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 provide workshops and educational programs to actively involve church members of all ages in worship and preaching renewal.
To renew the congregants’ worship life and revitalize the church’s worship services, promoting learning, community, and intergenerational participation.
To create a preaching school for lay leaders to equip them with the knowledge and practical skills to develop an effective preaching ministry in their communities.
To involve lay members in the church’s preaching ministry by strengthening their biblical formation and training them in storytelling and personal testimony.
To develop a drama ministry to preach the word of God in an engaging and relevant way that will contextualize scripture and address social concerns.
To educate the families of the church in biblical and theological teachings and practices of integral worship to nurture the spiritual life of participants of all ages.
To empower and support the formation of female lay preachers through peer training and a series of educational gatherings.
To educate the congregation on the sacraments in the Reformed tradition to develop better practices that welcome children in baptism and Holy Communion as part of the church’s public worship and community witness.
To train children and youth in understanding of worship and in worship skills, including media technology and leading music, to equip them to lead worship at Lighthouse Full Life Center.
To disciple African American participants on the topics of prayer and spiritual growth through virtual meetings and an online platform, with special attention to the relationship between worship and discipleship.
To equip congregants of all ages to participate in worship leadership by providing theological and practical training as well as resources for personal and family worship.
To promote cross-cultural healing, prayer, and community unity among and beyond three participating churches by teaching the practice and history of drum circles as worship.
