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…
How? How can we pursue the Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” in our own communities? How can we fulfill the Great Commandment to love God and our neighbor? How can we welcome the stranger in our midst, and thus find our places on the right hand of the King at the Great…
This past weekend [February 21–22], I experienced a reality that I never anticipated. Someone decided to make a post about our church, First Baptist Church of Albemarle, and very specifically about me. The author of the post clearly stated his disagreement with our church’s belief that women can serve as pastors and preach. To make…
Greystone Baptist in Raleigh has become the first congregation in our state to complete the requirements for Christians Caring for Creation (C3)’sCertified Congregation. Greystone has completed requirements in all four areas of C3’s assessment: worship, discipleship, outreach and facilities and grounds. The certification process is a quantitative self-assessment reviewed and approved by the C3 Board…
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…
I have been a practicing artist since 2020 (thanks COVID!) but my love of art has been lifelong. During that social distancing season, I found painting was a way to stay in and accept the present moment in all of its beauty and challenge. Often, images would come to me to execute; sometimes with words…
This article is the third in a series on CBFNC’s Three Overarching Commitments. In this issue we focus on A Commitment to Transformation: “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2). We serve a God who declares, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Transformation is the work of the Spirit…
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…
When Shared Learning Meets Timely Need: Reflections from CBFNC’s Helping Churches Thrive Creative Workshop Retreat In November, more than 120 congregational leaders and clergy from across North Carolina and Virginia gathered for CBFNC’s Helping Churches Thrive Creative Workshop Retreat—two days designed to do one essential thing well: equip churches for the real challenges they are…
The words “Hispanic” and “Latino/a” often hide a vast diversity for many of us across the CBFNC. It’s not intentional, but we often miss an important truth when we speak about the Latino community: it is as diverse as any other community. Santiago Reales and Daniel Sostaita of the CBFNC Red Latina (not the color…
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is one of five partner organizations collaborating with Campbell University in a $10 million grant-funded “Cultivating Cultures of Calling” initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will support Campbell University Divinity School’s (CUDS) efforts to prepare and support pastoral leaders now and in the future, renewing the communal…
“CBFNC has provided ministries to the Latino community for over two decades and to the broader refugee community for over a decade. We have ‘embraced our neighbors through missions’ in a variety of ways. Now, through the enhanced ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) presence in our state, our brothers and sisters are under threat. They…
Christmas for the Mountains – 2025 Gift Bags for Teens The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is on a mission to share the love of Christ with teenagers across western North Carolina this Christmas! Join us in filling gift backpacks with supplies and gift cards to bring a little extra joy to their…
Dear CBF North Carolina friends, In the last week, we’ve heard more and more about the ending of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The state of North Carolina is said to have nearly 1.4 million people who depend on SNAP benefits to make nutrition needs meet every month. Of that, roughly 580,000 are children…
Sustainable Care for Hybrid and Shared Ministry Roles As congregations across North Carolina and beyond adopt creative staffing models—ranging from co-vocational pastors to ministers who serve multiple churches or lead in multiple ministry areas—one pressing concern emerges: how do we care for the ministers who carry more? The Church Sustainability Initiative (CSI) has challenged congregations…
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.…
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…
Each year, CBF of North Carolina’s Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship (CBSF) hosts the Mid-Winter Retreat, a gathering that provides college students and young adults with a space for spiritual renewal, fellowship and learning. As the 2025 retreat was being planned at Quaker Lake Camp just outside of Greensboro, campus ministers recognized a unique opportunity to…
Two weeks ago, CBFNC addressed the uncertainty created through executive orders that affected the federal funding for ministry partners working to resettle refugees in North Carolina. We stated that “we will adapt and pivot” and that “we will continue to partner with refugee resettlement agencies who serve our friends and neighbors already here.” CBFNC will…
Newly inaugurated President Trump signed stacks of executive orders on Monday, January 20, 2025, including ones that impact people that matter deeply to us and partners in ministry across North Carolina. We will seek to understand the details and impact of these orders and share information from trusted partners with you in the days to come.…
CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) is excited to announce that Marc Wyatt is joining our staff as Welcome House Raleigh ministries director. Marc is no stranger to CBFNC and CBF life, having served as CBF field personnel since 1996. He is retiring from his role as CBF field personnel at the end of January and…
By Larry Hovis CBFNC Executive Coordinator I turned 18 on September 11, 1980, the fall of my freshman year at N.C. State. My first opportunity to vote came that November. I voted for Jimmy Carter, at least partly because he shared my Baptist faith. Even though he lost that election, I have remained a…
CBFNC’s “Christmas for the Mountains” initiative resulted in over $20,000 in gift cards that were distributed to partner churches in western NC to give to help those in their local communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Several pastors have shared some responses from the recipients of our fellowship’s generosity: “Our cards went out as grocery…
