CICW has awarded Vital 91, 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.

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Preaching
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching Scripture

Calvin University

Clair Mesick

To study New Testament texts on despair, suicide, and mental disorder (“madness”) in their historical and cultural contexts and to consult with experts in pastoral care and psychology to consider implications for the contemporary church context and to provide resources for preaching on these topics that do not demonize mental illness.

Teacher-Scholar
Grand Rapids, michigan
2025
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching

Catholic Theological Union

Edward Foley

To empower preachers to effectively engage with science in their sermons and homilies through a training program and the creation of digital resources. 

Teacher-Scholar
Chicago, illinois
2025
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching

Lancaster Theological Seminary of Moravian University

Catherine E. Williams

To promote effective homiletical practices that are integral to the flourishing of Caribbean congregational life by producing instructional materials related to the homiletical wisdom and liturgical practices of Caribbean congregations in the United States and the Caribbean islands.

Teacher-Scholar
Lancaster, pennsylvania
2025
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91ing Communities Bilingual Education/Leadership

Latinos Unidos en Cristo and Igreja Presbiteriana Brasileira

To promote vibrant, multilingual worship through a multicultural preaching and worship lab that will form, equip, and unite two diverse congregations. 

91ing Communities
San Mateo, california
2025
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching

Abilene Christian University

Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby

To explore the efficacy of preaching through the lens of affect theory to help preachers think carefully about the extralinguistic properties of proclamation and the ethical questions of the power of preaching.

Teacher-Scholar
Abilene, texas
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching Formation

Calvin University

Tyler Greenway

To compare the intended and actual outcomes of sermons and homilies by studying how listeners respond to preaching in their behavior, emotions, and beliefs.

Teacher-Scholar
Grand Rapids, michigan
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Formation Historical

Dordt University

Kyle Dieleman

To encourage preachers through exploration of historical and contemporary Advent preaching to consider how preaching can form people for a life in which pacing, expectations, and longings are recast in light of the kingdom of God.

Teacher-Scholar
Sioux Center, iowa
2024
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91ing Communities Education/Leadership Preaching

Faith Mennonite Church

To equip lay leaders by hosting workshops that broaden understanding of what preaching can be in an intergenerational and hybrid worship context in order to expand leaders’ repertoire of meaningful ways of engaging with scripture to facilitate spiritual growth.

91ing Communities
Leamington, ontario
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching Visual Arts

George Fox University

Sunggu A. Yang

To develop the practice of artistic-holistic preaching using examples from pottery, photography, Indigenous dancing, advertising, and poetry to offer innovative and practical resources for preaching education.

Teacher-Scholar
Newberg, oregon
2024
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91ing Communities Education/Leadership Preaching

Gregory Ministries DBA Proclaimers Place

To provide continued education related to sermon writing for a cohort of African American preachers through seminars and virtual gatherings that build group solidarity, support, and accountability.  

91ing Communities
Waco, texas
2024
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