Eight years ago this August, a handful of faithful dreamers gathered for the very first time to pray about what would become The Local Church.

We met at Krista and John’s house. Peggy and Paul brought casseroles. I brought a loaf of Hawaiian bread, some grape juice, and a bottle of wine called Educated Guess—because in truth, everything we were doing felt like one big educated guess (held up by a lot of prayer). It seemed fitting.

Local Tables (our version of small groups) wouldn’t launch until the following spring. Weekly worship wouldn’t begin for another two years.

But that night, before we shared Holy Communion together for the first time as a launch team, I asked what hopes they carried for this new faith community—and gave them space to respond.

Later that night, in my journal on August 6, 2017, I wrote:

Everyone brought with them a different hope, yet there were still themes that emerged. Themes of impactful mission that’s focused locally. The importance of children being incorporated into the life of the community. A place of vibrancy and life and excitement where everyone belongs. So how might these all come together? I guess that’s the work we’ll begin to do together soon.

Eight years later, that educated guess has become a chartered United Methodist congregation. And as I look back—something admittedly rare for me, since I’m usually so eager to dream about what’s next—I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for how the hopes our team prayed into in 2017 have come to abundant life.

Because here’s just a glimpse of what has happened: By God’s grace, The Local Church has donated tens of thousands of diapers to families in need across Chatham County. Together with other area United Methodist congregations, we’ve worked to support students experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. The Local Church has cleared teacher wish lists so educators wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for basic classroom supplies. We’ve written to lawmakers, hosted community feasts that raised thousands of dollars for local nonprofits, and helped bring Pittsboro’s first-ever Pride Festival to life—welcoming more than 1,000 people.

And it’s not just our outward witness. Inside our walls, our kids and youth ministry has grown from one classroom to four in just the past year. More than that, The Local Church has become a place where people who never thought they’d find themselves in a church have found belonging— a place to call home.

All of this is a testament to the Spirit’s work through the North Carolina Conference and the Office of New Faith Communities, which not only gave us a foundation to build on but has equipped and empowered us every step of the way. And none of it would have been possible without the support of Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill and the visionary leadership of its lead pastors, who helped nurture this dream into reality.

From the beginning, we’ve carried Jeremiah’s words as our North Star: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

At The Local Church, we put it like this: Love where you are.

Leaning into this mission, again and again, we’ve discovered—and bear witness to—the One who takes even our educated guesses and makes of them far more than we could ever ask or imagine. Thanks be to God.

See photos of the chartering service→