CBFNC’s Ministerial Transitions Team hosts regular Zoom conversations as shared learning experiences for representatives from search teams across our state. Each conversation offers support to search teams by focusing on a specific topic related to minister searches, whether your church is searching for a senior pastor or another pastoral staff position. Conversations are typically held on Mondays each…
One of the amazing and unexpected results for many local churches in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has been the total reimagining of their building use. Our structures have been used primarily for Sunday and Wednesday night programming. Many churches have generously allowed other organizations to use their facilities through arrangements with organizations like senior…
Some of the greatest benefits of being part of CBF North Carolina are the connections and community between our people and churches. There is nothing like a crisis to bring that into full view. From the moment people became aware that neighbors and friends in western NC were in trouble after Hurricane Helene, phone…
Court Greene, pastor at Canton First Baptist Church in Canton, NC is not new to helping his community in times of crisis. Recently, the paper mill that had defined Canton and its economy for decades permanently closed, causing the community to redefine itself. Then, in 2021, a flood started up in the mountains above the…
In 2017, incoming President Trump took specific action to reduce the number of refugees welcomed into the United States. During his campaign this year, President-Elect Trump promised to take a similar course, if not more aggressive, upon entering office in January 2025. Since the election, the anti-immigrant rhetoric is already increasing along with talk of…
CBFNC Disaster Response Contact Rev. Dr. Wanda Kidd Helene disaster response director DR@cbfnc.org 828-507-5723 HELP WITH REBUILDING As summer winds down and the weather turns cool, please let us know if you have teams who want to come help with the rebuilding effort in western North Carolina. Several counties still need assistance. We want…
CBF North Carolina is excited to share the news of two additions to our staff: Rev. Randy Carter will serve as interim Welcome Network director and Rev. Wanda Kidd will serve as temporary Helene disaster response director. Randy Carter is pastor of Temple Baptist, Durham, and previously served as pastor of First Baptist, Hillsborough…
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC) is excited to announce that Rev. Amy Lee Gallaher has been hired as the new Programs Support Manager. She currently serves as the Minister of Missional Engagement at Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. She will continue to work in dual ministry roles serving the local church…
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC) has selected 10 NC Baptist churches from across our fellowship for the first Shared Learning Cohort of the new 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…
Numerous CBF North Carolina congregations have embraced the “Encourager Church” model to support Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel in our state and across the world. I am happy to say that North Carolina Cooperative Baptist churches lead the way with the number of Encourager Churches across the whole of the CBF! At the same time,…
First Baptist Hillsborough turns opportunity and need into Welcome House ministry By Randall Austin Member of First Baptist, Hillsborough and coordinator of Welcome House Hillsborough Unique opportunity and desperate need merged to prompt First Baptist Church in Hillsborough to convert its former parsonage into a Welcome House, providing safety and comfort to more than…
To encourage and support student events to commemorate the legacy of the “Greensboro Four,” CBFNC’s Racial Equity & Justice (REJ) ministry team offered new grants this year to partner colleges. The modest February 1 grants were provided to help partner colleges offer educational events about the four college freshmen from what is now North Carolina…
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC) has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Helping Churches Thrive program, which intends to foster congregational vitality across the state. The project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to encourage…
The CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) Coordinating Council recently voted to call Lydia Tatum as its first Welcome Network director, a newly created position for CBFNC. She currently serves as the associate pastor of Missions and Ministry at Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, where she has served in many capacities since 2010. Lydia will have two…
The CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) Coordinating Council recently voted to name Lou Ann Gilliam as Ministerial Equipping Director (MED). Previously, she served as the director of Church and Community Relations at Chowan University in Murfreesboro. While at Chowan, she supported the work of campus ministry, coordinated the Ministerial Board of Associates and served as the…
In an effort to highlight the work and people of CBFNC, we are sharing ministry spotlights featuring our college/young adult ministry. Meet some of CBFNC’s Campus Ministry Engagement Team and read the insights they have to share about working with today’s college students/young adults. TIERNEY BOSS Campus Minister, App State University What makes you most…
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina joins with the larger Baptist community to pray for the war in Israel and Gaza. Our hearts are heavy over the violence, loss of life and the ongoing conflict. We commit our prayers and support and commend the statements of partner Baptist organizations to guide our fellowship. From CBF…
As Welcome Ride 2023 concludes, the hope and vision for expanding the Welcome House Community Network (WHCN) grows. The funds raised during the Welcome Ride campaign will be used by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC) to grow our ability to support and empower congregations across our state to engage in ministries of welcome…
