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Brothers and sisters,

Today’s article may seem a little strange at first but bear with me. As I write this article, both WRAL and WTVD are calling for snow this weekend. They’re not officially estimating totals, but have said anywhere from 1-3” of snow is quite likely for the Triangle. The little widget on my computer is telling me 6-12”, but it was also convinced we’d get 11” of snow this past weekend, so I don’t trust it at all.

Regardless, I’ve been hearing stories all this week about people helping each other during this past weekend’s winter storm. I’ve heard stories about neighbors shoveling out driveways for other neighbors to make sure they could get out. I’ve heard stories about lawn maintenance guys going the extra mile to make sure their clients’ sidewalks and outdoor stairs were cleared. I’ve gotten to hear these simple stories of people doing right by each other in the midst of a difficult weekend.

It reminds me of the way we Christians are called to do simple things to help others. The call that Jesus places on all of us is to see other people as our neighbors and to under-stand that helping them is always the right thing to do. Sometimes that looks like shoveling driveways and clearing sidewalks. Sometimes it looks like calling someone to check on them and remind them they’re not alone. Sometimes it looks like telling them and others that our neighbors are children of God, fearfully and wonderfully made in the im-age of their Creator, and respecting the basic dignity that comes with that.

So, as we prepare for round two of winter weather here in Durham (I’ve been reminded of the old wives’ tale that says if snow doesn’t melt, it’s waiting for more!), go on and be thinking about ways you can reach out to your neighbors. Be thinking of things you can do to help them and stay faithful to the call of Jesus. And in scrolling through social media this past weekend, I was reminded there are some ways you can help your neighbors that you might not have thought of before.

First, there are several non-profits around Durham who, during periods of extreme cold, open their doors to folks living on the street. Durham Rescue Mission and Urban Ministries of Durham are both designated as “warming centers”. If you are in a place to donate to them, I’m sure they’d appreciate it as they’ll be taking on some extra costs this weekend.
Second, if you’re thinking of going out for a meal before the snow hits, I saw someone suggest that you go to a local restaurant. McDonald’s can survive if some of their stores are closed for a couple days. Mom-and-pop shops will struggle if they have to close or their foot traffic is down due to the snow. After the snow hits, if you want to, you can order something online (a meal, a coffee, etc.) and include a note on the order that says, “I’m not going to get this order. Give it to someone who needs it”—that way you help the business and someone in need.

And, of course, call and check in on folks who you know might be a little more vulnerable to this kind of event. Even if they’re doing just fine, they’ll appreciate the call! In doing these things, we can reach out to our neighbors and remind them that we love them and God loves them too. Stay safe and stay warm!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Brothers and sisters,

I want to write about New Year’s Resolutions this week. I recognize that we’re over two weeks into January by now, but that may actually help me make my point. See, every new year, people all over the world make New Year’s Resolutions—something they want to do in the new year. Some will take up a new hobby. Some will decide this is the year they go to the gym. Some will try to stop doing something harmful. People take stock of where they are and project where they’d like to be in this new year.

But, as most of us know, New Year’s Resolutions get abandoned pretty quickly by most folks—to the point that there is a specific day of the year known as Quitter’s Day. According to Google, around 80% of all New Year’s Resolutions will be abandoned by the second Friday of each new year. So, January 10th is, unofficially, Quitter’s Day. And there are plenty of jokes and memes on the internet about Quitter’s Day. But most of those jokes come back to one main idea—that the person was silly to think they could keep their resolution.
I want to push back against that idea. First of all, I don’t think it’s silly for a person to take stock of their life and seriously think about things they could do that would make them happy, make them healthy, etc. There’s no need for the sarcastic, self-defeating attitude of, “Why would I think I could do better?”

Second of all, as a committed Christian, I have to push back against this “all-or-nothing” attitude. It seems crazy to me for a person to set a goal for themselves, stumble a little bit, and then decide, “Well, what did I expect? Of course I stumbled; I can’t do anything right!” We in the church know—or we ought to know—that everyone falls short. We all have good days and bad days. We all struggle to do the things we want to do and we sometimes end up doing things we don’t want to. But where the internet memes see no path forward, we Christians believe—or we ought to believe—that we can always get back up and keep trying. What else is the Christian life but seeking to act faithfully, falling short, and asking for forgiveness, only to be met by a God who says, “Of course I forgive you. Let’s set you back on the right path and keep walking”?

So, by the time this article comes out, Quitter’s Day will have come and gone. But I would encourage all of you, whether you made a resolution or not, to challenge yourself to do something new this year or to give up something harmful this year or to recommit to something you love this year. And on those days when you fall short of your goal, be gentle with yourself, and remember that life is a series of ups and downs, trials and errors. Through it all, we worship a God who loves us and encourages us. God does not quit on us; let us not quit on ourselves.

Happy New Year!
Pastor Ben

Brothers and sisters,

Here we are at the end of 2025 and it has been a busy year here at the church! Each year presents its own challenges and opportunities, so I wanted to go over some of the highlights of 2025 here at Hope Valley.

This year, our church reached out to our community in so many different ways, seeking to fulfill the commandment given to us by Christ to love our neighbors as ourselves. We held our annual Souper Bowl of Caring this year, raising money for both Urban Ministries of Durham and Hurricane Helene Relief. We also held our annual ACC Tournament Food Drive benefitting the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC (FBCENC) and collecting 669 pounds of food! We collected school supplies and clothes for the children over at Parkwood Elementary School. Most recently, we quickly began a food drive in response to the cutting of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown — that collection is ongoing, by the way!

But, we did not just collect things here at the church! During Operation Inasmuch, our church reached out in a variety of ways: putting together “Thinking of You” bags for church members and care packages for people struggling here in Durham, doing yard work around the church, and sending our kids to Carolina Reserve to sing for the residents there. We’ve also had a regular group of volunteers going to the FBCENC every month to help there. And, of course, we partnered with Scarlette Jasper once again to send Christmas boxes to our brothers and sisters in rural Appalachia who are struggling right now.

The year was not just about missions, however. We also had big, community-focused events here at the church. We hosted our Easter Egg Hunt and let local kids know about the resurrection. We had another summer of Super Saturday Adventures, where children learned about a God who loves them very deeply. Our Fall Festival was a hit once again this year, with local children and families having the chance to come and be joyful together

And we’ve had all kinds of special events within our church family, including baptisms and deacon ordinations. We remembered and celebrated the lives of people we’ve lost on All Saints Sunday. We hosted Andy Hale from CBFNC. We finally went to the North Carolina Museum of Art — just three years after I said we’d go! And, of course, we’re coming off another season of Advent with beautiful services like the Hanging of the Greens, the “Peace on Earth” musical service, and the Christmas Eve service.

It has been a wonderful year here at Hope Valley Baptist Church! I’m looking forward to all God has in store for us in 2026!

Happy New Year,
Pastor Ben