Archives of Stories

In 2018, we created a launchpad for our mission in 2019. Let's keep proclaiming the Gospel until there's no place left in our circles for unbelief!

Journey to Bethlehem started at Salem in 1991 as a small Christmas program. Today Journey to Bethlehem is offered on four nights and is spread across the Salem campus with over 120 people—including actors, directors, a parking team, and a medical team—supporting the event. Almost 4,000 people attended Journey last year. “Christmas time seems to […]

Salem Baptist Church celebrates its 178th anniversary this fall. To mark this date, several long-time Salem members shared their memories of the past and their prayers for the future of Salem. Joe Holt has been a part of Salem for 82 years. He first attended Salem when he was about six-months old (and he has […]

Donna McKinney’s husband was sick for a long time and she prayed tirelessly for him to recover. But one morning in January 2015, it was all over. He was gone. “There is nothing more we can do,” the rescue captain said. Donna’s story is no hero story. While there are “villains,” you would be hard-pressed […]

Fall brings new things at Salem, focused on the mission to: Glorify God, Make Disciples, and Share His Story. Among the new things, Bible Fellowship Groups (as the Sunday morning small groups are called), are being birthed! Joe and Loretta Campbell will lead one of these new BFGs.  Being a part of Salem for four […]

When Ralph Keyser was a high school senior, he listened to Pastor Justin Carmona’s advice and looked for someone to disciple him in his Christian faith. Justin paired Ralph with Stephen Thompson for a discipleship relationship that continues today, two years later. People May Ask … What Is a Discipleship Relationship? “So, with our relationship,” […]

A certain excitement swirls in the air during this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) week. The hallways are decorated to this year’s “Game On” sports theme. A sea of bright blue VBS shirts fill the classrooms. Smiling faces across the Salem campus welcome parents and kids as they enter. Truly, everyone who walks on campus […]

Seth and Meredith Lee use the word “hard” to describe the summer of 2016. “It was hard because every time we felt like we knew the whole picture …” Meredith says. “The picture changed,” Seth adds, finishing her sentence. That changing picture included heart surgery for Seth and breast cancer surgery with follow-up treatment for […]

DiscipleNOW (DNOW) weekend kicked off with piles of pillows, plates full of pizza, and plenty of excitement for what was in store for the weekend. 145 students, both members and guests, and 85 adult volunteers gathered at the church campus over the weekend of March 2-4 for Salem Student Ministry’s annual retreat.

Luke Lindstrom arrived in a hurry. His dad, Jeff, and mom, Kelly, made the dinner-time drive to Duke in time for Luke to be born 5 minutes after they arrived on January 2. “Luke seemed great when he was born,” Kelly says. But as the evening passed, Kelly and Jeff’s concern grew. “So the nurse […]