Young Adult Leadership Development

We invite and welcome young adults into spaces that allow for intergenerational learning and leading.

We initiate networking and resource connections for ministry inside and outside the church.

We co-create communities with and for young adult leaders that identifies leadership qualities, builds leadership capacity, and allows young adults to explore new possibilities, particularly in areas of service and justice.

We engage in active listening, planning, and implementation of ideas and collaborative efforts.  We connect young adults to congregational, churchwide, and community initiatives to engage at all levels of leadership and mentoring.

We prioritize historically unserved and underserved communities of young adults to ensure every area of church and community has access to resources, support, and opportunity.

There have been so many exciting resources, initiatives and partnerships at NBA recently, hear all about it!

As younger Millennials and the first of Generation-Z are being ushered into adulthood, NBA offers a panel discussion with young adults and young adult leaders, influencers, and supporters.

Seven years ago, Lauren Frato embarked on a 10-month experience with NBA that served at the catalyst for her career.

Meet our newest group of Mission & Ministry Grantees. These ministries represent 22 different Disciples regions and will serve a multitude of generations in topics of mental health, entrepreneurship, and creative endeavors.

Since NBA began it's work with young adults in the 1990s, our work with young adults has grown in many ways. NBA XPLOR co-founder Rev. Ben Bohren shares his take on how it all came to be.

Meet our newest Incubate Partners for 2022!

In the spring, NBA brought together members of our Peer Learning and Wellness Groups for a weekend of fellowship, reflection, and healing.

NBA has been engaged with young adults across the denomination for more than a decade. Get to know Rev. Rae Karim, the woman leading this work at NBA.

NBA’s Mission & Ministry grants support young women like Amy who was a homeless teen taken in by Juliette Fowler’s Ebby House and has blossomed ever since.

Mission & Ministry Grants help support young adults like Tonya, who earned her driver’s license and secured a scholarship for college with support from NBA grantee Child Saving Institute and their Independent Living Skills program.

NBA is in the process of launching several Peer Learning & Wellness Groups that center voices of color. Meet the conveners leading the charge.

NBA XPLOR update! The traditional residential model will stay on hiatus for 2021 with NBA’s team putting energy towards three exciting new ventures.

Before the end of 2020, we asked Ben to reflect on “the heart of XPLOR,” the Four Cornerstones of the program, and what being part of young adult leadership development has meant to him personally.

All People's Community Center shares how receiving a 2019-20 Mission & Ministry grant impacted their ministry.

The National Benevolent Association celebrates the ministry of and congratulates Rev. Margie Pride on her recent retirement from more than 30 years of ministry as pastor of Memorial Boulevard Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

Alex Keys, Resident of the 2019-20 NBA XPLOR St. Louis House shares why created NBA's voting resources and the importance of faith communities involvement in elections.

Residents from the St. Louis XPLOR House chose to stay in the house until the end of their residency. They’ve shared how it felt when they first heard about the novel Coronavirus and what the remainder of their time in the XPLOR program was like.

Residents created art as a way to navigate their feelings in adapting to life under social distancing.

When news of the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge, a small group of concerned members of Hiram Christian Church (HCC) gathered to prayerfully discern how the church could offer care to the community through this time. This is what came of those meetings.

After considerable discernment, the National Benevolent Association (NBA) has made the difficult decision to place our young adult residential program, NBA XPLOR, on hiatus for the 2020-21 program year.

Why should young adults apply to be part of the NBA's XPLOR cohort? 2019-20 Bloomington, Indiana Resident, Adrian Griffin explains what he's learned during his Residency.

NBA XPLOR has been a nexus of change and transformation for young adult Residents and local communities since it began in 2004. This spring, COVID-19 brought changes to our program, here's what we're doing.

XPLOR Resident Evan Gough joined this program for many reasons, but one specifically was to find what was missing in his life, here's what he's learned so far.

2019-20 Hiram Mantua, OH XPLOR Resident Courtney Sharp shares some snapshots from her time in the XPLOR program.

Natalie Langham, 2019-20 NBA XPLOR Resident in Hiram Mantua, OH shares what the last year has meant to her since hitting a low point and learning about XPLOR.

2019-20 St. Louis XPLOR Resident Alex Key's shares his experience at the 2019 Immigration Detention Immersion Trip.

Three months into his XPLOR Residency in Spokane, WA and resident Tristan Cole is loving how he's grown in his faith.

XPLORmore Resident Mady McColm shared a heartwarming letter with her fellow XPLOR Residents. #CalledtoCare

Grant recipients Camp Sunflower from Witchita, KS have come a long way since they began in 2016.

Spokane Resident, Margaret Morrison has made a few big moves in her life, but nothing quite like what she's doing in NBA's XPLOR program. Although nervous, she set out on this 10-month journey and is letting God guide her.