Rynie Badenhorst returned to Missions College this year with a clear purpose — and a larger group. The global outreach pastor from CityRise (West University Baptist Church) in Houston, Texas, brought a team of 10 this year, all excited to strengthen their church’s pathway for sending and sustaining the next generation on mission.
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Missions involvement isn’t new for CityRise.
The multi-campus, multicultural church was founded more than 90 years ago by an International Mission Board missionary returning from the field. Since its beginning, the church has been purposeful in Great Commission tasks and missions partnerships.
As the church continues to grow in its involvement to reach the nations, Badenhorst arrived at this year’s event with a new question: How do we build a sustainable pipeline across different ages and stages?
Badenhorst was one of 200 participants who gathered for the 2026 Missions College, held Jan. 21–24 at the International Learning Center in Rockville, Virginia. Attendees represented 26 states and 127 local churches, with 80% making their first trip to the event. Ninety IMB field personnel and staff joined the event to lead and serve churches to grow in understanding and effectiveness in God’s global mission.
Designed to equip pastors, church leaders and church members, this year’s event focused on three outcomes: know your role, grow in effectiveness and lead others in God’s mission. Organizers of the event, including Tim Thorn who served as host, emphasized that the training was designed for every church, whether new to missions or strengthening their church’s existing involvement. The four-day event represented intentional training designed to transform the way participants live out the Great Commission.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jaclyn Mains and originally published by the International Mission Board.
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