Churches and Flourishing Communities

In her January Series talk, urban revitalization advocate Majora Carter challenged a familiar story about struggling neighborhoods: that success means leaving. Instead, she invited us to imagine what it looks like when communities are supported to thrive from within: when people are able to stay, invest, build, and flourish in the places they call home.

Carter reminded us that flourishing is not about managing poverty or creating short-term fixes. It’s about designing communities with dignity, beauty, and sustainability in mind. That means neighborhoods with green spaces and safe places to gather, housing that people can afford and want to stay in, local jobs, and everyday meeting places that help neighbors connect and belong.

For churches, this vision invites us to think practically and locally — not just about what our neighborhoods need, but about how we show up as long-term partners in the places God has already planted us.

Practical ways churches can nurture local flourishing

Start with listening
True partnership begins with understanding. Before starting a new program or ministry, churches can take intentional steps to listen: Through neighborhood walks, informal conversations in local coffee shops, or in meetings with community leaders and organizations already doing the work. Listening helps shift our posture from “fixing problems” to learning where God is already at work and how we might come alongside it.

Invest locally, no matter how small
Local investment doesn’t require large budgets. Congregations can choose to support neighborhood businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs by hosting meetings or events in local spaces, purchasing goods and services locally, or inviting community members to share their gifts within church life. These choices help strengthen the local economy and signal that the church values the people who live nearby.

Use church spaces as shared community spaces
Many church buildings sit largely unused throughout the week. Opening those spaces for tutoring, community meals, support groups, neighborhood meetings, or pop-up events can turn the church into a place of welcome and belonging. When churches offer their space generously, they communicate trust and hospitality, which are powerful foundations for relationship-building.

Prioritize presence over projects
Sustainable community flourishing grows through long-term presence. Churches can encourage members to show up consistently at school events, neighborhood meetings, local festivals, and community initiatives. These ordinary acts of presence build relationships, deepen trust, and remind neighbors that the church is committed for the long haul, not just a season.

Advocate for dignity and long-term well-being
Caring for our neighborhoods also means paying attention to the systems that shape daily life. Churches can use their collective voice to support efforts that promote safe housing, green spaces, public transportation, and economic opportunity. Advocacy becomes an extension of loving our neighbors.

Seeing communities flourish means recognizing that neighborhoods are not projects to manage, but places already rich with people, stories, and God-given potential. When churches choose presence, partnership, and long-term commitment, they participate in God’s ongoing work of renewal right where they are planted.

Reflection & discussion questions

• How do we currently define “success” in our neighborhood or community? Who benefits from that definition, and who might be left out?
• What people, organizations, or informal networks are already contributing to flourishing in our neighborhood? How well do we know them?
• In what ways might our church unintentionally prioritize programs over relationships?
• How could we make better use of our building or resources to serve our immediate community?
• Where might God be inviting us to move from short-term help toward long-term presence and partnership?
• What is one small, concrete step our congregation could take in the next three months to invest more deeply in our neighborhood?