{"id":4119,"date":"2025-09-02T10:26:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T14:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/?p=4119"},"modified":"2025-09-02T10:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T14:27:30","slug":"an-educated-guess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/2025\/09\/an-educated-guess\/","title":{"rendered":"An Educated Guess"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Eight years ago this August, a handful of faithful dreamers gathered for the very first time to pray about what would become <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelocalchurchpbo.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Local Church<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We met at Krista and John\u2019s house. Peggy and Paul brought casseroles. I brought a loaf of Hawaiian bread, some grape juice, and a bottle of wine called Educated Guess\u2014because in truth, everything we were doing felt like one big educated guess (held up by a lot of prayer). It seemed fitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local Tables (our version of small groups) wouldn\u2019t launch until the following spring. Weekly worship wouldn\u2019t begin for another two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2014and gave them space to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later that night, in my journal on August 6, 2017, I wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Everyone brought with them a different hope, yet there were still themes that emerged. Themes of impactful mission that\u2019s 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\u2019s the work we\u2019ll begin to do together soon.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eight years later, that <em>educated guess<\/em> has become a chartered United Methodist congregation. And as I look back\u2014something admittedly rare for me, since I\u2019m usually so eager to dream about what\u2019s next\u2014I\u2019m overwhelmed with gratitude for how the hopes our team prayed into in 2017 have come to abundant life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration-1440x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4122\" style=\"border-radius:20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-celebration.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Rev. Brent Levy and Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton launch confetti celebrating new confirmands during the chartering service.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Because here\u2019s just a glimpse of what has happened: By God\u2019s 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\u2019ve worked to support students experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. The Local Church has cleared teacher wish lists so educators wouldn\u2019t have to pay out of pocket for basic classroom supplies. We\u2019ve written to lawmakers, hosted community feasts that raised thousands of dollars for local nonprofits, and helped bring Pittsboro\u2019s first-ever Pride Festival to life\u2014welcoming more than 1,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it\u2019s 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\u2019d find themselves in a church have found belonging\u2014 a place to call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids-1440x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4123\" style=\"border-radius:20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-kids.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton presiding over communion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All of this is a testament to the Spirit\u2019s work through the North Carolina Conference and the <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/\">Office of New Faith Communities<\/a>, 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christmethodist.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Christ United Methodist Church<\/a> in Chapel Hill and the visionary leadership of its lead pastors, who helped nurture this dream into reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the beginning, we\u2019ve carried Jeremiah\u2019s words as our North Star: \u201cBut 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\u201d (Jeremiah 29:7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At The Local Church, we put it like this: Love where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group-1440x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4124\" style=\"border-radius:20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/local-church-group.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Rev. Dr. Tim Catlett, Rev. Sunny Limm, and Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton pose alongside the Rev. Brent Levy and members of The Local Church at the end of the chartering service.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Leaning into this mission, again and again, we\u2019ve discovered\u2014and bear witness to\u2014the One who takes even our educated guesses and makes of them far more than we could ever ask or imagine. Thanks be to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/nccumc\/albums\/72177720328660021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of the chartering service\u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-52b7703d wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-radius:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:20%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1942\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/Rev.-Brent-Levy-Headshot-square.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4132\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/Rev.-Brent-Levy-Headshot-square.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/Rev.-Brent-Levy-Headshot-square-675x720.jpg 675w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/Rev.-Brent-Levy-Headshot-square-1350x1440.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/Rev.-Brent-Levy-Headshot-square-768x819.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/08\/Rev.-Brent-Levy-Headshot-square-1440x1536.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<p><em>Article written by Rev. Brent Levy.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-border-color has-theme-primary-border-color has-theme-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ae744a23 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:4px;border-radius:20px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-14cf5ab5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"754\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2022\/09\/ncc-nfc-octagons-circle-e1722877656412.png\" alt=\"NFC Jerusalem cross with four icons in each quadrant\" class=\"wp-image-3075\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:225px;height:225px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e0082cf6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>You Can Help Support Churches Like The Local Church<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-radius:0px\">The Local Church was supported in part by the Ten Dollar Club. When you give to the Ten Dollar Club, your contribution helps to continue to plant new United Methodist Churches throughout the North Carolina Conference. Would you consider a recurring or one-time gift today?<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/give\/\">Give Now\u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[73,7],"class_list":["post-4119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-fairway-district","tag-new-faith-communities"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>An Educated Guess | New Faith Communities | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/new-faith-communities\/2025\/09\/an-educated-guess\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An Educated Guess | New Faith Communities | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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. 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