newberndisciples.org

In Asian mission work, "church" usually means more than a building or a weekly service. It refers to a community of believers that is planted, led, and multiplied locally—often among an unreached people group. Asia Harvest describes its purpose as serving and equipping Asian church leaders "to see effective churches planted among unreached people groups." So when a mission organization talks about "church" in Asia, it is typically talking about a local body of believers that can sustain itself, reach its own community, and plant further churches.

The biblical and missiological meaning

In mission usage, "church" carries two layers:

• Theological: the gathered community of followers of Jesus, not a structure or denomination.
• Missiological: a reproducible local expression—small enough to multiply, rooted enough to survive pressure, and led by people from the same culture and language.

This distinction matters in Asia because many unreached groups have no existing church tradition. A "church" there may begin as a handful of believers meeting in a home, not a registered congregation with a building.

How churches are planted among unreached people groups

Church planting in this context generally follows a progression rather than a single event:

1. Entry and presence — workers or local believers build relationships within a community.
2. Evangelism and discipleship — new believers are taught and gathered.
3. Local leadership — leadership is transferred to people from that culture as early as possible.
4. Multiplication — the new church is encouraged to reach neighboring families or villages.

The goal is not to import a foreign model but to see a church that fits its own context and can reproduce without outside dependency.

Equipping local Asian church leaders

Asia Harvest's stated focus is equipping Asian church leaders rather than running churches from outside. In practice, this kind of equipping can include:

• Training in Bible teaching and discipleship
• Resources in local languages
• Support for evangelists and church planters
• Bible printing and distribution so new believers have Scripture

The underlying principle is that local leaders are best positioned to reach their own people—they already know the language, culture, and social barriers.

The role of churches in reaching unreached groups

A planted church does several things a mission team alone cannot:

This is why "church" and "unreached people groups" are linked so closely in mission language: the church is the intended outcome, not just the method.

How readers can engage

If you want to support or take part in church-focused mission work, common entry points include:

• Prayer — many ministries list specific unreached groups and church-planting needs.
• Giving — supporting Bible printing, training, or evangelists.
• Newsletter updates — Asia Harvest, for example, offers an e-newsletter sign-up on its site for ongoing updates.
• Learning — understanding a specific people group before committing to support.

Before giving or volunteering, check what a ministry actually does with funds and whether its approach matches your own convictions about local leadership and church multiplication.

Broad Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a congregation in the downtown historic district of New Bern, North Carolina, that has held a weekly Communion service since its founding as a Disciples church in the mid-1800s. If you are looking for a church to visit in New Bern, its Sunday worship begins at 11 am, Communion is offered weekly to all, and the service is also live streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

Where it is and what kind of church it is

• Location: the downtown historic district of New Bern, North Carolina.
• Tradition: Disciples of Christ, described on the church site as a congregational church.
• Worship style: traditional/blended, with Holy Communion celebrated every Sunday.
• Music: the church is instrumental, featuring chancel bells, organ, and piano, and occasionally an acoustic guitar.

Because it sits in the historic district, it is within reach of the downtown area rather than out on the outskirts — useful if you are already spending time downtown or visiting New Bern.

Sunday worship and Communion

Sunday Worship Service is at 11 am. Two things stand out for a first-time visitor:

1. Weekly Communion. The congregation has celebrated the Weekly Communion Service since its founding. All are welcome to receive communion weekly — the church states this plainly rather than reserving it for members.
2. Live stream option. If you cannot be there in person, the weekly service is live streamed. The link is posted on the BSCCNewBern Facebook page and on the church's YouTube page.

The church's own framing is simple: "All are welcome!" That applies both to attending and to receiving communion.

Accessibility

The lower level and the sanctuary are handicap-accessible, and the building has an elevator. If mobility is a consideration for you or someone you are bringing, this removes the usual worry about older historic-district buildings with stairs at the entrance.

Getting oriented before you visit

The church website includes a Newcomers tab with information for first-time visitors, alongside sections for Ministries and Events, News, Becoming a Member, Weddings, and a Unity Sculpture. If you want to know what to expect or how to get more involved, Newcomers is the place to start.

Who you will find there

The site lists current staff:

Rev. Zeb Hough has served in pastoral ministry for sixteen years and also worked in the human services and nonprofit sectors. He holds a Master's in Theological Studies from Northeastern Seminary with a focus on family systems and strategic leadership, and certifications in crisis counseling, spiritual direction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing. His own experience of receiving public assistance and church-based compassionate ministries shapes how he speaks about community safety nets.

