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Duke Divinity Hosts Quinceañera for its Hispanic House of Studies

Duke Divinity School students, faculty, and alumni gathered last week to celebrate the quinceañera of its Hispanic House of Studies (HHS) — the 15th birthday of the resource center — with worship, a mariachi band, and giant tres leches cake.

October 26, 2023

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Convocation on Rural Church Emphasizes 'Gathering With Hope'

About 250 people gathered in Myrtle Beach for annual Rural Church summit aimed at refreshing and strengthening United Methodist clergy and congregations.

August 14, 2023

Blog RC Blog 6 14 2023

Sharing Hope through Ministry in Rural Communities

The Duke Endowment’s Director of Rural Church, Robb Webb, shares his reflections about a recent grant to support the creation of new faith communities and strengthen existing congregations within the United Methodist conferences.

June 14, 2023 | Robert R. Webb III

News Literacy Story

Church-run Summer Literacy Camps Producing Positive Outcomes

It began with a vision in the head of a fellow at The Duke Endowment: What would happen if churches organized summer literacy camps for children? A decade later, the results look promising.

June 8, 2023

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North Carolina and Western NC Conferences Receive Duke Endowment Grant Exceeding $10 Million

The two conferences of the United Methodist Church have each received a grant from the Endowment to support the creation of new United Methodist faith communities and strengthen existing congregations within the UMC conferences.

May 17, 2023

Story / Video Come to table RC IMG

Faith & Food: Come To The Table In Action

Come to the Table’s mission is to empower faith communities to participate in the creation of a just food system through collaboration, capacity building, and advocacy.

May 16, 2023

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Rural Churches are Economic Powerhouses in Their Communities

New study says the outsized economic influence of rural churches on their communities calls for renewed vision of their importance.

February 22, 2023

News Selah Report IMG

Selah Stress Management Project

Like many people serving in professions in which they feel “called,” clergy are not immune to stress and burnout. The Duke Endowment partnered with the Duke Clergy Health Initiative to study stress management tools with the goal of identifying practices that would allow clergy in the North Carolina United Methodist (UMC) conferences, and beyond, to live more fully into the sacred work of ministry.

January 20, 2023

Story Giving New Life to Churches

Giving New Life to Churches

By the time Calvary United Methodist Church made the difficult decision to close its doors for worship in 2018, the congregation had dwindled to about 20 people. Most members of the Asheboro, North Carolina, church were more than 70 years old, and maintaining the building and its property was a struggle.

August 16, 2021 | Robert R. Webb III

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Renewing Hope, Rebuilding Lives

In Kinston, North Carolina, Hope Restorations is offering transformation — one life, one house, one neighborhood at a time.

April 19, 2021 | Robert R. Webb III

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Helping Churches Provide COVID Relief

Many churches want to make a difference in their communities – but despite good intentions, they sometimes lack the tools or know-how to run effective programs.

August 10, 2020 | Robert R. Webb III

Story Coaching Young Students in Reading

Coaching Young Students in Reading

When schools closed this spring because of COVID-19, Read Charlotte pivoted quickly to help parents strengthen their children’s literacy skills from home. The Reading Checkup, a website designed for families with rising K-4 students, debuted in June.

August 8, 2020 | Meka S. Sales