A little over two years ago, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward invited me to consider serving as the Executive Director of the Office of New Faith Communities for our Conference. One of the first tasks she gave me was for our office to research and understand the era between 1952 and 1968, known as a “Golden Era” of church planting for our Conference. This coincides with when Bishop Paul Garber served as bishop. Over 70 new churches were started in those 16 years.
Early during his time serving as bishop, Bishop Garber said, “ A task before the North Carolina Conference is the building of new sanctuaries of worship to take care of the growing and changing population of our state. We need to have in our Conference a revival …”
Our state continues to grow and change. In 1970, 5 million people lived in North Carolina. In 2020, over 10 million people called North Carolina home. In addition to population growth, our state is growing more racially, theologically, and socially diverse.
In the book of Revelation, we are reminded that the eternal kingdom of God reflects the gathering of all of God’s people “… and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” – Revelation 7:9
As our state continues to grow and change, we are experiencing the opportunity for a new revival – a revival which welcomes all of God’s children to be gathered in communion with Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful for the work of those saints who have gone before us, and the continued work of our local churches who are extending graceful hospitality to all of our neighbors. May the collective communion table of Christ expand and grow, creating new places for new people to know and share the love and grace of God.
Almighty God, may your Holy Spirit infuse us with an imagination for an expansive communion table, where all of your children are welcomed, honored, and experience the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rev. Tim Catlett serves as the Executive Director of the Office of New Faith Communities.
Our theme for this year’s Lenten reflections is Graceful Hospitality. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ten Dollar Club, now known as the New Room Society. We give thanks for our Conference’s ongoing commitment to co-creating new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ and extending graceful hospitality to all of God’s children.