New Models of Staff: Rethinking Ministry Roles for a Sustainable Future For many congregations today, one of the most pressing and tender questions is also one of the most personal: What do we do when we can no longer afford a full-time minister? This question surfaces alongside feelings of grief, uncertainty, and even guilt. For…
Before Trey Davis began as pastor at Ridge Road Baptist Church in Raleigh, the church faced hard questions about its present and future, including the work of a serious self-study with attention on its facilities. Ridge Road Baptist had experienced welcoming other congregations to use its facilities. The church also received an offer to sell…
The Rise of Predatory Church Plants: A Call for Ethical Partnerships and Sustainable Congregations In an era of shifting religious landscapes, many established congregations face dwindling membership, financial constraints, and an uncertain future. These churches, built for a time of expansion and abundance, now find themselves struggling to sustain ministry in a rapidly changing world.…
Reimagining Sacred Spaces: How Churches Can Sustain Mission Through Revenue-Based Partnerships For generations, church buildings have been more than places of worship. They’ve been community gathering spaces, shelters in times of crisis, and centers of spiritual formation. Yet today, many churches find themselves struggling to maintain their expansive facilities, originally built for larger congregations and…
The Pathways to Failure: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unfulfilled Promises and the Mythological Comeback Kid Sustainability is a challenge that many churches face in today’s changing landscape. When congregations find themselves in decline, they often look for solutions that will reverse their trajectory and bring new life into their church. However, not all solutions lead…
The marking of the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene brings life-shaping memories and emotions for all who were involved in its path. It wreaked havoc from Florida to North Carolina, but what happened to our beautiful North Carolina mountains was unprecedented. Wanda Kidd, CBFNC’s Helene Disaster Response director, shares a reflection below marking the one-year…
Redefining Success, Maintaining, and Failure: A Church’s Journey Toward Sustainability For generations, churches have measured success in ways that made sense for a different era—full pews, bustling Sunday Schools, 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,…
Finding Hope in a Changing Church: A Path Toward Sustainability 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…
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.…