For generations, churches have measured success in ways that made sense for a different era—full pews, bustling Sunday school classes and steady financial giving. But in today’s rapidly changing landscape, these traditional markers may no longer reflect reality. As congregations experience shifts in attendance, financial challenges and changing community dynamics, clinging to outdated definitions of…
For many churches, the realities of today’s landscape can feel overwhelming. Attendance isn’t what it used to be, budgets are tighter and beloved spaces sit emptier than before. The ministries that once thrived may now struggle to find enough hands to carry them forward. And for those who have given their hearts, time and resources…
Thank you to all of the North Carolina Cooperative Baptist churches and individuals who made the “Meals for the Mountains” such a success. We completed the project on July 31 with a set of clothes for each child. In addition, we were able to provide each family with a gift card thanks to some generous…
As the remaining refugee guests in Welcome Houses transition to permanent housing, churches involved in the temporary housing ministry are beginning to talk about what’s next. Our hope is that Welcome Houses will remain assets for ministry as churches seek to discern the kinds of needs they might address in local contexts across the state.…
CBF North Carolina (CBFNC) has selected 12 churches from across our fellowship and region for the next Shared Learning Cohort of the Helping Churches Thrive initiative. Shared Learning Cohort churches will journey through a nine-month process of exploration, empowerment and experimentation in an opening retreat, monthly calls with notable authors and practitioners, churchwide workshops, a creative…
When the news landed in January that our nation’s refugee resettlement program would be paused for 90 days for evaluation, the ministry of CBFNC churches involved in this work remained consistent. The churches across our state that operate and support Welcome Houses continued to do their work in partnership with the refugee resettlement agencies in…
This past summer, I wrote an article for Good Faith Media about the unique relationship between the churches in western NC. The article centered on how they came together to help plant a church in Hendersonville that still serves that area today. In the end, I suggested it might be time for those churches to…
At Annual Gathering 2025, CBFNC debuted several “Serving Stories” videos during the worship sessions to highlight the ways in which our fellowship is serving together. The videos are available below for viewing online. Serving Stories: Welcome House Greenville Serving Stories: Church Partnerships Serving Stories: Western NC Disaster Response
Through years of struggle, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and CBF North Carolina worked to discern and proclaim the kind of Baptists we intended to be. We chose the word “cooperative” with intentionality and with hopefulness. I recently heard CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley say in a meeting in Raleigh that “cooperation is our superpower!” He…
Yesterday (February 24, 2025), the U.S. District Court of Maryland issued a ruling that blocks ICE (and all Department of Homeland Security agents) from entering houses of worship to carry out enforcement operations unless they have first obtained a warrant signed by a judge or there are exigent circumstances. The ruling only applies to the…