The CBFNC Welcome House Community Network is about more than providing housing. It’s about prioritizing relational ministry that invites people to face challenges together, to work in ways that allow neighbors to form lasting relationships and to provide support to vulnerable neighbors that does not dismiss material needs but moves beyond them. One of the…
In the two years since the CBFNC Welcome Ride made a stop at the apartment complex owned by Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, the newest and easternmost Welcome House is just opening there. The dream that began then is now a reality. Rental rates for two- and three-bedroom apartments in Raleigh continue to climb. They…
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina announces “Welcome Ride 2023,” which will take place October 1-7 when Larry Hovis, executive coordinator, cycles from the NC mountains to the coast during the state-wide Cycle North Carolina bike ride. Welcome Ride raises awareness and funds for CBFNC’s Welcome House Community Network (WHCN), a signature missions program of…
As part of our mission to equip and assist churches, we track issues common to congregations around the state. The most significant current legal topic relates to tax-exempt status. Specifically, churches seeking to confirm their tax-exempt status or any legal steps that may be required. This issue is most often raised by churches who may…
The CBFNC Missions Engagement Team, whose members are both clergy and laity from across the North Carolina, have awarded a total of $20,000 in Global Partnership Grants to five CBF field personnel. Thanks to contributions from churches and individuals, CBFNC is able to include this line item fund in its budget each year to specifically support…
Providing support and scholarship assistance to students engaged in theological education is an essential part of CBFNC’s work. In 2008, Cooperative Baptist pioneers Dr. Randall and Lou Lolley worked with CBFNC to establish the Lolley Endowment for Theological Education to fulfill their dreams of supporting men and women preparing for ministry. The Lolley Scholarship is CBFNC’s…
For 30 years, CBF North Carolina has provided a place of refuge, belonging and “family” for countless displaced Baptist Christians and churches. Founded as the North Carolina expression of the larger Cooperative Baptist Fellowship community, CBFNC has championed cooperation in mission and ministry in the context of Baptist freedoms: soul freedom, Bible freedom, church freedom…
One of CBFNC’s founding principles is Autonomy of the Local Church, articulated as follows: “We affirm that Baptist churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whomever they perceive as gifted for ministry and…
In 2007, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC) stepped out in faith and committed to providing ministry to students on North Carolina college campuses at a time when many denominations were downsizing and defunding campus ministry. For 15 years, CBFNC’s collegiate ministry was led by Wanda Kidd, former campus minister at Western Carolina…
The 2023 Passport summer camp season is just around the corner. We are excited to share the names of some young adults from North Carolina & CBFNC churches who will be working at Passport camps this summer. Listed below you will find their name, position for the summer and home church or NC connection. …
From ABC 11/WTVD CBFNC partner church, First Baptist, Fayetteville, joined with other churches in its community to host a week-long “Revive All” event, a spiritual journey with the church that reconnects the attendees to their faith and the relationships around them. FBC Fayetteville received a Missions Engagement Grant from CBFNC to help fund the…
By Marv Knox Founder of Fellowship Southwest People of faith committed to welcoming refugees and supporting the homeless gathered for information, inspiration and encouragement — lots of encouragement— at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina’s first Hospitality and Housing Summit April 29. CBFNC sponsored the summit in collaboration with Welcome House Community Network,…
-From Religion News ‘Purple church’ pastors mull leadership strategies in polarizing times The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina held a leadership forum to help pastors figure out how to speak out without alienating half of their members. March 27, 2023 By: Yonat Shimron Each Wednesday evening, a group of congregants from First…
January 15 is Final Day of Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplace If you are considering a new health insurance option for 2023, 1/15 is the deadline to enroll in individual (private) health coverage during the open enrollment period. In addition to a variety of plan options and carriers, nearly everyone is eligible for subsidized…
Friends & Partners, This time of year is characterized by contrasting emotions. At Advent we feel anticipation, expectation and hope. At Christmas we feel wonder, awe and joy. On New Year’s Eve we feel exhilaration, joy and celebration. Then on January 2, we are jolted back into the humdrum of routine, daily life and…
Editor’s note: This is the third article in a 3-part series about the recent sabbatical experience of CBFNC Executive Coordinator, Larry Hovis. What I Recommend Based on my own experience, as well as the experience of some of the healthiest churches in our fellowship, I wholeheartedly recommend that every church develop and implement…
Editor’s note: This is the second article in a three-part series about the recent sabbatical experience of CBFNC Executive Coordinator Larry Hovis. What I Learned This sabbatical did not contain any formal educational experiences. That was by design. It was, however, a time of deep learning about myself and my call to ministry at…
This is the first article in a 3-part series about the recent sabbatical experience of CBFNC Executive Coordinator Larry Hovis As I approached my 18th anniversary in the role of CBFNC executive coordinator, I found myself suffering from tremendous fatigue, brought about by cultural, congregational and organizational change. This change had been taking place…
CBF of North Carolina is proud to announce that Reverend Adrian Bullock has been hired as the Triangle area campus minister. Encompassing NC State, Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, Adrian will manage the existing Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship (CBSF) ministries, as well as cultivate new discipleship and leadership opportunities for undergraduate students. With support from two…
