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.
Presbytery of East Iowa (Presbyterian Church USA)
To engage youth in leadership training that will help congregations throughout the Presbytery understand that worship is meaningful to people of all ages and encourage congregations to include youth in planning and leading worship.
Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center - Department of Pastoral Care
To create a common language for worship among staff and clients through lament, Psalms and the Vertical Habits at an adolescent residential psychiatric treatment facility that will lead to corporate and personal worship that promotes spiritual healing.
Madison Avenue Christian Reformed Church
To offer training for worship leaders of all ages in theological foundations of worship and musical and artistic abilities with a focus on developing the gifts of youth of several congregations in leading worship.
Messiah Missionary Baptist Church
To engage youth and adults from three congregations to learn about intergenerational, multi-ethnic worship and to integrate what has been learned in Sunday worship.
Mustard Seed School
To explore with young children how artistic response gives language to their understanding of God through mentoring and communication with staff and parents to more deeply engage them in worship in school and in their congregations.
New City Church
To explore the Psalms with children, youth and families through art, music and memorizing Scripture to shape a posture of hope and give words to express doubts, questions and fears.
Wakefield United Methodist Church
To engage the congregation in learning about the important foundational elements of Christian worship with a focus on children who make up a large percentage of the congregation.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – Department of Pastoral Care
To create scripturally-based, experientially rich worship using music, dance, visual art and writing for patients in treatment at an adolescent residential psychiatric facility.
Cornerstone Youth Ministries
To train adult and youth leaders through a retreat and monthly gatherings to create and lead weekly worship that engages urban youth through word, visual arts and music.
Lutheran Music Program
To partner with congregations to develop a process that will support the authentic engagement of young people in congregational life.
St. Michael and St. Rose Parishes
To provide training in liturgical practices and music for the multicultural youth choirs of two churches that will encourage youth to take an active role in worship as a way to strengthen their identity within the worshiping community.
The Gathering
To create intergenerational worship services by training youth to lead worship and adults to mentor the youth.