April 6, 2026
The Alignment Workshop: Live Edition is a one-day intensive designed to help church leadership teams close the gap between good intentions and lasting kingdom impact. Rooted in Scripture and grounded in practical ministry reality, the workshop equips leaders with proven frameworks to evaluate alignment, identify what is blocking progress, and leave with a concrete action plan their team can begin using right away.
After three long years, Mid-Atlantic Christian University is on the cusp of opening its new classroom building. The original Heritage Hall suffered a partial collapse back in September 2020 during a roofing project. It forced a total rebuild of the structure. It’s been a difficult road for MACU . . .
Mid-Atlantic Christian University made several building-related announcements last week during its Gospel Rally. President John Maurice said the new dining hall and the welcome center would be named for longtime employees. . . .
Mid-Atlantic Christian University has had to cope with a lot during the past year or so: COVID-19, a partially collapsed classroom building, protests after law enforcement shot and killed a Black man in its hometown. We spoke with MACU president John Maurice about those challenges . . . and the year ahead.
Mid-Atlantic Christian University canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday and is sending students home after the mayor of Elizabeth City, N.C., declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the local sheriff’s office releasing body camera footage in the shooting death last week of Andrew Brown Jr.
December 22, 2020
Partial demolition of Heritage Hall began last week at Mid-Atlantic Christian University. “This is a delicate removal of the second floor to review if the first floor is salvageable,” MACU reported on its website. “Current expectation from the insurance company is to rebuild the middle section of Heritage Hall and try to salvage the end sections and first floor of the building.” Leaders at the Elizabeth City, N.C., school say they are concerned weather may have caused further damage to the building in the three-plus months since the roof’s collapse. Discussions with the insurance company and consultants are ongoing. Heritage
December 16, 2020
By Jim Nieman A 2020 graduate of Mid-Atlantic Christian University was honored as the North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year for her work this spring with J.C. Sawyer Elementary School in Elizabeth City, N.C. Grace Minter, who is blind, graduated from MACU in May with a degree in elementary education and a minor in Bible. She was valedictorian. Minter now serves as a Braille education teacher with Governor Morehead School, a school for the blind in Raleigh, N.C. In email correspondence with Christian Standard, Minter credited MACU’s “superior” teacher education program, dedicated teachers, and mentorship relationships with helping prepare
September 17, 2020
By Jim Nieman Mid-Atlantic Christian University is awaiting a report from engineers who were on campus early this week to assess viability of Heritage Hall, which partially collapsed on Saturday, Sept. 5, as roofing work was commencing. President John Maurice said MACU’s insurance company will use the assessment to “make a determination on total demolition or partial, based on cost.” “Either way,” Maurice said, “this will be a long process.” Classes were not in session at Heritage Hall that morning—a good thing, as the collapse occurred above the school’s three largest classrooms. “If this would have occurred on [a] Friday
May 17, 2020
By Chris Hankins Healthy things reproduce. This reality is true in nature and, I believe, in the church. The body of Christ is healthiest when it is reproducing at every level. At Point Church, where I serve, I often say that we want to reproduce disciples, leaders, groups, services, campuses, churches, and even church-planting networks. Therefore, when I was recently asked, “Are we really reproducing churches if multisites remain attached to the mother church?” my immediate answer was, “of course!” Just because a new location of a multisite church remains a part of a larger local church does not mean
February 19, 2020
By Chris Moon The Carolina Movement is growing and learning. The four-year-old church-planting group in North Carolina is in the process of putting together a more permanent organizational structure as it prepares for its second statewide conference in April. The group has planted 10 churches so far and has connected with more than 30 churches that are helping financially to start even more. The group is hoping for 150 pastors and church leaders to attend the conference in Asheboro, up from 50 at its first statewide conference last year. Chris Hankins, lead pastor of Point Church in Raleigh, N.C., and
Alberta Bible College, Calgary, AB, Canada, announced the appointment of Dr. Stanley N. Helton as its new president effective July 1, 2015. Helton has served as professor of Bible and ministry, and later, academic dean with Western Christian College, Regina, SK, Canada. His congregational ministry experience spans almost 20 years working with all three streams in the Restoration Movement: Disciples, a cappella, and independent churches of Christ and Christian churches. He served churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Orleans, LA, and Chicago, IL, before pursuing full-time teaching and doctoral studies. He grew up in a small Oklahoma town. Helton
December 13, 2012
By Mark A. Taylor Before I say what I want to say, let me say what many readers will want to hear: I happily greet waiters and store clerks and anyone else (not just Christians) with “Merry Christmas.” Likewise, my Christmas cards this year, as they have every year, will proclaim “Merry Christmas.” I avoid “Happy Holidays” and “Season”s Greetings” and flinch whenever I encounter either greeting, whether at Wal-Mart or on the radio or from a smiling car salesman in a TV commercial. To me it”s just silly the lengths to which some will go to avoid the word
October 15, 2010
By Jennifer Taylor Both Mid-Atlantic Christian University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina) and Hope International University (Fullerton, California) have been named “military friendly” schools by G.I. Jobs magazine and www.MilitaryFriendlySchools.com. This status is granted after research into a school”s programs and policies, tuition benefits, flexible learning options, accreditations, acceptance of the GI Bill, and more. This distinction ranks these schools in the top 15 percent of higher education institutions doing the most to embrace America”s veterans as students. Hope also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program that provides enhanced tuition assistance for military students who want to attend private schools and
By Mark Wesner Editor”s note: The following questions were distributed as a self-examination exercise at an elders and staff retreat sponsored by First Christian Church, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. We believe they”re good for servant-leaders everywhere to consider. Spiritual Growth. In what way(s) are you more like Jesus today than you were one year ago? “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,
NACC Minister and Spouse Retreat: A retreat designed to strengthen ministers’ marriages Many church ministers and spouses carry a unique weight of leadership, expectations, and constant availability. The North American Christian Convention Minister and Spouse Retreat is designed to give couples space to be served, reconnect, and renew their relationship together. The retreat is scheduled for August 21-23 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, North Carolina. Registration is $299 per couple and includes accommodations, meals, recreation, and planned programming. Couples can find details and register through the NACC website. By Mark A. Taylor The weight ministers carry Many of
Debbie Jones reflects on her calling to ministry, the expectations women often face, and the ways churches can encourage women to develop and use their gifts to build up Christ’s church.
August 17, 2005
Mark A. Taylor reflects on low attendance at this year’s NACC regional conferences, arguing regionalization weakened connection and “all or nothing” registration discouraged partial attendance—raising fresh questions about the value of a national gathering.
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