When war broke out in Ukraine, long-time CBF ministry partner organization Project Ruth, located in Bucharest, Romania, knew they had to respond. The team at Project Ruth that typically runs a school providing education to those affected by poverty, began transforming their space into a shelter for refugees from the war. They also started preparing 4:7…
Welcome House Fayetteville In this video story, Susie Reeder, minister of missions at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, shares how this church has used its property for missions over the years. It started with a single mission house serving a variety of needs over the years. Then in 2021, that house became Welcome House…
CBFNC’s Helping Pastors Thrive Will Begin Two New Cohorts This Fall : One for New Pastors and One for New Associate Pastors The New Pastor Cohort and New Associate Pastor Cohort are two-year programs utilizing a small group model involving 6 – 8 new ministers and 2 – 3 pastoral mentors. The cohorts meet…
By Marv Knox An attempt to help resettle Ukrainians in western North Carolina has prompted a halting-but-hopeful learning experience for both the refugee family and the Cooperative Baptists trying to assist them. The Bochevars—Kate and Peter and their 16-year-old son, Daniel, and 9-year-old daughter, Eliza—have been living with distant relatives in Arden, N.C., about 10…
Andy Hale officially joined the CBFNC team on June 1st, 2022 as associate executive coordinator. He has hit the ground running, learning more about our fellowship and ministries, as well as getting acclimated to living in North Carolina again. A self-described coffee addict, he’s also been putting the office coffee maker to good use! Andy’s…
Dear brothers & sisters in Christ, In the space of only eleven days, we have witnessed two horrific mass shootings in our nation. On May 14, an 18-year-old self-described white supremacist killed ten black people and injured three others at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. On May 24, at an elementary school in…
Mission projects often require volunteers to do all kinds of activities. During Stella Perrin’s recent trip to serve Ukrainian war refugees in Moldova, she did what she does best. She listened. Perrin participated in typical mission-trip projects—caring for children, cleaning up after meals, attending worship and even landscaping. But she also ministered to the refugees…
We have been watching and hearing stories about the invasion of Ukraine for almost three months. The devastation continues to grow and the Ukrainian people continue to flee their homes. Our fellowship is filled with churches and individuals who are eager to help in tangible ways. But it can be hard knowing how best to respond…
On April 7, 2022, the CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) Coordinating Council voted unanimously to call Rev. Andrew (Andy) Hale to fill the role of Associate Executive Coordinator (AEC). Andy currently serves as senior pastor of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Prior to serving that church, he was founding pastor of Mosaic Church…
Dear friends, Today, we share the sad news that Dr. Randall Lolley received his eternal reward Monday, March 21, 2022 when he passed from this earth and into the presence of our Lord. While we grieve the loss of such a great Baptist leader, we celebrate the full life he lived for 90 years, serving…
Many aspects of church life have changed in recent years, but certain elements remain crucial to effective governance. For example, an important role within a congregation is a personnel committee or team that supports, oversees, and evaluates individuals professionally engaged by the church. In an effort to assist your church’s personnel committee in 2022, consider…
We have all been shocked and saddened to see the images of the devastation wrought in the midwest by unusual December tornadoes, especially in Kentucky. CBFNC ministry partner, Baptists on Mission, who are early responders, are sending teams to Bowling Green, KY. More information can be found here: https://baptistsonmission.org/Mission-Projects/By-Mission-Type/Disaster-Relief/Kentucky-Tornadoes CBF Disaster Response is not a first responder…
For the last several months, CBFNC has been working with our missions partners at Welcome House Raleigh (CBF Field Personnel Kim and Marc Wyatt) to assist with the influx of Afghan veterans locating in North Carolina after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. We are thrilled to see so many churches stepping up to help and…
By Leah Anderson Reed Minister with Community, First Baptist-Raleigh In 1980, First Baptist Church in Raleigh started what would become a foundational ministry in its downtown neighborhood. After seeing so much need from the community at the church’s doorstep, a small group of congregants began a clothing closet in the sanctuary’s empty basement. Other…
When we think of the first Thanksgiving, images of English colonists and native Wampanoag people often come to mind. History tells us they gathered together in 1621 to celebrate a successful harvest, marking an extraordinary moment when two vastly different cultures came together. It was an occasion where different races of people who didn’t speak…
The 2020-2021 CBFNC Annual Report, Facing the Challenge, is now available on our website. You may view it online or download a PDF. We also have printed copies in the CBFNC office available for pick up or mail by request. Download a PDF View it online CBFNC Executive Coordinator Larry Hovis shares that churches are…
Everyone is invited to keep track of Larry Hovis, CBFNC executive coordinator, and “Team Hovis” during Welcome Ride 2021 on Thursday, October 14 to Sunday, October 17. Follow Team Hovis’ journey on CBFNC’s Facebook and Instagram pages. We will be posting daily video and photo updates of the ride as well as sharing stories about this ministry. Team Hovis and…
Long-Term Rebuilding Has Begun in Western North Carolina Disaster response in Haywood County has entered the long-term rebuilding stage. Baptists on Mission (NC Baptist Men) is coordinating this work. CBFNC is suggesting two ways for your church to participate: Western Region CBSF (Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowships) will be holding two workdays in the Canton area…
