By Kristen Thomason
In Tampa, Fla., Waters Avenue Church is trying to make a difference, but doing ministry in a time of cultural change isn’t easy.
“There’s simply no denying that churches struggle with how to move forward in the world as our culture transitions to a place where certain ecclesial structures make less sense than they once did,” said Chris Kravitz, pastor of Waters Avenue. Even though the church was not formally aligned with CBF, Kravitz turned to CBF’s Thriving Congregations program to learn how Waters Avenue might better serve its community.
With a $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation, CBF launched the Thriving Congregations Initiative in 2022. Working together in learning communities, participants meet throughout the year, both in person and online to encourage one another, conduct hands-on “holy experiments,” and engage the five traits of thriving congregations: Compelling Clarity, Faithful Agility, Holy Tenacity, Rooted Relationships and Dynamic Collaboration.
“Having clarity on the five traits had a huge impact on the team, and thinking through them congregationally definitely renewed our focus and gave us a way to assess ‘thriving,’” said Kravitz. The leadership team from Waters Avenue chose to focus on Dynamic Collaboration during their time of study with Thriving Congregations.
Chris Aho, CBF’s director of Thriving Congregations, explained that Dynamic Collaboration involves “carrying out work and ministry in ways that bring forth the life-giving koinonia (fellowship) the Apostle Paul mentions in the book of Philippians.”
Such collaboration can be within the congregation or may include partnerships with fellow churches and other ministry organizations. Collaboration becomes the catalyst that allows a congregation to thrive by multiplying the impact of its assets.
“Thinking from an asset-based approach gives a renewed sense of freedom and possibility that we must embrace if we want to see our churches make a positive influence in our communities,” said Kravitz.
For its Dynamic Collaboration, the congregation at Waters Avenue decided to officially partner with CBF by becoming a CBF-affiliated church. Using what they’d learned from the Thriving Congregations program, Waters Avenue approached the collaboration as a “holy experiment” in which a church learns through doing. “Some in our congregation expressed hesitancy as most had scars from their IFB or SBC pasts,” said Kravitz. “So, approaching it from the posture of experiment and using the tools we gained in the cohort was essential.”
Those at Waters Avenue who worried CBF would be overly focused on religiosity rather than social justice, soon found they had nothing to fear.
“Through our time with Thriving Congregations, we saw others who affirmed an open and embracing posture towards all people and who worked for justice and equity in their local contexts,” said Kravitz.
The ministry partnership with Waters Avenue is also a boon for CBF. “Chris and his friends have created a little community of faith that has some hope and energy in it,” Aho said. “They are creative about how they are using their space and have a vibe that is all their own.”
Thanks to connections made in the Florida learning community, Waters Avenue is also collaborating in another holy experiment with neighboring Bayshore Baptist Church. When a minister at Bayshore left to join the staff of Passport Camps, the church asked Kravitz to take on the job of ministering to their youth and young adults in addition to pastoring at Waters Avenue. “This arrangement has thus far been very fruitful, and I can say with certainty that it would not have happened without CBF’s Thriving Congregations initiative,” noted Kravitz.
For other churches looking to impact the world around them for Christ, Kravtiz said that CBF’s Thriving Congregations initiative will not only give them the tools they need, but will provide a supportive community as well. “I now have friendships with people to whom I can look for guidance, as well as access to resources I would have never had otherwise. I really could go on and on. I’m a big believer in Thriving Congregations!”
To learn more about CBF’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, click here.
This story was originally published in CBF’s Fellowship! Magazine. To read more stories like this one, or to sign up to receive a print copy of Fellowship! visit cbf.net/fellowship-magazine