join the network

The Resilient Families Network is a growing community of churches across Greater Charlotte committed to strengthening vulnerable children and families.

Joining the Network begins with relationship, shared vision, and a willingness to learn and grow together. Churches engage from many different starting points. Whether your church is just beginning to explore this work or has an established history of serving vulnerable families, the Network exists to support, equip, and connect you along the way.

Joining the Network is not about checking boxes or following a prescribed pathway. It is about walking together with clarity, humility, and hope as churches discern how they are
called to engage.

Who should join the network

The Resilient Families Network is designed for churches and leaders who:

  • Desire to strengthen vulnerable children and families in their community

  • Want to better understand foster care and family preservation when care outside the home is necessary

  • Are seeking training, resources, and shared learning

  • Value collaboration with other churches and trusted partners

  • Want to engage in this work in a sustainable and thoughtful way

why join the network

Churches join the Resilient Families Network because no single church is meant to carry this work alone. The Network provides a shared table where churches can learn together, support one another, and respond more effectively to the needs of families in our city.

Through the Network, churches gain:

  • Relationships with other church leaders and partners

  • Network gatherings and training opportunities

  • Curated tools and resources grounded in real-world practice

  • Ongoing encouragement and shared learning

how churches engage

  • We meet with church leaders to listen, explore assessment insights, and discern next steps together based on your church’s context and capacity.

    Complete the Connect with the Network form below to get started!

  • Church leaders complete a brief self-assessment to reflect on current strengths and identify opportunities for growth across the four pillars.

  • Church leaders participate in quarterly, pillar-focused workshops designed to equip, connect, and move churches toward practical action.

  • Churches commit to ongoing engagement by joining the Resilient Families Network and aligning around shared expectations and values.

  • Churches continue growing through regular training, collaboration, and shared learning as they deepen their impact.

The need is great, and the Gospel compels us. Our Savior calls us to defend the cause of the vulnerable. Let’s be the Church that not only rescues children from the child welfare system but also strengthens families before they ever reach it. Together, we can build a resilient Church, resilient families, and a resilient community.

— Pastors Rashard Barnes, Matt Ham, and Joe Lanman
Network Leaders and Local Pastors