Quick answers

• What time is Sunday worship? 11 am.
• Is Communion open to everyone? Yes — all are welcome to receive communion weekly.
• Can I watch online? Yes, via the BSCCNewBern Facebook page or the church's YouTube page.
• Is the building accessible? Yes — the lower level and sanctuary are handicap-accessible, and there is an elevator.
• How do I learn about visiting or joining? See the Newcomers tab on the church website; Becoming a Member is also listed there.

The Disciples of Christ is a mainline Protestant denomination in North America, also known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It began in the early 1800s as a movement to unify Christians across denominational lines, and it still emphasizes congregational governance, weekly Communion, and an open table. If you are trying to understand the tradition, visiting a local congregation such as Broad Street Christian Church in New Bern, North Carolina, is one of the clearest ways to see these commitments in practice.

Origins and history

The Disciples of Christ emerged from two related renewal movements on the American frontier in the early 19th century. One was led by Barton Stone in Kentucky; the other by Thomas and Alexander Campbell in Pennsylvania and what is now West Virginia. Both groups sought to restore what they saw as the simple, New Testament pattern of the church and to set aside the creeds and divisions that separated denominations.

These streams merged in the 1830s, forming a movement often called the "Restoration Movement" or the "Stone-Campbell Movement." Over time, the movement divided into three main branches: the Churches of Christ, the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Disciples of Christ is the branch that organized formally as a denomination in the 20th century, while still describing itself as a "movement for wholeness" rather than a rigid sect.

Broad Street Christian Church in New Bern traces its own founding as a Disciples congregation to the mid-1800s, which places it within this broader historical stream.

Core beliefs and emphases

The Disciples of Christ do not require members to affirm a detailed creed. Instead, the tradition has historically summarized its stance with a few simple convictions:

• Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The central confession is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is the starting point rather than a full doctrinal system.
• The Bible as authoritative. Scripture is read and studied as the guide for faith and life, but the tradition generally avoids imposing a single required interpretation on every passage.
• No creed but Christ. Because the movement began as an effort to overcome divisions, it has resisted making post-biblical creeds a test of fellowship.
• Open Communion. The Lord's Supper is understood as Christ's table, not the church's, so all who believe in Jesus are welcome to receive it. Broad Street Christian Church states plainly: "All are welcome to receive communion weekly."
• Unity of the church. Disciples have historically worked for Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation, seeing denominational division as a problem to be healed rather than a permanent state.

Governance and congregational life

The Disciples of Christ is a congregational tradition. That means the local congregation holds authority over its own life, property, and decisions. Broad Street Christian Church describes itself as "a congregational church located in the downtown historic district of New Bern."

This does not mean congregations are isolated. They relate to regional and general expressions of the church for mission, ministry, and mutual support. But the local congregation is not governed by a bishop or a distant hierarchy in the way some other traditions are.

In practice, this congregational structure shapes how a church calls its pastor, manages its building, and decides on ministries. Broad Street's current staff, for example, includes Rev. Zeb Hough as pastor, Mabel Beyers as music director, and Georgia Harris as administrative assistant — a typical small-to-mid-sized congregational staffing pattern.

Typical practices

Several practices are especially characteristic of Disciples congregations:

• Weekly Communion. The Lord's Supper is celebrated every Sunday, not just monthly or quarterly. Broad Street notes it has been "celebrating the Weekly Communion Service since our founding as a Disciples church in the mid-1800s."
• Blended or traditional worship. Music and liturgy vary by congregation. Broad Street describes its style as "traditional/blended," with chancel bells, organ, piano, and occasionally acoustic guitar.
• Open membership and welcome. Disciples congregations generally emphasize that all are welcome to worship and participate. Broad Street's homepage leads with "All are welcome!"
• Baptism. Disciples practice believer's baptism by immersion as the norm, while typically recognizing baptisms from other Christian traditions.
• Accessibility and inclusion. Many congregations make a point of physical accessibility. Broad Street notes its lower level and sanctuary are handicap-accessible and that it has an elevator.

How it differs from other Christian traditions

These are generalizations; individual congregations within any tradition may differ.

