1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
CICW has awarded Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for over 20 years to teacher-scholars and worshiping communities in 45+ states and provinces and across 40+ denominations and traditions—including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Protestant communities.
While worship styles and practices vary greatly across these traditions, the grant projects typically explore at least one of CICW’s ten core convictions related to worship. Explore the hundreds of projects we’ve funded across both streams of the program.
To engage children, youth, young adults, and seniors in planning and leading worship in order to promote intergenerational faith formation, leadership development, and a renewed sense of unity.
To foster a dynamic, participatory, and creative worship community where young adults can engage with God through visual arts, music, and worship leadership training.
To ground the congregation in scripture by creating and integrating theologically rich songs, testimonies, and other resources into worship services, supported by a new worship arts studio.
Peter Jurchen
To strengthen vocational discipleship by researching, designing, and implementing a theologically grounded faculty and staff faith formation framework that aligns professional development with spiritual and liturgical rhythms.
To anchor congregational worship in the Psalms through the practices of prayer, Scripture reading, and sharing testimony, so that members will be firmly rooted in long-standing healthy habits that biblically inform congregational identity.
To equip youth to actively participate in all aspects of the worship experience, including planning and services, by exploring the meaning of worship, different worship styles, and various expressions of worship.
To re-enliven drive-in worship services by exploring embodied worship practices and to encourage deeper connections in worship and with those who gather for worship.
To nurture personal and communal faith through workshops and creative events that encourage members of the worshiping community to grow closer to God and to each other.
To nurture a richer rhythm of weekly worship, seasonal gatherings, special events, and creative collaborations, all rooted in scripture’s counter-cultural narratives, so that worshipers may more fully embody the transforming power of the gospel.
To promote deeper spiritual formation, unity, and engagement within the worshiping community by providing training for emerging worship leaders, musicians, and preachers.
To promote deeper participation in worship and embodiment of justice and mission by offering an intergenerational liturgical formation program.
To cultivate diverse lay leadership and discipleship through intercultural and intergenerational cohorts focused on theological reflection, responsive action, and contemplative spiritual practices.
