National Pastors’ Orientation (NPO)

The  National Pastors' Orientation (NPO) 

All new pastors (either new to the pastorate or new to USMB) are invited to attend the biennial National Pastors’ Orientation (NPO), held March 24-26, 2025, in beautiful San Diego, California.

Island Palms Hotel and Marina

The NPO, which is sponsored by the USMB Board of Faith and Life, is an important part of any pastor’s development. It provides a chance for new pastors to get to know the USMB family and learn where we came from and where we’re going. Pastors will find encouragement, networking, refreshment and fun.

At NPO, pastors will put faces to names of MB leaders and make new friends. It’s a chance to hear about the many available resources, such as life insurance, annual IRS reporting, administrative support, LEAD initiatives, Christian Leader magazine, events and more. And it’s an opportunity to join others who are on similar journeys, offering potential for meaningful connections and lifelong friendships.

We know that being a pastor is hard. That’s why we invite pastors and spouses to get away for a few days. (Yes, spouses are highly encouraged to attend). We’ve built in two blocks of free time to enjoy all that San Diego has to offer. This is a pastor’s chance to relax and make new friends.

New pastors should plan now to join us for the NPO at the Island Palms Hotel and Marina in San Diego, March 24-26, 2025. It’s a highly rated event you won’t want to miss!

Mark your calendar and plan to join us in San Diego in March!

Register here!

We’ll send more details later, but here are some things you should know:

  • NPO starts with breakfast on Monday, so plan to arrive on Sunday, March 23. NPO concludes Wednesday after lunch. No childcare is provided.
  • The registration fee is $450 per person, which includes hotel stay and all meals and activities.
  • You will need to pay to get to San Diego, but once you’ve arrived we will take care of all your transportation.

For more information about the hotel, click here.

If you have questions, contact J.L. Martin.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what Josh Murrell, associate pastor at Kingwood Bible Church in Salem, Ore., said about the connection and encouragement he found at the NPO in 2023.  

 “It can be a little confusing to understand with whom and how we are connected,” Josh says. “For someone who is new to the Mennonite Brethren, it was helpful to receive an overview of the various organizations we have developed or that we partner with. NPO provided a crash course and ‘put a face to the name’ for me. 

 “I left the National Pastor’s Orientation feeling encouraged because of the spiritual investment that was made. The time wasn’t just marked by informational presentations, though many of those were helpful. Each day we spent time in prayer, singing and communion together, centered on Jesus and finding life and strength in His presence.” 

Read the Christian Leader article about the NPO here. (The NPO section is at the end of the article)

Registration deadline is Monday, February 24th!

Click this photo to view pictures from the 2023 NPO.

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