Common misunderstandings

• "Disciples of Christ is a cult." No. It is a mainstream Protestant denomination with historic roots in the Stone-Campbell Movement and membership in broader ecumenical bodies.
• "It is the same as the Churches of Christ." They share history but are distinct. The Churches of Christ generally do not use instrumental music in worship and are more congregational in structure without denominational organization. Disciples congregations typically use instruments — Broad Street, for example, is explicitly "an instrumental church."
• "Open Communion means anything goes." Open Communion means the table belongs to Christ and all believers are welcome. It does not mean the congregation has no beliefs or practices.
• "Congregational means no connection to anyone else." Congregations relate to regional and general ministries for mission and support, even though local authority is primary.

Seeing it in practice

If you want to understand the Disciples of Christ beyond the description, the most direct step is to attend a service. Broad Street Christian Church holds Sunday Worship at 11 am and live streams its weekly service via its Facebook page (BSCCNewBern) and YouTube. Visitors can see the weekly Communion, the blended worship style, and the congregational character firsthand. The church also lists ministries, events, a newcomers section, and information on becoming a member, weddings, and contact — useful entry points if you are considering a visit or want to learn more about how a Disciples congregation actually operates.

A Christian is a person who follows Jesus Christ and identifies with the faith tradition that grew up around him. The term itself comes from the Greek christianos, meaning "follower of Christ," and it was first applied to disciples in the city of Antioch, as recorded in the New Testament book of Acts. Today it covers a wide range of people, churches, and practices, so the honest answer is that being a Christian involves a shared center (Jesus) and a lot of variation around it.

The Core of the Christian Faith

Most Christian traditions would recognize the following as central:

• God — Christians worship one God, understood by most traditions as triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Jesus Christ — believed to be the Son of God, fully human and fully divine, whose life, death, and resurrection are the basis of salvation.
• Grace — the idea that God's love and forgiveness are gifts, not something earned.
• Faith — trust in God and in Jesus, often described as the response to grace rather than a substitute for it.
• Scripture — the Bible, read as the authoritative witness to God's work, though traditions differ on how it is interpreted.

These are shared landmarks, not a checklist. How they are explained and emphasized varies significantly from one church to another.

What Christians Actually Do

Belief and practice are intertwined. Common practices include:

• Worship — gathering on Sundays, typically with prayer, singing, Scripture reading, and a sermon. Many traditions also celebrate baptism and communion (the Lord's Supper).
• Prayer — personal and communal, ranging from set liturgical prayers to informal conversation with God.
• Community — belonging to a congregation, small group, or home group where faith is lived out with others.
• Service and mission — caring for neighbors, the poor, and the wider community as an expression of faith.
• Formation — ongoing learning through sermons, classes, study, and mentoring.

For example, a congregation like First Presbyterian Church of Dallas describes itself as "an open and affirming Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation" offering Sunday worship, children's ministry, and opportunities to grow in faith and community. That single example already shows several of these practices in one place: worship, ministry to children, and intentional community.

One Faith, Many Traditions

Christians belong to many denominations and traditions, including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Pentecostal, among others. Within Protestantism alone there are Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Anglican, and many more. These traditions differ on questions such as:

This is why two people can both sincerely call themselves Christian and describe their faith quite differently.

Beliefs and Practices Vary by Person Too

Even within a single congregation, individuals hold their faith with different levels of certainty, emphasis, and practice. Some are lifelong members; others come as adults with questions. Some attend weekly; others less often. Some are deeply engaged in service; others are still exploring.

That variation is normal, not a sign that the term has no meaning. It means "Christian" describes a direction and a relationship more than a fixed personality type.

How to Think About It If You're Exploring

If you are trying to understand the term for yourself, a few practical steps help:

1. Read a Gospel — the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John in the Bible give the clearest picture of Jesus.
2. Visit a service — most churches welcome visitors and do not require you to have anything figured out first. FPC Dallas, for instance, states plainly: "You don't have to have it all figured out to walk through our doors. Come as you are."
3. Ask questions — talk to a pastor, a friend who is a Christian, or a small group leader. Questions are generally welcomed.
4. Notice the differences — if one church's style or emphasis doesn't fit, another tradition may. The variation described above is real, not a problem to solve before you begin.

Being a Christian, at its simplest, means following Jesus and learning to love God and neighbor within a community of others doing the same. Everything else — the denomination, the worship style, the specific beliefs — is the shape that following takes in a particular place and life.