COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community development is one of the main ways we engage with our city and our vision of seeking the “good of Durham” as well as the mercy and justice arm of the Become Initiative. Over the past year, we have focused on building our three internal community development ministries–Repair, Educational Partnership Outreach (EPO), and Adoption and Foster Care (AFC).

Repair

Repair is a practical expression of Christ’s love and hope to neighbors in our city. The goal of this ministry is to assist Durham homeowners by making essential repairs to their homes. Before 2021 we partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help in these repairs. In 2021, we built off that partnership to create an in-house ministry that identifies homeowners in need and equips our congregation to serve them appropriately. Our Repair team was hard at work throughout the year and most recently completed their first repairs as an independent ministry.

Educational Partnership Outreach

Educational Partnership Outreach continued to grow in 2021. We are incredibly thankful for our relationship with our neighbors at Durham Nativity School and C.C. Spaulding Elementary and the partnership opportunities that have arisen. In what has been an extremely challenging year for schools, EPO provided staff appreciation gifts and breakfasts throughout the year. Our EPO team also supported schools by providing Thanksgiving Meals for families at C.C. Spaulding and Christmas Meals for Durham Nativity School families by collecting donations from within our congregation. EPO also held a school supply drive to kick off the school year well for both partner schools.

Adoption and Foster Care

In 2021 we established our Adoption and Foster Care (AFC) ministry. AFC desires to practically and prayerfully coming alongside families and individuals pursuing foster care and adoption. As this ministry launched, we’ve partnered with nearly a dozen families at Christ Central to surround them with care communities as they walk the journey of foster care and adoption. We are excited to see how the Lord uses this ministry as it continues to grow in 2022.

Missions

In 2021 our Missions Team was faithful in stewarding the resources entrusted to them as a team, investing them in Gospel centered resources both in local ministry, on campuses, in church plants, and in ministry work around the world. The desire of our Missions Team is to invest in work that aligns with our values as a church, and equips and empowers Gods people in Durham and around the world.

During the 2021 fiscal year we gave a total of $145,565 to both our local and global partners that they might accomplish their missions. This total represents about 10% of our annual operating budget, a practice we strive for annually.

In the coming year our Missions Team is hopeful that they can develop and refresh their vision, mission and processes, that they might be able to engage our congregation with opportunities to support our partners through prayer and engagement beyond finances.