1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2025 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 facilitate healing of emotional wounds through creating a safe, reflective, and artistic space for biblical reflection, prayer, and the reframing of personal stories through the truths of scripture.
HyeRan Kim-Cragg and Mona Tokarek LaFosse
To train international graduate students experiencing the trauma of migration and immigration in practices of trauma-informed worship leading so they can implement the practices in their worshiping communities.
To support and diversify our ministry to those struggling with mental health by working with psychologists, theologians, ministers, therapists, worship leaders, and artists to create prayers and songs for the worship context that acknowledge and express experiences of psychological suffering.
To encourage spiritual and emotional healing among congregations and clergy by educating church leaders in trauma-informed worship, pastoral care, and other ministry practices.
Sarah Kathleen Johnson
To facilitate healing and ethical responses to public crises by studying the unintended consequences of ritual responses to mass shootings, the enduring legacy of colonialism, and climate disasters.
Beth Argot & Kayleen Bobbitt
To conduct fieldwork exploring the use of pilgrimage, movement, and the arts in worship as means of healing trauma and encouraging spiritual integration (knowing God with both our heads and our hearts).
Beth Argot
To study the relationship between historical worship practices and arts and trauma healing practices in order to explore the potential for healing and increased wellbeing of worshipers within the context of public worship.
