.” She invited worshipers to pursue God’s presence at the well.
Following excitement built throughout the day in the Exhibit Hall around the location of the 2027 Biennial Mission Summit, the worship session closed with an announcement of the 2027 location and dates: Rochester, NY, June 10-13, 2027, was officially announced as the location and dates for the 2027 Biennial Mission Summit event.
Sunday, July 6 – Send and Serve
Sunday morning included a Freedom Ride/Freedom Walk, giving participants a chance to reflect on the central moments in the life of Jesus and throughout the history of the encounters on pilgrimages and journeys.
Sunday Morning Worship featured Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska. His sermon, titled “LIVING: Encountering the Living Water,” encouraged attendees to drink deeply from Christ’s well of life and step forward in renewed faith.
Following the worship time, the formal Business session of American Baptist Churches USA was held, in which the 2025 election slate of Directors of the Board of General Ministries was passed and the nominated officers approved for the 2026-2027 Biennium in a second vote. The nominated officers who will serve from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 include: President, Joshua Kagi; Vice President, Marijane Kiley; and Budget Review Officer, Vonda Brecheisen. Delegates also approved two bylaws changes, one to remove the distinction between national boards and national program boards and include “American Baptist Women’s Ministries” as a national board of American Baptist Churches USA, and the second to make other adjustments to the Bylaws needed after the changes approved in the first vote.
In the afternoon, a special session—“Come, Seek Living Water: Navigating the Call to Ministry”—uplifted the stories and voices of women in ministry, offering space for reflection, affirmation, and inspiration for those discerning a call to Christian service.
That evening, the Taste of Nebraska Dinner brought attendees together to enjoy local hospitality and cuisine in a final meal event and time in community.
The closing Worship Service lifted high the voices of a large Kachin youth choir and featured Rev. Dr. Zau Sam Lahtaw, Senior Pastor of First Kachin Baptist Church of America (Omaha, NE), who delivered a stirring message titled “WATER: Overflowing with Life.” His sermon reminded the gathered church of the abundance of God’s Spirit and the call to share that life with the world.
The 2025 Biennial Mission Summit was a powerful embodiment of its theme, renewing the hearts and spirits of American Baptists. As participants returned to their communities, they returned filled with Living Water—refreshed, inspired, and ready to engage in mission and ministry for the healing of the world.
Photos, videos, and additional event resources will be made available at www.abc-usa.org. Persons who registered/attended the event may access recordings on the Attendee Hub and Cvent App through October 3, 2025.