March/April 2026

Written By Holly Bollinger
 

Dear Prayer Partners, Friends, and Supporters,

These past two months have been full in every sense of the word—full of movement, full of meaningful moments, and full of reminders of why this mission matters so deeply. March and April have carried a unique weight, blending personal reflection with significant ministry momentum, and we’re grateful to share more of that story with you.

Moments That Marked Us
Two experiences left a lasting imprint on our hearts.
Just before Easter, I had the opportunity—along with members of our advisory team—to visit a detailed replica of the Shroud of Turin at The Bible Seminary in Katy. Standing there, seeing the 3D rendering of Christ’s face and reflecting on the physical reality of His suffering, was overwhelming. It moved beyond intellectual understanding into something deeply personal. Hearing additional insights into its possible authenticity, including perspectives from trusted scholars, only added to the moment's weight. It stirred a renewed awe in me for the sacrifice of Jesus and the reality of the resurrection.

Around that same time, Carol and I attended the film A Great Awakening, which tells the story of George Whitefield and the spiritual revival that helped shape early America. When it ended, we found ourselves sitting in silence, unable to move. It wasn’t just inspiring—it was deeply convicting. It reminded us that God has moved powerfully in history through surrendered lives, and it called us to that same level of urgency and faithfulness today.

That sense of urgency has not faded—it has carried directly into everything we’ve been doing.

Portland Mission Trip – Preparation Underway
Our upcoming Portland mission trip is quickly approaching and taking shape in exciting ways. We currently have 19 from our Declaration home team committed, and we’ll be partnering with a team of 15 from Lake Jackson. This will be our fourth year serving in Portland, focusing on helping develop church plants, prayer walking, and engaging in gospel conversations throughout Southeast Portland.
Training is already underway, and it’s been encouraging to see students stepping out boldly, growing in confidence, and preparing their hearts. Our prayer remains simple but significant—that lives will be changed, both in the city and in every person who goes.

National & Global Momentum
Beyond our local context, these months have been a chance to collaborate, evaluate, and expand our work nationally and globally.

Our NxtMove advisory team met in Dallas, continuing to develop catalytic communities and assess how we’re advancing the mission. One of the most meaningful moments during this time was participating in a 24-hour global day of prayer spanning all 11 regions of the world, with North America helping close it out. There is something incredibly powerful about knowing we are part of a unified, global movement seeking God together.

On March 16 (3:16), we also experimented with a simple but strategic outreach initiative using a wristband and the website John316.today. What started as a small test resulted in over 800 engagements across every continent. It was an encouraging glimpse of how even simple tools, when aligned with intentionality, can have global reach. We’re hopeful to expand this effort in a much broader way next year.

It has also been a privilege to continue writing and contributing articles through Interlinc and NNYM, encouraging youth leaders both across the U.S. and globally. Additionally, I’ve been working alongside Barry St. Clair on a new chapter focused on campus ministry for the Campus Connections book.

Globally, I joined our Reach Out team for a quarterly update and was reminded again that what God is doing extends far beyond what we can see locally. In places like Africa, leaders are not just being trained, they are multiplying. That multiplication continues to be one of the clearest signs of lasting impact.

Equipping and Multiplying Leaders

A significant portion of April was spent investing in leaders across the country through gatherings and conferences.

We hosted the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) "Thrive” staff gathering at Lakeview Camp in Waxahachie, which was both strategic and deeply relational. It was a joy to bring leaders from across the nation into Texas, to share vision, and even to give them a taste of Texas culture—including a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards and some memorable barbecue. I also had the opportunity to help lead worship during our time together, which was personally meaningful.

Mid-month, I traveled to Denver for several key gatherings, including the Youth Ministry Executive Council with Leonard Sweet and National leaders, NxtMove North America global team, and Dare2Share’s Energize Conference, where I spoke to over 400 youth leaders on campus ministry. One line seemed to resonate deeply:

“Jesus didn’t have an office. He had a road—and He walked it daily, making disciples.”
That simple truth continues to shape how we think about ministry and where it happens.

Across Texas, our Accelerate gatherings continue to build strong momentum. We’ve hosted and participated in key gatherings in Houston, DFW, Wichita Falls, and San Antonio, bringing together pastors, youth leaders, and volunteers who share a common vision: reaching every student.

One of the strongest gatherings we’ve seen was Accelerate DFW, where collaboration, vision, and unity were especially evident. In San Antonio, it was encouraging to see growing unity among youth workers and the formation of new networks. We’re also beginning to see similar momentum develop in Austin, particularly among next-generation leaders stepping into this mission.

At the heart of Accelerate, we continue to emphasize these core principles:

  • Prayer is our fuel

  • Collaboration, care, and evangelism serve as the accelerator

  • Technology functions as the turbocharger

  • Disciple-making operates as the transmission

  • Celebration provides the momentum to keep moving forward

These principles are helping unify efforts and increase effectiveness as we seek to reach more students, more quickly.

 
 

Looking Ahead
As we step into the coming months, the pace is not slowing—but we are stepping forward with clarity and dependence on the Lord. Between continued gatherings, leadership development, writing projects, and the Portland mission trip, we sense that these are strategic days with real opportunity for lasting impact.

How You Can Pray

  • For our Portland mission team—that God would prepare hearts and use students boldly

  • For continued unity and collaboration among youth leaders across cities and regions

  • For increasing momentum in campus ministry—that more students would come to Christ

  • For strength, wisdom, and provision during this full and travel-heavy season

  • For global leaders—that multiplication would continue and deepen

Thank you for praying, giving, and standing with us. Your partnership is not just appreciated—it is essential. You are part of every conversation, every student reached, every leader equipped, and every life impacted.
We are deeply grateful to walk this journey together and are trusting God for even greater things ahead.

Additional Updates & Resources:

Gratefully,
Rick

Thank you all again for your love and support. 

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Holly Bollinger
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February 2026