Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant: Funding to Renew Worship and Discipleship in Your Church

Ink & Insights
Jan 12
4 min read

Churches and Christian worshiping communities seeking to deepen their worship life, strengthen preaching, and form disciples should strongly consider the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant. This grant opportunity supports year-long projects designed to renew public worship and connect it more deeply to Christian discipleship and faith formation.

If your church has been sensing a call to reimagine worship, preaching, music, or congregational engagement, this funding opportunity may be the catalyst you need.

Grant Overview

The Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant is designed to help Christian worshiping communities in the United States and Canada focus intentionally on worship practices that shape faith, identity, and mission.

Grant Amounts:

Awards range from $8,000 to $25,000, making this an excellent opportunity for both emerging and established congregations to fund meaningful worship-focused initiatives.

Grant Duration:

Projects run for one full year, allowing congregations to engage deeply in learning, reflection, collaboration, and implementation rather than one-time events.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include a wide range of Christian worshiping communities, such as:

New churches and church plants
Established congregations and parishes
Seminaries, colleges, and religious schools
Hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice ministries
Prison and correctional center ministries
Other Christian worshiping communities

Organizations must:

Be based in the United States or Canada
Provide proof of tax-exempt status
Have support from the senior pastor or key administrator

Grant proposals are encouraged to be developed by collaborative teams, which may include pastors, educators, musicians, artists, scholars, architects, worship leaders, and lay leaders.

What Types of Projects Can This Grant Fund?

The Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant supports projects that explore and strengthen Christian worship practices, including but not limited to:

Bible reading and Scripture engagement
Preaching, sermons, and homiletics
Public prayer
Baptism and sacramental theology
Communion / Eucharist / Lord’s Supper
Congregational singing and music
Visual arts and storytelling in worship
Cultural engagement and contextual worship
Universal and responsive worship design

Examples of Funded Projects

Projects funded through the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant often take a deep, year-long approach to renewing worship and strengthening congregational life. Many churches have used the grant to engage in sustained study of the theology of worship and how it shapes their practices week after week. Others have explored the meaning and role of baptism or communion and how these sacred acts connect more fully to the daily life of the congregation. Some projects focus on studying the Psalms and examining how Scripture influences congregational singing and worship music. The grant has also supported collaborative worship planning between pastors and lay leaders, helping teams work together to integrate preaching, prayer, and music. In addition, many funded initiatives emphasize intergenerational worship leadership development and intentionally align sermons with broader congregational formation, ensuring worship nurtures faith across all ages.

How Grant Proposals Are Assessed

Grant proposals are reviewed by a team of evaluators who assess each project’s potential to bring renewed energy and engagement to public worship at the local level. Strong proposals clearly connect worship practices to the life of a specific congregation or worshiping community and demonstrate thoughtful theological reflection on the meaning and purpose of worship. Reviewers also look for projects that are rooted in a compelling vision while remaining realistic, well-organized, and achievable within the one-year grant period.

While not required, certain elements are given preference during the review process. Proposals are strengthened when collaboration across leadership roles is central to the project and when new learning is introduced through speakers, studies, or shared resources. Applications that involve communities with limited financial resources, have the potential to serve as a model for other worshiping communities, or include a clear plan for sharing outcomes and lessons learned are viewed favorably. Projects designed to nourish intergenerational or multicultural worship—rather than separating worshipers into isolated groups—are also especially encouraged.

What This Grant Does Not Fund

The grant does not support:

Grants to individuals
Staff or volunteer compensation exceeding 20% of the grant
Equipment costs exceeding 10% of the grant
Building renovations or construction
One-time events without a year-long learning process
Media production for sale (CDs, DVDs, books, etc.)
Conferences, concerts, or camps not tied to a broader project

Important Deadline

📅 Next Application Deadline: April 25, 2026

Early preparation is critical—strong proposals require theological clarity, collaboration, and a well-defined project plan.

How Exousia Can Help Your Church Secure This Grant

Navigating worship-focused grants requires more than good ideas—it requires strategy, alignment, and clarity. Exousia partners with churches and faith-based nonprofits to strengthen their grant applications and maximize funding success.

We can help your church: