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Serving the Community
This Thanksgiving, communities in North Carolina showed resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Churches, nonprofits, and volunteers worked tirelessly to provide meals and support for families still recovering from the storm’s impact.
Signing church services for the deaf is not just a technical skill but an act of love and deep biblical knowledge, according to leaders in this specialized ministry. At the First Baptist Church of Suitland in Maryland, two interpreters translate the pastor’s sermon into American Sign Language. As more congregations seek to be inclusive, the demand for qualified interpreters continues to grow.
Housing Crisis
Across North Carolina, zoning updates aim to encourage multifamily housing developments, but experts warn that these changes alone may not be enough to address the root causes of homelessness. In Charlotte, North Carolina, faith communities are stepping up by leveraging church-owned land to create affordable housing solutions. Congregations and city officials are collaborating to tackle housing insecurity. Charlotte “is at the forefront of an emerging national movement of faith-based institutions building housing on their properties,” Caldwell Presbyterian pastor John Cleghorn writes.
Immigration
U.S. Catholic bishops have spoken out against mass deportations, labeling them as violations of fundamental human rights. Leaders at the Conference of Catholic Bishops highlighted their commitment to upholding the dignity of immigrants and advocating for compassionate immigration reform. Meanwhile, the resurgent sanctuary movement is gaining momentum as faith leaders consider whether houses of worship should once again become places of refuge for immigrants. The New Sanctuary Movement, launched in 2014, critiques deportation and failures in the immigration system, with many houses of worship joining the movement and housing migrants.
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