NC Baptists

In this special live recording from the N.C. Baptist Annual Meeting, episode host Aaron Wallace talks with Global Missions Coordinator Janet Packard and Pastor Neal Thornton about why caring for missionaries is part of the core identity of a Great Commission church. With more than 500 IMB missionaries from North Carolina alone, the opportunity to support them is vast and fruitful. This conversation explores what happens when churches take missionary care seriously. Janet Packard, N.C. Baptists’ new global missions coordinator, highlights the value of starting with a missions assessment, a simple tool that helps churches identify how to build relationships with missionaries and engage strategically in the Great Commission.  Neal Thorton, church planter and pastor of Coram Deo Baptist Church in Raleigh, shares why caring for missionaries enriches the entire church, creating a culture of “one another” compassion and helping believers see their Bibles and communities through a missionary lens. The conversation points to practical first steps, from praying for missionaries to reading biographies to forming long-term friendships with those serving overseas. Listen in to hear how N.C. Baptist churches can link arms with the hundreds of missionaries from North Carolina who need ongoing care, prayer and partnership.

The church is in a ‘strategic moment’ to reach a generation hungry for truth. In this episode, Todd Unzicker sits down with Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board, to talk about how God is at work among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Generations Z and Alpha are often marked by their values of authenticity and transparency, and their cause-driven motivations. Shane Pruitt joins Todd Unzicker to unpack the current traits of these two young generations and the church’s opportunity to connect with them in their search for answers. Their general tendency to mistrust and counter cultural narratives opens doors for ministry leaders to share the gospel and disciple them. From embracing your role as a mentor to letting young people serve and lead, Shane shares practical insight for discipling the next generation to declare and demonstrate the gospel. 

What does it really mean to belong to a local church? Pastors Josh Wredberg and Matt Capps join us to talk about their new book Every Member Matters, exploring why church membership is a joyful opportunity to grow, serve and join God’s mission together. They unpack how committed membership strengthens discipleship and fuels the church’s mission. In this episode, Josh Wredberg, lead pastor of Redeemer Community Church in Fuquay-Varina, and Matt Capps, lead pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, join Brian Upshaw, director of N.C. Baptists’ Ministry Strategies group. Wredberg and Capps wrote a new book called Every Member Matters: Why Your Church Needs You and Why You Need Your Church.  In this conversation, the pastors share a compelling vision for church membership as more than just names on a roll, but active participation. They present a vision of membership that centers on discipleship, community and living on mission together. They talk about the biblical pattern of membership, the joys and challenges of being part of a committed body of believers, and how strong membership can lead to powerful mission.

In today’s cultural climate, many people – even in the church – view faith as a tool for personal fulfillment rather than a life transformed by Jesus. Author and ministry leader Trevin Wax joins Todd Unzicker to explore how churches can break through expressive individualism, build a counter-cultural community, and engage an increasingly open yet spiritually confused world. In this episode, Trevin Wax, vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board, unpacks the cultural shifts shaping how people react and respond to the gospel today. He explains how the dominant story of “expressive individualism” influences even faithful churchgoers, often distorting biblical teaching into a version of the American dream with a Christian appearance.  Wax shares practical ways for pastors and leaders to create a church culture distinct enough to influence the surrounding community, while recognizing the surprising openness many people have toward spiritual conversations. From redefining “abundant life” to leveraging everyday conversations, this discussion equips church leaders to be salt and light in a changing world.

If your church faced legal trouble, would it be ready? In this episode, Seth Brown sits down with Isaiah Turner of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)’s Church & Ministry Alliance to talk about how churches can be both faithful and legally prepared in today’s shifting cultural landscape.  From restroom policies to youth retreats and staffing questions, Turner shares real-world legal challenges churches are facing across the country. He explains how the ADF Church & Ministry Alliance helps local churches stay protected and aligned with their biblical convictions, so you can stay focused on the Great Commission. Alliance Defending Freedom, a trusted partner of N.C. Baptists, offers tools to help churches steward their mission, documents and policies. Through the Church & Ministry Alliance, churches gain access to religious liberty assessments, legal reviews, and attorney support — all at a discounted rate for partnering N.C. Baptist churches. This service helps ensure your church is equipped to live sent, stand firm and keep proclaiming the gospel. Take a listen to hear how your church can be ready before a challenge ever arises.