When Tropical Storm Fred dumped massive amounts of rain on western North Carolina in August 2021, CBFNC leaders got in touch with church leaders in the region to offer support, facilitate communication and initiate ministry planning. Haywood County, as well as other surrounding counties, is experiencing devastating flooding. Approximately 500 families have been displaced from…
As CBFNC is gearing up for Welcome Ride 2021–Capital to Coast–Larry Hovis, executive coordinator, shares a recap of last year’s ride and what the Welcome House ministry is all about. (This article originally appeared in the January-February 2021 issue of Nurturing Faith Journal.) Like many kids, I rode a bicycle around my neighborhood as a…
As Americans were celebrating our nation’s independence on Sunday, July 4th, a refugee family arrived at Raleigh Durham International Airport from the other side of the world in another form of independence—their escape and freedom from the civil war in Myanmar, Burma. Upon arrival, they were welcomed to our state and country by loving neighbors…
CBF of North Carolina’s (CBFNC) Welcome House Ministry Team is thrilled to announce it has awarded the first Welcome House Community Network Grant (WHCN) to the Conetoe Family Life Center for the establishment of Welcome House Conetoe. The Conetoe Family Life Center, located in Conetoe in Edgecombe County, is in the process of renovating a…
Like most churches, CBFNC churches regardless of the size, need more staff resources than the available financial resources. Our current, post-pandemic context will require new staffing models. Dan Hotchkiss is a consultant with the Congregational Consulting Group, made up of consultants with the old Alban Institute. Several years ago, I invited him to North Carolina…
Reflections, Challenges & Tips for the Future With Eddie Hammett Thursday, June 24 | 4:00 p.m. (ET) Eddie Hammett, CBFNC’s church and clergy coach since 2009, will be retiring from his role at CBFNC at the end of June. During Eddie’s tenure, he established a coach training program, offered workshops and webinars on the changing…
As you may have noticed, CBFNC has a new look! This refreshed logo was unveiled during the 2021 Virtual Annual Gathering in March and we are currently updating all of our communications platforms to include this new look. The logo refresh was one of the projects undertaken last year by our new Director of Communications,…
CBFNC’s Legal Resource Partner, Jason Cogdill, has provided the following bulletin that includes a summary update on two important business issues potentially applicable to your church. PPP Second Draw Loan Deadline is May 31 For churches and organizations participating in the Second Draw process of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), the deadline for loan…
Jason Cogdill, CBFNC’s new legal resource partner. CBF North Carolina (CBFNC) is excited to announce that we are now offering legal resources to our partner churches, ministers and lay leaders. Jason Cogdill, attorney and CBFNC treasurer, is our new legal resource partner who will provide one-on-one consultation and advising. He will also assist CBFNC staff in…
CBFNC leaders join with other Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders in welcoming President Biden’s announcement that his administration will raise the refugee ceiling to 62,500 people this fiscal year and plans to set a goal of 125,000 refugee admissions for fiscal year 2022. This decision comes following President Biden signing an emergency determination on April 16…
CBFNC Executive Coordinator Larry Hovis responds to the recent violence and racism toward Asian Americans. “Our nation recently witnessed more acts of racial violence, this time directed at Asian Americans. As Cooperative Baptists we stand firmly against all forms of racism and related violence and we decry the events that took place in Atlanta. I…
The 2021 CBFNC Annual Gathering will be a little different this year. Because of the ongoing pandemic, our time together will be completely virtual on Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Though we will miss gathering with you in-person, we hope you will still join us online for this annual…
Over the past week our nation has processed the horrific, violent images on our screens of the events that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Epiphany – January 6, 2021. I was proud to join other CBF state and regional coordinators in condemning the actions of the rioters who stormed the Capitol (https://cbfnc.org/blessed-are-the-peacemakers/). I…
CBFNC Executive Coordinator Larry Hovis has joined with other CBF state and regional leadership to issue the following statement: BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS (Mt. 5:9) A Response to Violence at The United States Capitol by CBF State and Regional Coordinators As Baptist Leaders who represent a rich tradition of faith, freedom and responsibility, we…
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16) I took a quick tour through the Baptist Hymnal (1991) in the sections labeled “Advent” and “Birth.” I was curious as to which words showed up…
From the CBF Blog By Caleb Mynatt As a very well-known faith-based charitable organization in North Carolina, Welcome House has had a tremendous impact on hundreds of people. Now, with expansion in sight, they’re calling on local communities and congregations to help them impact thousands Founded by Kim and Marc Wyatt, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field…
“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,” (Luke 2:17). Even though we Baptists have learned to join the larger Christian church and observe Advent during the four weeks leading up to Christmas, most of us don’t really wait until December 25 to celebrate the…
Embracing vulnerable neighbors right here in our own communities has been the mission priority for CBFNC and our churches for over five years now. Especially during Advent, it’s quite common for CBFNC staff to field questions from church leaders across the state looking for alternatives to some of the larger, more well-known Christmas mission opportunities.…
“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4) Who are your favorite characters in the Christmas story? Shepherds, wise men, the holy family, maybe even Elizabeth or Zechariah? I bet you didn’t name John the Baptist. Yet John is a central character in the…
