Thriving—Not Merely Existing

Applications Open May 1 for the Helping Churches Thrive Shared Learning Cohort It doesn’t take long in a conversation with church leaders today to hear a common realization: the world around the church has changed—and many congregations are still learning how to respond. Across North Carolina, churches are navigating shifting participation patterns, widening generational gaps,…

College Readiness Mentorship Program

The College Readiness Mentorship Program at Duke University started as a pilot in 2025 with four high school students. These students were members of newcomer families who arrived as guests in our Triangle Welcome Houses. They met with a small group of Duke University students at Temple Baptist Church to discuss ways to support the…

Shared Learning Cohort Church, FBC Elkin

We asked participants in the 2025-2026 Helping Churches Thrive Shared Learning Cohort to share some insights about how the new initiative is helping their church. Read below what participants from First Baptist Church in Elkin, NC had to say. Why do you think the Helping Churches Thrive Shared Learning Cohort is right for your church? Through…

Clergy Transformed on a Pilgrimage to Iona

Last October, a group of 13 clergy had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a spiritual pilgrimage to the sacred Isle of Iona, situated off the western coast of Scotland. The pilgrimage allowed clergy to immerse themselves in the holiness of the “Cradle of Christianity” in the United Kingdom. Each day was filled with meaningful…

Mending the Fracturing Church

Mending the Fracturing Church Invites Congregations to Face Conflict with Courage and Hope Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale’s Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities Releases February 5, 2026 Across the life of the church, many congregations are feeling the pressure of a changing world. Differences across generations, decline…