Helping Families Find and Follow Jesus
By Ellis White, Senior Pastor
A lot of parents are asking the same question right now—even if they don’t say it out loud: Am I doing enough to help my kids actually know Jesus? Not just attend church. Not just learn the stories. But truly find and follow him.
That quiet concern is real. And it’s exactly why our heart as a church is simple, but not small: we want to help families find and follow Jesus—not just on Sundays, not just in one season of life, but in the everyday rhythms of homes, conversations, and relationships.
That vision is shaping how we’re investing our time, our people, and our spaces right now.
This past Wednesday, we launched The Marriage Course with 75 couples. That number alone is significant—but what stood out even more was what happened alongside it. Roughly 150 adults and 150 kids were impacted in one night. About 40 of those adults aren’t even part of Chapel Hill, which means this is already reaching beyond our walls. And it took more than 50 people from our church stepping in to serve to make it happen.
So many young parents signed up that we had to open additional classrooms and bring on new team members to make space for their kids in programming. That’s a good problem. It tells us families are hungry—not just for better marriages, but for environments where every member of the family can be cared for and discipled at the same time. There is still room for more people to step in and serve, and if that’s you, we’d love for you to be part of it. You can sign up to serve here.
We’ve also made a major shift in where our kids gather on Sundays. Our K–3rd grade environments have moved into the Gathering Place, and our 4th–6th graders are now meeting in the Arena. This isn’t just a logistical change—it’s a statement. We are placing kids in the heart of the church because that’s where they belong. And the response has been incredible. Energy is up. Engagement is up. Kids are excited to be here. When kids feel like they belong, they begin to believe they matter—and that’s where faith starts to take root.
On May 17, we’re launching something new that builds directly on that idea of shared faith within the family. We’ll begin a church-wide series on the Ten Commandments—but this won’t just be for adults. Every environment will be aligned. Adults and students will be in the main worship gatherings, while kids and preteens will be learning the same themes in their environments. Even more, we’re providing a devotional resource designed for families to use at home. The goal is simple: what starts on Sunday doesn’t end there. It continues around dinner tables, in car rides, and in everyday moments where parents have the opportunity to lead spiritually.
Looking ahead to the summer, we’re launching a brand-new Mega Sports Camp, August 3–6 in the evenings. This will combine the energy of our past VBS experiences with something new—sports and skill-based engagement. Kids will have the opportunity to participate in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, cheer, and crafts. Each night will include large group gatherings, and then smaller team environments where games and halftime devotionals create natural moments to connect faith with life. We’re building this to reach families in our community, and it will take a lot of people stepping in as coaches, leaders, and volunteers. If you’re interested, we’d love for you to be part of it. Sign up to serve here.
When you step back and look at all of this together, it’s clear what we’re aiming for.
We are creating environments where families can encounter Jesus together.
We are investing in marriages because strong marriages shape strong homes.
We are prioritizing kids and students, not as an afterthought, but as central to who we are.
We are aligning what happens at church with what happens at home.
And we are opening doors for our community to step into something meaningful, accessible, and life-giving.
Helping families find and follow Jesus isn’t a program—it’s a direction. It’s a commitment to build a church where every generation is seen, equipped, and invited into a growing relationship with Jesus.
And we’re just getting started.
Pastor Ellis