Chris Aho, who holds both an M.Div. (2004) and a D.Min. (2021) from Duke Divinity School, is channeling his education and experience into transformative work as the director of Thriving Congregations for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF).
In this role, Aho leads team building, strategy development, and leadership formation, aiming to help congregations navigate the challenges and opportunities of today’s world. Over the past three and a half years, Aho has led the CBF’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., and is now expanding its reach.
A Vision for Thriving Churches
“I’m passionate about helping individuals, teams, and leaders gain fresh perspectives and see opportunities they might have missed on their own,” Aho says. By guiding church leaders to innovate and find faithful solutions, he fosters growth and engagement within congregations.
“As churches navigate the changing world of 2025 and beyond, we need not just renewed structures but also entirely new ideas,” he says. These breakthroughs not only energize leadership teams but also help congregations realign their missions with their calling, fostering growth and engagement.
Coursework That Endures
Reflecting on his time at Duke, Aho emphasizes how the education he received prepared him to think critically and engage meaningfully.
“My professors didn’t just teach me to gather information—they taught me how to think critically and engage the world meaningfully,” he says.
Certain classes and professors stand out in Aho’s memory as pivotal to his formation. During his M.Div., Professors Amy Laura Hall and Willie Jennings taught him to engage rigorously and think expansively, while Professor Curtis Freeman’s course on the free church strengthened his leadership skills and Baptist identity.
His doctoral studies further deepened his understanding of leadership and strategy, equipping him to create meaningful change alongside congregations.
“The strategy class with Victoria White and Dave Odom brought everything together for me. It helped me see the intersection of leadership, strategy, and implementation in ways that paved the road to my current role,” he notes.
These classes instilled in him the importance of listening, says Aho, and provided tools to address real-world challenges—from navigating congregational conflict to inspiring spiritual growth—equipping him with a framework for effective and compassionate leadership.
“Duke Divinity School is a place where you learn to explore, think critically, and become a student of life and of God’s work in the world,” he says.
Beyond gaining practical skills, he says Duke cultivates the intellectual, spiritual, and practical formation necessary for thriving ministry. “If you’re looking for a place to grow deeply in your faith, calling, and ability to make an impact, Duke Divinity is the place to be.”
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
One of the surprising lessons Aho has learned in his work is the deep care people have for their local congregations. “While people often say they love ‘the Church,’ they are especially devoted to their local congregations,” he says.
He has found that most church members are genuinely passionate about making a difference in their communities. This realization has reinforced the importance of meeting people where they are, helping them identify their strengths, and guiding them toward meaningful action.
By empowering leaders and congregations to embrace innovation and collaboration, he is helping to extend the reach of ministry beyond traditional settings. “The world is changing, and the Church must adapt,” he says. “Our work isn’t confined to sanctuaries; it’s about being present and active in the world.”
In addition to his formal education, Aho’s 18 years of congregational ministry prior to joining CBF equipped him with firsthand insights into the complexities of church life. From understanding the unique dynamics of each congregation to navigating broader denominational challenges, Aho’s experience has been a crucial complement to his academic training.
As Aho continues his work with CBF, his vision for thriving congregations remains clear: to inspire communities of faith to embrace creativity, collaboration, and commitment.
“Thriving congregations are those that align their actions with their calling, build meaningful connections, and courageously explore new possibilities,” Aho concludes.