The labor may look like hosting a Freedom School site at your church so that you can invite people into your community that are not organically there. The labor may be look like starting a school community partnership that you may serve teachers, families, students all at the same time. The labor is different, but the harvest is still plentiful.
—Dr. Shanitria Cuthbertson

“In reflection on what Emmaus has been the last seven years, I’m a preacher, so allow me to share two parables,” said the Rev. Dr. Shanitria Cuthbertson from the stage of the 2025 North Carolina Synod Assembly. On Saturday, May 31, the faith community Emmaus, previously a mission development, officially joined the NC Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as a chartered congregation.

The parables that Dr. Cuthbertson shared were those of the sower and the mustard seed. “We’re proud of the seed that it took to get here,” she said. “It was seeds, seeds, seeds—seeds that were planted all around, and even before we came, there were seeds that were planted. And we are the beneficiary of that.”

NC Synod Vice President Diana Haywood remembers those seeds well. “It was one of the dreams of the African Descent Strategy Team (ADST) of the North Carolina Synod to have a Lutheran witness in the Charlotte metropolitan area,” said Haywood, who chairs the ADST. “We began discernment with the Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM) at that time, Pastor John Mocko. The dream became a reality in 2017.”

Rooted in West Charlotte among people of African descent, Emmaus began as a mission development of the NC Synod with Dr. Cuthbertson as its leader. “If you want to know an awesome individual, get some time to spend with Pastor Shanitria,” said the Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Smith, bishop of the NC Synod. “The Spirit sends us who we need.”

Bible study and community partnership are the cornerstones of Emmaus’ ministry. During its first chapter as a mission development, the faith community was shaped by those twin values. Anchored in God’s word through Dr. Cuthbertson’s gift of teaching, they meet for interactive Bible studies on Zoom every Tuesday evening. “In seven years as a mission development, we have walked through the entire Bible as a community,” Dr. Cuthbertson said.

Simultaneously, soaking in the stories of God from Scripture propelled Emmaus to join God’s mission in their own community. Partnering with local schools, they developed educational outreach programs to enrich, equip, and empower young people through access to educational resources and support. “From day one, Emmaus has been committed to education,” said the Rev. Danielle DeNise, who served as DEM of the NC Synod throughout Emmaus’ time as a mission development. “They have not stopped teaching in their community and among us. As they stand to become formally organized, we celebrate that their voice and witness will be teaching us for years to come!”

Emmaus held their official charter meeting on May 11, and the NC Synod Council voted to receive them as a congregation of the synod on May 29. A resolution came from Synod Council to the Assembly on its final day, May 31, to approve and officially welcome them as a chartered congregation. Presented by Vice President Haywood, the resolution was enthusiastically approved by the Assembly with applause and a standing ovation.

“When a mission start becomes an official congregation, it’s a huge milestone,” said Pastor DeNise. “Our synod now has a third African descent congregation and new leaders who will teach us, and we will get to serve alongside them. Their voices are now woven into the fabric of our shared story, and I’m excited for us to lean in and continue to listen.”

Dr. Cuthbertson shares the excitement, as well as gratitude. “We are grateful today that this seed has come to fruition at this point in time,” she said. “We are grateful to you for receiving us, we are grateful to everyone who put their hand to the plow of the work that we are doing in the community, and we look forward to doing more work with more communities and more congregations in the future.”

Learn more about Emmaus at their website.

The work of supporting mission congregations along the way to become officially recognized is one of the many ways we are church together as the North Carolina Synod. Thanks to your faithful Mission Support giving, fledgling worshiping communities are cared for and strengthened as they grow. As they grow—and become official as Emmaus just did—they are blessings to their communities and this synod as a whole. Dr. Cuthbertson emphasized, “We are grateful…” in her comments at assembly. Together as a synod, we echo her gratitude and say to Dr. Cuthbertson and the faithful saints of Emmaus, “We are grateful for you! Your commitment to the Gospel and your amazing community ministry are blessings to this synod and to the world.”