Faith in Rural Communities has partnered with The Neighboring Movement to bring the Good Neighbor Experiment to churches in North Carolina. The Neighboring Movement is a nonprofit started in Wichita, Kansas by neighbors who desired to live out their Christian faith within the context of a neighborhood. Since 2015, they have been researching neighboring initiatives, experimenting in our own neighborhood called SoCe (south central), and teaching about neighboring across the country.
The Good Neighbor Experiment is a 5-month learning cohort that takes Jesus' call to love your neighbors literally and seriously. How well do you know the people who live in the immediate area around your home? How would your life be different if you knew those people better and could support one another? How could those individual, personal relationships transform your church? Help your congregation move from inauthenticity to joy, draining program management to relationships, and scarcity to abundance using the tools of asset-based community development.
The program includes:
- 4 weeks of worship service resources (scripture and hymn recommendations, sermon outlines, children's moment illustrations, and more)
- 11 weeks of small group study with practical applications to help the members of your church get to know their neighbors better
- Coaching with a trained coach while in the program, with access to additional support once you complete the program
- Invitation to 2 in-person events and additional virtual events with other churches from across North Carolina also participating in the cohort
- Ability to apply for a $500 micro-grant for a church community-building project or event
The full cost for the program is $1,000, but scholarships of up to $500 are available. Faith in Rural Communities does not want cost to be a barrier that keeps the members of your congregation from these transformational tools.
Key Dates
March - April: Applications accepted
April - May: Churches conduct worship series
Saturday, June 1: Good Neighbor Experiment Kick-off
June- Early September: Churches facilitate the curriculum
Saturday, September 14: Good Neighbor Experiment Storytelling Celebration
Complete the form below and we'll be in touch with you shortly.
Questions? Email Andrew Hudgins, Faith in Rural Communities Program Associate, at ahudgins@ncruralcenter.org.