“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:3) In a normal year, our family’s preparation for Christmas involves several elements: Retrieving Christmas decorations from the attic Thanksgiving weekend and adorning every room in our house with Kim’s magic decorating touch. Sharing gift lists with extended family members and making…
From the Nov-Dec issue of Nurturing Faith Journal By Larry Hovis, CBFNC executive coordinator As I was growing up in the same town as my widowed grandmother who lived with her two sisters, these three women exerted a profound influence on my father, my sister and me. To earn a living, my grandmother ran…
At the CBFNC Annual Business Meeting earlier this year, participants approved changes to the Bylaws that will create 14 ministry teams to lead CBFNC ministries in collaboration with the Coordinating Council and CBFNC staff. The Nominating Team is requesting recommendations for positions related to these teams. You may recommend yourself or someone else. To submit a…
By Jeff Mathis Pastor, First Baptist-Sylva Here is a true statement: Some of us will be displeased with the results of the election. What’s less certain, First Baptist Church, is whether we’ll be displeased with one another. I know. I’m understating it. The word ‘displeased’ doesn’t begin to capture the range of emotions people feel…
By Scott Hudgins Director of CBFNC’s Helping Pastors Thrive Program Anger and no one can heal it. Slides through the metal detector. Lives like a mole in a motel. A slide in a slide projector. The cool, cool river. Sweeps the wild, white ocean. The rage of love turns inward, to prayers of deep devotion.…
By Seth Hix CBFNC Associate Coordinator For the past 32 weeks most of our CBFNC congregations have been worshiping in a virtual, hybrid or outdoor setting. These seven months have required church leaders and pastors to think creatively in planning worship services for Holy Week, Easter, Mother’s Day, graduation celebrations, communion, baby dedications, baptisms and…
By Mary Kaylor CBFNC Associate Coordinator About two weeks ago, Helen Reddy passed away. Many remember her as the Grammy winning ‘I Am Woman’ singer. Her words struck a chord with listeners, becoming a rallying cry for the women’s liberation movement and reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 at the end of 1972.…
By Amanda Atkin, associate minister of Faith Formation Greystone Baptist Church I was sitting in the sanctuary alone one Sunday afternoon, surrounded by the remnants of the Children’s Musical. It was wonderful; I was so proud of the kids. But as I reflected on the experience, I must confess I was touched by something a…
First Baptist-Black Mountain is another CBFNC partner church providing a ministry that has recently joined the Welcome House Community Network in living out the call Jesus gave us to welcome strangers. In partnership with other churches and volunteers of the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, First-Black Mountain provides emergency shelter for the homeless in the winter…
‘A good neighbor’: Church to provide classrooms for students displaced by storms CBFNC church, Immanuel Baptist in Greenville has been providing neighborly hospitality in the form of classroom space to middle school students whose school was damaged by Hurricane Isaias. (Read the story below that originally appeared in the September 11, 2020 edition of The Daily…
CBFNC’s new Welcome House Community Network (WHCN) has a bold vision to establish new Welcome House ministries in every city and town across North Carolina. The goal is to replicate and expand the existing Welcome House-Raleigh model that provides temporary housing and support services for immigrants and refugees in the Triangle region. WHCN seeks to provide…
By Wanda Kidd CBFNC Collegiate Engagement Coordinator Luke 18:16-17– “But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a…
Watch The Video Announcement Join the Journey for Home! -Inaugural fundraiser for the Welcome House Community Network- CBF of North Carolina announces “Welcome Ride 2020,” on October 9-12 as the inaugural fundraiser to jumpstart the Welcome House Community Network (WHCN). Two weeks ago, CBFNC’s Coordinating Council adopted the WHCN as a bold new missions program of…
By Seth Hix CBFNC Associate Coordinator In a noble attempt to engage a group of CBFNC pastors in yet another zoom call, the facilitator asked each person to offer one word to describe the past few months. As predicted, CBFNC pastors have some of the best words! Disoriented; unsettled; adaptable; improvisation; resilient; uncharted. Each…
Carolyn McClendon has joined the CBFNC team as the new Welcome House Community Network (WHCN) coordinator. She serves as a team member at WHCN with CBF Field Personnel Kim and Marc Wyatt in the Triangle region. WHCN is a newly formed collaborative ministry between CBFNC, the Wyatts, local individuals and partner congregations to provide hospitality ministry…
By Felicia Fox Associate Pastor for Youth, Children and Discipleship at FBC Gastonia At the beginning of the pandemic I started doing a lot of on-line shopping. Not only did I end up with a lot of new random things, I also ended up with a lot of cardboard boxes. My cat loved this new…
As school has resumed for many across our state in the last two weeks, we offer this prayer. CBFNC is in prayer for each student, parent, teacher, principal, school staff, superintendent, and school board. This has indeed been a weird start to the new school year and we pray for a year full of learning…
The CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) Coordinating Council is excited to announce its unanimous approval to adopt Welcome House Community Network (WHCN) as a new missions program of CBFNC. WHCN is a newly formed collaborative ministry between CBFNC, CBF Field Personnel Marc and Kim Wyatt, local individuals and partner congregations to provide hospitality ministry to vulnerable neighbors in…
By Scott Hudgins Director of CBFNC’s Helping Pastors Thrive Ministry A few Sundays ago, I took the opportunity this pandemic provided to drop in on worship in each of the congregations where I have belonged over the course of my life. Given that they are all online, it was really a remarkable experience and…
