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.
Humble Walk
To deepen community ties and invite other churches into collaboration by hosting art and worship events featuring music, performing arts, and visual arts with activities accessible for all ages.
Innovative Literacy Solutions
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.
Knox College (2024)
Sarah Travis
Sarah Travis
To support lay and experienced or retired preachers by developing a pedagogy that prioritizes mutual conversation and consideration of context and social location.
Kuyper College
Richelle White
Richelle White
To create a storytelling lab for an intergenerational group of women to create spoken-word and written testimonies about healing and community building that will serve as liturgies in corporate worship and as a curriculum resource.
Lakeside Christian Church
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.
Loop Church, Roseland Christian Reformed Church, Pullman Christian Reformed Church
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.
Luther House, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Oregon State University
To create opportunities for students to find community and a space to explore their faith through dinner church, pilgrimage, and retreats that empower student leaders to craft liturgy that speaks to their lived experience in a culture with a broken relationship with creation.
Mars Hill Bible Church
To nurture the church’s preaching team, including active and potential preachers, through workshops, conferences, and team practices that nurture the preaching life.
Mere Christianity Forum
To engage students at Furman University in weekly student-led worship by equipping student leaders and developing ecumenical liturgical resources.
Metropolitan AME Church
To engage congregants and the community in worship experiences outside of traditional Sunday services through workshops and small-group worship experiences that incorporate music and the visual and performing arts.
Mid South Covenant Churches
To encourage spiritual and emotional healing among congregations and clergy by educating church leaders in trauma-informed worship, pastoral care, and other ministry practices.
Mission Chattanooga
To create liturgies for workers that lift up the particular needs, laments, and blessings within the workers’ vocations.