With ServeNC Week (Aug. 1-8) right around the corner, N.C. Baptist churches are gearing up to step into their communities with the tangible love of Jesus. Here are four ways your church can capture and share your stories to inspire your city and celebrate what God is doing across North Carolina.

When North Carolina Baptists launched ServeNC in 2024, the vision was simple: unite churches across our state for one single week to demonstrate that our faith moves us to bold, visible action. 

From new church plants to established congregations, thousands of believers have discovered that when we love our neighbors through tangible service, communities experience the grace of Jesus, and God gets all the glory.

As ServeNC Week (Aug. 1-8) arrives, local N.C. Baptist churches are getting ready to repaint schools, mow lawns for seniors, host health fairs, construct wheelchair ramps, deliver meals to families in need and more.

If your church hasn’t registered yet, it’s not too late. You can still jump in, access free promotional resources and mobilize your people by signing up today at servenc.com. 

As we step onto our mission fields, remember that every act of service is a doorway to a gospel conversation. Psalm 96:3 calls us to «Declare His glory among the nations, His wondrous works among all peoples.» Telling the story of what God does through ServeNC isn’t about self-promotion, but about pointing our neighbors and fellow believers back to the goodness of Christ.

Here are four high-impact ways your church can capture and share your ServeNC stories this week:

1. Celebrate big at church

Don’t let the momentum fade once the tools are put away! Plan to host a «Celebration Sunday» service immediately following ServeNC Week.

  • Live testimonies: Give a few church members 60 seconds during the service to share a specific moment where they saw God open a door for the gospel while serving.
  • Prayer: Gather your church to pray over the specific families, schools and community leaders you interacted with during the week.
  • Recap video: Put together a simple photo slide deck or quick video recap to play before the sermon so the entire church can rejoice together.

2. Share about ServeNC Week online

Social media is a useful tool to let your city see the heart of your church. Lean into recent digital trends to engage your community.

  • Vertical short-form videos: Authentic, unscripted content performs well. Keep videos under 30 seconds. Try a quick «Before and After» transformation of a project site, a 15-second audio-trend recap of your work day, or a short «Point of View (POV): Serving our local elementary school today.» Here’s an example.
  • Capture action: Candid shots of volunteers working or talking or praying with a neighbor tell a rich story.
  • Leverage Instagram Stories & interactive posts: Post real-time updates throughout your project day. Use question stickers like «How can we pray for your neighborhood today?» or interactive polls to invite online followers into the mission.
  • Keep captions simple: Briefly state who you are serving, where you are, and what you are doing.
  • Tag & hashtag: Every post should include #ServeNC and tag @ncbaptist and @baptistsonmission so we can reshare your content!

3. Reach out to your local news

Local journalists appreciate positive, community-centered human interest stories. Letting local media outlets know what your church is doing builds trust across your city.

  • Send a short pitch email: Look up the assignment desk or community reporter at your local paper or TV station.
  • Grab attention with the subject line: Make it local and action-focused (e.g., «Local [City Name] Church mobilizes 200 volunteers to upgrade area schools this week»).
  • Focus on the impact: Tell them why this matters to the local community, how many projects are taking place, and provide a clear contact person for on-site interviews.
  • Need help reaching local media? Email communications@ncbaptist.org and our communications team can help guide you.

4. Share your story with the N.C. Baptist family

Your story encourages the broader body of Christ. We want to hear how God worked in and through your church during ServeNC Week so we can celebrate and amplify your testimony state-wide.

How to submit:

Email your photos, video links, quotes and project summaries directly to submissions@ncbaptist.org. Tell us your church name, city, the projects you completed and any gospel conversations or life-changing moments that took place.

Whether your team is five people or 500, God uses visible acts of love to change hearts. Make sure your church is signed up at servenc.com, and get ready to celebrate ServeNC Week!