Every Child | Every Church is continuing to grow

When the Every Child | Every Church initiative was first introduced at last year's Annual Meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, it marked a defining moment in Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina's (BCH) commitment to churches.

The vision is simple yet profound: to help churches say "yes" to the vulnerable people in their communities and even within their own congregations.

"Every Child | Every Church is about helping churches be equipped to step into areas of ministry where brokenness, on a local level, is evident," shared BCH CEO David Melber.

Designed as a gospel‑centered and trauma‑informed movement, the initiative equips congregations to care for children, individuals with special needs, aging adults, and others who are hurting—often sitting right in their own pews.

"In a culture filled with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and broken families, many believers simply don't know what to do," Melber continued. "This is where BCH wants to help, and the Lord has been faithful in helping us grow the vision."

Even prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, BCH team members had already begun developing Every Child | Every Church trainings and resources. Much of this work has been led by Erica Spivey, Senior Director of Special Projects for BCH.

"We are committed to being gospel-centered with our training and resources," Spivey said. "As a para‑church organization, we are committed to come alongside the local church to help equip it to step into the brokenness around us—following Christ's example of compassion, care, and discipleship. Our prayer is that, as the church is equipped, discipleship opportunities emerge and God brings lasting transformation."

Spivey and her team have been working with several churches to pilot the initial trainings and gather feedback from its participants.

"Being in front of church leaders, staff and their volunteers has been a blessing," Spivey said. "Their honest feedback is ensuring that we are growing and improving what we are offering. We want to pursue excellence for our churches—but most of all, for the Lord."

Recently, Spivey and BCH's Lorie Brinkley led a trauma‑informed training at Providence Church in Raleigh. Church members involved in a variety of outreaches attended in order to better understand the role trauma plays in the behaviors and interactions of those the church serves.

"What I loved about the training was the emphasis on creating a safe space in order to have the foundation for building connection with someone," said Caitlin, a member of Providence. "Then, you are able to do discipleship and approach them like Jesus—with kindness, gentleness, and compassion."

With a wider launch underway, Every Child | Every Church trainings continue to be refined and strengthened as the initiative grows. The current goal is to offer larger, regional trainings to maximize participation. Spivey's team is also exploring ways to provide more specialized trainings, including equipping churches to minister to families with special needs.

These would supplement the foster care trainings BCH provides. A goal, Melber says, is to multiply trained, Christ-centered foster parents.

"We are praying for God to grow laborers—grow missionaries—to step into the mission field of foster care and even our residential cottages," Melber said. "We want every child to see the love of Christ in action."

Written by BCH Communications