Campbell University Divinity School has announced the launch of the Empowering Families Podcast, a new tool designed to equip parents and caregivers with practical resources, biblical insight, and real-life support to help children grow in their faith. The podcast is part of the Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Initiative, supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative to help parents and caregivers share their faith and values with their children. Read more, here.
Phase 1 will focus on listening to the needs of parents, caregivers, churches, and ministers, and on recruiting the personnel needed to conduct this project. In the Summer of 2024, we began the work of recruiting churches to be a part of the work. In the Fall of 2024 we will host listening sessions with the participating churches to assess the needs and begin planning for a retreat in the Spring of 2025.
Phase 2 will focus on developing and implementing specific programs and materials to meet those needs, with an iterative process of refinement. We will host retreats in the Spring of 2025 and 2026 for the families from participating churches to explore strategies and resources gathered based on the listening sessions and our research.
Phase 3 will allow us to focus on how to communicate and distribute the most effective strategies and resources.
Events
Podcast Viewing Party
The Empowering Families Podcast previews March 12, 2026, at 12 p.m. EST at the Oscar N. Harris Student Union in the Chambers Theater. Join us for lunch as we explore faithful scripture reading and interpretation, especially for families, featuring Dr. Sarah Boberg and Dr. Jennifer Bashaw. For more information, click here.
Spring Retreat
Growing Together
March 6-8, 2026
The Empowering Families Team is looking forward to their final retreat. Kayla Craig will offer a message of hope for our families in worship and preach during our retreat weekend worship services.
Caraway Conference Center
4756 Caraway Mountain Road
Sophia Mountain Rd., NC 27350
Resources
Through Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn worship is an integral piece of engaging faithful families and encouraging spiritual formation. Read more.
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn how busy families are. When families attend church, they make an intentional choice of how to spend their time together. Churches must keep this in mind as they prepare to engage and support families with children. Read more.
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn families are exhausted and overscheduled. Church has become another obligation, even for the most faithful and devoted families. Read more. Read more.
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have discovered faithful parents and caregivers want to engage children in the faith but often do not know how. Churches can help parents and caregivers by encouraging family spiritual practices and rhythms. Read more.
Program Staff
Dr. Sarah Boberg
Asst. Professor for Christian Education
Director of Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation
Rev. Dr. Sarah Boberg, Assistant Professor for Christian Education at the Divinity School, serves as the Director of Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation. Dr. Boberg is a two-time Campbell graduate; BA in Religion and Christian Ministries and Master of Divinity. She brings 20 years of children’s ministry experience and a passion for educating children and families. She lives in Fuquay Varina with her husband, Bradley, and her two daughters.
Azizi Culpepper
Administrative Assistant
Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Initiative
Azizi Culpeper serves as the Administrative Assistant for Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation. Azizi has a passion for real estate and decorating. She also enjoys discovering new restaurants and recipes. Originally from Rhode Island and raised in Connecticut, Azizi now considers North Carolina her home. She lives in Lillington with her husband, Chris, and has three adult children—Madison, Christian, and Zachary.
Taylor Long
Graduate Assistant
Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Initiative
Taylor long serves as the Graduate Assistant for Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation. Taylor is a Campbell University Christian Studies graduate and a current Divinity School student. She will be an integral part of the research portion of the grant. Taylor will collect articles, texts, studies, etc. to use alongside the information gathered in our listening sessions with churches as we plan for the retreats. She will also compile information and observations from our listening sessions and retreats to help direct our resource development. Taylor will also assist in administrative work as needed.