By Amy Shortt Minister of Music, Lakeside Baptist-Rocky Mount Started in 2013, NOTEBUSTERS, an annual community children’s music camp hosted by Lakeside Baptist in Rocky Mount, NC, meets the first week in August and is open to all children entering grades 2-7 who love to sing. Each year, music and activities are centered around a…
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. “ – Frederick Buechner Frederick Buechner’s well know quote on calling has resonated with me over the past seven or eight months. I can honestly say that it has taken me 46+ years to come to…
It is with bittersweet gladness that CBFNC announces Andy Jung, associate executive coordinator, has accepted a full-time position with Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). At the end of August, Andy will begin his new role as FYI’s Director of Church Engagement. As a branch of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, FYI turns academic research into practical resources…
By Andy Jung CBFNC Associate Executive Coordinator The world seems to be upside down, inside out. There is a level of collective anxiety that is unsettling. Everyone is on edge and it seems like one more thing will tip us over. Whether it is the world battling a global pandemic or our nation wrestling…
By Ed Beddingfield Pastor at Memorial Baptist Church, Buies Creek, NC One problem with slogans is that they rarely tell the whole story. Consider the title Pilate attached to the cross when Jesus was crucified: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” It was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, so that all who…
By Jim Hylton CBFNC Business Administration Coordinator “When I was young and they packed me off to school, and taught me how NOT to play the game; I didn’t mind if they groomed me for success, hah, or if they said that I was just a fool. So I left there in the morning with…
By Wanda Kidd CBFNC Collegiate Engagement Coordinator Justice is a very important component of the Judeo/Christian calling. The mandate of implementing justice for the poor, the powerless and the voiceless is a strong and consistent obligation for believers as we read and are challenged as Christ followers. It is a long game and one that needs…
By Kim Wyatt CBF Field Personnel and Co-Founder of Welcome House Community Network Of all the things I thought I might do, teaching English to students using an online platform was not one of them. I never imagined teachers and students gathered daily for an hour or so staring into a phone. My world and…
By Rev. Amy Starr Russell Associate Minister-First Baptist Church, Henderson The “Protective Gown Project” of First Baptist Church in Henderson began as a voicemail with a simple request for 5 tables and the use of the fellowship hall in early April 2020. FBC members Nancy Noel and her son Dr. Robert Noel had an idea…
By J. Scott Hudgins CBFNC Director of Helping Pastor’s Thrive In late March my congregation, like many others, established a special task force on the COVID-19 pandemic to help our staff and church navigate through this remarkable season of our church’s life. Often at the beginning of each meeting (by Zoom, of course), my pastor…
Opinion by Alan Sherouse from The Christian Century Senior Pastor, First Baptist-Greensboro The weeks since the killing of George Floyd have seen some of the most sustained protests in US history, with swelling outrage at racial injustice and a growing acknowledgment of the reality of systemic racism in policing and throughout society. We in the church…
By Mark Mofield Senior Pastor, Temple Baptist-Durham My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; And by night, but find no rest. Psalm 22:1-2 Until a few weeks ago, I had…
As churches and leaders reframe their ministries for this summer due to Covid-19, it provides an opportunity to deepen the conversation on the current racial tension in our nation. We have revised the final week of the “What’s Next” series to continue the conversation about racial equity & justice. Dr. Curtis Freeman (Director of Baptist House…
By Andy Jung CBFNC Associate Executive Coordinator Over the last week, as I watched the images of the protests filled with pain and outrage, I’ve felt sadness and grief. I empathize with the pain of the black community that has led to the massive protests. The systemic racism that has existed for over 400 years…
“How long, O Lord?” This opening sentence from the thirteenth Psalm entered my mind when I saw the video of a white police officer’s knee thrust into the back of the neck of an unarmed black man he had pinned on the pavement. Of course, this was only the newest example in recent weeks of…
Ahmaud, Breonna, Christian, George, and The Talk Every Black Boy Receives OPINION BY TIMOTHY PEOPLES, as posted by Baptist News Global, May 29, 2020 I was having an at-home physical. You may be familiar with them; you have to get one for life insurance coverage. I guessed my blood pressure would be high, given the…
In many ways it feels like more than two and half months have passed since the CBFNC Coordinating Council made the difficult decision on March 10 to cancel this year’s Annual Gathering because of the looming pandemic. Little did we know on that day that most of our churches would not gather in-person the following…
By Andy Jung CBFNC Associate Executive Coordinator There’s no mistaking that the COVID-19 pandemic has made us ever-more reliant on technology. Many of us have come to depend on it for work, for connection and for entertainment. We spend countless hours on Zoom or other meeting platforms to continue our work in a variety…
By Rev. Seth Hix, CBFNC Associate Coordinator Much has been written recently about church life and ministry as we begin to move into the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, CBFNC Executive Coordinator Larry Hovis shared some important considerations for “When and How Can We Resume our Church Gatherings?” CBFNC has planned…
As we are beginning to think about and plan for resuming church gatherings, CBFNC is launching a six-week virtual roundtable series on this topic on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time) beginning May 5. The series will include three “big picture” sessions led by CBFNC Church and Clergy Coach Eddie Hammett and his Where is Church…
By Rev. Brittany Caldwell, RN, BSN, MDiv Pastor, Nobles Chapel Baptist Church Touch is sacred for the church. We touch in order to meet the felt needs of the world, to physically be the hands of Christ. We hold hands to lift our voices up together in prayer. We pass the peace through the shaking…
