Leadership Development, Pastoral Care, and Church Planting, JBU Report

Cal Swenson

Leadership Development

2024 Ministers Retreat

Our 2024 Ministers Retreats provided a time of refreshing, reconnecting, and ministry. Our two Minister’s Retreats were held in Monterey and Las Vegas, with close to 400 in attendance. Glen Berteau did a great job ministering at both of our retreats.

Leadership One Day

In September we had a leadership one day seminar on discipleship at Hilltop Community Church, pastored by Jim and Debbie Heden, in Richmond, CA. David Buering and David Lim were our main session speakers, and we had multiple breakout meetings during our lunch time that focused on how we could incorporate discipleship into different ministries within the church.

Pastoral Care

With the number of ministers and churches in our District, there are always opportunities for ministering to our ministers. 2024 was a full year of pastoral care. Hundreds of contacts were made which included face to face meetings, phone calls, zoom and Facetime meetings. I am thankful for a great Pastoral Care Team! Our 2024 team consisted of Bob and Linda Bridges, Terry Cedarblom, Dennis Conrad, Teri Herndon, Jeff Miller, Nathan Rhodes, and Dean Sanner.

 Special Thanks

The AGNCN District is blessed with a great team at our District Resource Center! Special thanks to our District officers - Pastor Bret Allen, Dr. Sam Huddleston, and Dr. Jay Herndon, our ministry teams, our administrative staff, and especially my administrative assistant, Aaron Perez. They have enabled this office to effectively minister to the pastors and churches in our district on an ongoing basis!

Respectfully Submitted,

Pastor Cal Swenson
Director of Leadership Development,
Pastoral Care and Church Planting

Just Between Us

Just Between Us is NCN's ministry to Credentialed Women, Ministry Wives, Women in Ministry, and Widows of credentialed ministers. We build women in ministry by coming alongside them in personal connection and providing them with resources. 

Here are some 2024 highlights

Coffee Connections

Coffee Connections are small groups for JBUers. This year, we grew by leaps and bounds! We hosted 22 Coffee Connections throughout the District, averaging eight ladies per Connection. Here is what is being said:

"We had an intimate time with  heart-to-heart conversations."

"Great time of hearing one another's stories."

"They didn't want to leave."

BIG THANKS to the Coffee Connection Team Leaders: Coleena Anderson – Rev Dianne Andrus –  Rev Dawn Annas – Colleen Epperson – Rev Morgan Ferrante – Rev Leslie Fitzhugh – Katie Gavigan – Suzette Gitchel – Rev Karen Hagan – Rev Debbie Heden – Rev Nancy Heverly – Shawna Huson – Rev Chaunda Jensen – Rev Cindy Johnson – Barbara Kallevig – Angel Layden – Rev Jennifer Miller – Rev Ingrid Nash – Edeen Negrete – Amanda O'Kelly – Rev Beverly Ott – LeAnne Pyzer – Lina Richardson, Rev Tabi Rogers – Jenell Sanner – Rev Anayansi Schlipp – Rev Lindsey Severyn – Rev Ruth Suski – Vicki Vinculado – Christine Walters. You ladies are making it happen!  

Main Event

IIn September, we had an incredible time as over 100 women gathered at Radiant Life Church in Lodi for PROMISES – His Yes. Our Amen. Here is some of what happened.

·         Dionna Garza (LMFT) opened the first session with "A Cultural Phenomenon Affecting Youth." She gave us a lot of information and resources to assist families and churches in navigating the LGBTQ moral culture.

o   D.A. said, "I learned things I never wanted to know but need to in today's society."

·         Rev. Elizabeth De Jesus shared two powerful messages on the "Importance of God's Promises" and the "Power of Remembering God's Promises." Olivia Llepes led worship. Her team consisted of 5 women from 4 churches.

·         A few more comments:

o   A.S. said, "I needed this weekend more than you will ever know."

o   V.C. said, "The Credentialed Women breakout was a highlight for me!"

o   C.E. said, "Worship last night was amazing! The presence of the Lord was evident!"

Between Us Leaders Podcast

Did you know we host a podcast? It's a place where we talk about leading with wisdom and Godly devotion. I'm your host, and  this year, our podcasts were watched or listened to 1748 times!

 Female Ministers

Here are some fun facts about our Minister Roster!

·         We have 429 Female Ministers.

·         That's up by 15 from 2023.

·         We have seen a yearly increase since 2018.

·         31% of the NCN Minister Roster is women. That's just above the National average of 30%.

·         Last but certainly not least, we have 22 Lead Pastors. They meet annually, under Abby Sterling's leadership, during District  Council and other JBU events. 

Thank you, Pastors, for leading the way! Geneva Arnold – Nida Berame – Olivia Bibb –  Jennifer Campbell – Teresita Casual – Robin Dowell – Ginger Hohm –  Cynthia Ishihara –  Kris Jones – Rachel Klinge – Ilisa Laibwii (Mrs.) – Christian McElwain – Hilda Morris – Shirley Natnat – Trinity Neilson – Barbara Pahulu-Eatmon – Becky Peters – Teresa Rexrode – Guadalupe Sanchez – Abby Sterling – Verna Vetter – Rose Warren

NEW in 2024 – Cohort!

September 10 marked the launch of our First-time Senior Pastors Wives Cohort! We meet 10 times a year. These women are treasures!

 Notable Honors

In 2024, we had six women on the Presbytery:

District Presbytery – Dawn Annas, Abby Sterling, Verna Vetters, Jen Klier

Executive Presbytery – Cindy Johnson, Connie Pack, Lindsey Severyn

Special Honors were given at the 2024 District Council to these women.

·         Faye Clark was the first woman to be recognized for 50 years of Ordained ministry and for being among the first Female Presbyters elected to serve the District.

·         Becky (Eizman) Peters received the Superintendent's Community Award for pastoring for 34 years in a predominately Morman community in Almo, NV.

·         Connie Pack was the first woman to be given the title of Honorary Executive Presbyter.

Special Notes of Thanks

Thank you to our leadership: Superintendent Bret Allen for entrusting this ministry to me, to Assistant Superintend Dr. Sam Huddleston for your heartfelt encouragement, to my husband, Dr. Jay Herndon, for supporting me in countless ways so I can volunteer my time to lead JBU, to my supervisor, Rev Cal Swenson for cheering on JBU, and to the DRC team who all assist in one way or another. I am grateful!

To Rev Valerie Allen and Rev Linda Huddleston, by compadres, thank you for standing by my side. I wouldn't want to do this without you!

Finally, it is my honor and privilege to serve alongside these amazing women! JBU Committee: Rev Valerie Allen, Jennifer Feliciano, Dionna Garza, Rev Linda Huddleston, Rev Christina Jimenez, Rev Cindy Johnson, Amanda O'Kelly, Rev Mikhaila Nunes, Ataliate Tuirabe, and Rev Lindsey Fisher.

Respectfully Submitted,

Rev Teri Herndon

Just Between Us, Director