Grantee Directory

The Better Together Project (TBTP) seeks to constructively respond to the increased polarization within our contemporary American context that is dramatically impacting local congregations and their ministries. In the process, we aspire to help the wider church demonstrate the unity that Jesus prays for in John 17. In response to this polarization and the divisive decisions that have resulted, TBTP seeks to build a network of center-set churches that focus on our common mission of becoming Christ-followers rather than a bounded-set that defines itself in terms of doctrines that determine who is “in” and who is “outside” its borders. We aim to create a network of churches organized around seven local hubs, geographically dispersed across the United States. Each hub would build partnerships among approximately seven local churches. Each participating church would commit to a three-year program designed to build that church’s capacity for living in unity across disagreements that do not determine a believer’s salvation. Building a capacity for such unity in the service of mission is our primary goal, both within each congregation and among the partner churches in each hub. These efforts aim at helping congregations thrive through deeper relationships with God and one another, leading to specific missional outcomes in their communities. Ultimately, TBTP is designed to reorient local congregations from inwardly-focused quarrels about intractable issues toward an outwardly-focused mission, building unity for the sake of helping our communities flourish by engaging the good news of the gospel, the only source of true healing and hope in a troubled world.

Calvin Theological Seminary's Institute for Mission, Church & Culture offers the Ancient Practices for Missional Churches initiative to directly engage pastors and lay leaders. The initiative will center on two main formation projects: 1) Seminars for churches to empower the various and scattered callings of Christians, and 2) Retreats that offer an experiential encounter with the Psalms for prayer and worship. These projects will lead participating congregational teams through a process of deepening their relationship with God through ancient formation practices and re-centering their ministry vision around equipping congregants for their priestly mission in the world through their daily life and work.

The Church Renewal Lab is a two-year journey designed to give churches the tools necessary for renewal. Our work with over 100 churches and with coaching nearly 1,000 church leaders has been inspiring and humbling. We see many victories as churches and lives are transformed, but we have also faced challenges that hinder the journey to vitality. This grant will allow us to focus time and resources to overcoming two of the most significant challenges: ethnic barriers and the need to empower the next generation of leaders.

In many ways, thriving congregations are similar to thriving trees. A thriving congregation is clear about the strength of its roots, recognizes the need for flexibility in dealing with winds that blow, and produces foliage and fruit that is authentic to its identity. In today's world, however, the ability for congregations to thrive in this manner can be hindered. In a macro context that includes both increasing polarization and increased diversity, the Christian Reformed Church in North America hears a call to re-engage church members, leaders, and neighborhoods in the sturdiest and most generous themes of their Reformed theology and practice, especially their capacity to embrace polarities. In particular, the Christian Reformed Church believes that hospitality is a theological thread that weaves the entire Scripture together and provides impetus for the specific purpose of this project: to have Christian Reformed congregations embody a hospitableness that heals, deepens a sense of belonging to each other, strengthens their discipleship, and affords an openness to engaging with all others. Through two initiatives, Thriving Essentials and Thriving Practices, congregations will renew their sense of identity, deepen their awareness of neighborhood contexts, and explore locally specific dimensions of hospitality-renewing and creating practices that allow for both giving and receiving (which, in turn, further refreshes their identity and purpose).