Social Distancing. Shelter-at-home. Economic challenges. Everyone yearning for a return to normalcy. For people of faith, there is also the question of when we can go back to church to gather with friends for worship, study and fellowship. Just as CBFNC has sought to provide resources to church leaders on how to worship and minister…
Most of us are familiar with the term, “Citizen-Soldier.” It refers to a large segment of the modern military and encompasses members of the National Guard and the reserves of various branches of the military. Approximately one-third of all military personnel are Citizen-Soldiers. They hold down regular jobs, take time off from those jobs to…
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact our lives in mid-March, CBFNC quickly discerned ways we could provide relevant support to partner congregations and ministry organizations across North Carolina. With the pace of change accelerating to warp speed, it has been difficult to keep up with the needs. However, one of the practical ways CBFNC…
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced one North Carolina church into 21st century technology, not only did the church launch a livestream, they premiered it on the most important Sunday of the church year! First Baptist in Lexington, NC had been planning to livestream its services for a few years. They were already on the local…
On March 27th, 2020 President Trump signed into law the $2 trillion CARES Act, (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The bill includes financial assistance to both 501(c)(3) organizations and small businesses with 500 or less employees through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Churches and non-profit religious organizations are included in the PPP. In…
Free Webinar for Church Leaders Sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina Wednesday, April 1, 2020 1:00 p.m. Coronavirus has certainly disrupted or normal schedules, but it has also created an enormous opportunity to take the hope of the Gospel to the people and places in need in our communities. Now is the…
CBF of North Carolina will host online gatherings for congregational leaders and pastors in an effort to share information, ideas, challenges and insights during a time of social distancing. Join others online for conversation. Topics and online location are listed below: Mental and Spiritual Wellness During Unprecedented Times Tuesday, April 21 | 2:00-3:00 p.m.…
-By Eddie Hammett, church and clergy coach for CBFNC The biblical model of church has included a ‘gathered’ community (ecclesia) and a ‘scattered,’ dispersed (diaspora) community from the beginning. Much of recent church history has focused on the assembled, ‘gathered’ community of faith that typically meets in an ‘institutional church.’ Such an arrangement has served…
Partners & Friends, In less than a week, the Coronavirus has changed our communities, our state and our world in unimaginable ways. Many partner congregations were not able to gather for worship on Sunday and it is unclear when we will be able to gather again. In the meantime, we have an opportunity to live out…
Friends & Partners, Our CBFNC Staff and Coordinating Council met this morning to discern what action we should take for the Annual Gathering planned for next week (March 19-21) in the midst of this Coronavirus emergency. By a unanimous vote, members of the Coordinating Council made the difficult decision to CANCEL the 2020 Annual Gathering.…
CBFNC is excited to announce that Rev. Mary Kaylor has been named associate coordinator. This is a new, strategic position for CBFNC and Mary, who has been serving as programs manager. In this new role, Mary joins the team of coordinators that direct and carry out the mission and ministry of CBFNC. The nature of…
CBFNC’s Coordinating and Ministry Councils have been working for almost a year to develop a new ministry team structure to replace the current ministry council structure. This approach necessitates changes to the CBFNC Bylaws, which was planned to be presented for approval at the 2020 CBFNC Annual Gathering that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Hear from lay leader Becky Keesler, moderator of CBFNC Coordinating Council, about why someone should attend our Annual Gathering. We hope to see you in Raleigh, March 19-21, 2020. Click to REGISTER online.
Jamie M. Rorrer Joins CBFNC as Director of Communications CBFNC is excited to announce that we have a new staff member. Jamie M. Rorrer joined our team on January 6th as our Director of Communications. This is a new, strategic position for CBFNC that was created at the end of last year. In this role, Jamie…
From CBF For congregations to thrive and Christ’s mission among us to flourish, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has entered a season of discovering where God would focus our work together. Now through Feb. 2, take CBF’s online survey about your church and your personal ministry aspirations. Learn more about this process of prayerful discovery leading…
by Nell Green, CBF Field Personnel She just wanted to get to a Texas city where her husband and other child were waiting. The threats and violence in her home country were more than a single mom could handle. It took her weeks to make the journey, having to give birth to a baby along…
As a child, I was taught to study missions, to pray for missionaries, and to give generously to missions (especially at Christmas and Easter). Yet, other than possibly becoming a vocational missionary someday, being involved in missions was not emphasized. In college, I took my first mission trip—to New York City. It was transformative. In…
Leadership development has been a priority for CBFNC throughout our 25-year history. In our previous governance structure, we had a Leadership Development Task Force, which became the current Leadership Development Council. For the past ten years, we have invested, on average, $350,000 annually on leadership development ministries with a majority of those dollars going to…
How many CBF churches are there in North Carolina?” is a question I am often asked. There is no simple answer to that question. The problem is with defining what is meant by “CBF church.” In Baptist polity, each church is unique and determines with whom and to what extent it affiliates with other organizations.…
