As churches make preparations for the statewide initiative ServeNC in early August, a church and association in northeastern North Carolina have agreed to commit upwards of $60,000 to neighboring churches as a way to encourage churches in the region to “ServeNC.”

According to James Harrington, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Moyock, his church has agreed to give $1,000 to any neighboring church that needs financial assistance to complete service projects for ServeNC, with a total pledge of up to $60,000 to neighboring churches.

In addition, Fellowship Baptist’s association, the Chowan Baptist Association, has agreed to give nearly $8,000 to churches that may need financial support to accomplish ServeNC, which will be taking place Aug. 3-10 throughout North Carolina. The statewide initiative encourages churches to find ways to meet physical needs and engage their communities through service projects.

Harrington hopes this funding will be of benefit to churches that have been interested in participating in ServeNC, but have yet to commit because of a potential financial burden. 

“My hope is that some (churches) will say, ‘Well, if they’re willing to do that, then maybe we could serve coffee or go clean up somebody’s yard,’” Harrington said. “$1,000 would go a long way for some of these churches.”

According to Harrington, the church and association’s financial assistance has been made available to churches within the Chowan Baptist Association, as well as other associations that operate nearby. Churches in the area were made aware of the funding opportunity in a letter sent earlier this month. 

For Fellowship Baptist, the decision to establish this fund for neighboring churches came after a season of growth within the church. After experiencing an increase in baptisms and giving over the past couple of years, Fellowship Baptist recognized that God may be leading the church to utilize its growth as a way to serve others.

“With a little more money than we’ve had in the past, and being in pretty good shape, I don’t think the Lord would be pleased with us … to just sit and not utilize that money for some kind of ministry,” Harrington said.

Fellowship Baptist wasn’t the only one to recognize the need to support other churches. After the church committed funding to neighboring churches, Harrington, who serves as the associational mission strategist for the Chowan Baptist Association, shared the church’s plans with the associational leadership team. 

After discussion, the associational leadership team collectively agreed to make additional contributions to churches needing support, using mission funds available through the North Carolina Missions Offering. 

“So there are two resources now that our associational churches have,” Harrington said. 

As of Thursday, April 25, nearly 800 churches from across the state have pledged to participate in ServeNC. Harrington hopes his neighboring churches will join others across the state, taking advantage of both the funding and the initiative as they look to serve as a light in their communities. 

“If you ask any church, ‘Do you want to grow?’ Of course they’re going to say yes,” Harrington said. “If you want to grow, you’ve got to go.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE – To learn more about the N.C. Baptist initiative ServeNC, visit servenc.com. Our ministries are made possible by the generosity of N.C. Baptists. Consider supporting the mission by visiting ncbaptist.org/give.)