Grants awarded by Trellis Foundation (the full list!)
Trellis Foundation is thrilled to be a catalyst for biblical, intentional, and innovative discipleship in the following churches and ministries. Click the green “+” button for more details about each initiative. Click the column title to sort the list by that category, too!
| Initiative Title | Grant Recipient | Province | Grant Amount | Focus | Year Awarded | Initiative Details | Applicant Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headwaters Discipleship | The Harbour At Riondel | BC | $20,250 | Young Adults, Discipleship Education, Spiritual Formation, Leadership Development, Creativity, Community, Creation | 2021 | A two month intensive school for the heart for young adults aged 19-25, held annually in May-June, beginning in 2022. This immersive experience will lead women and men to dive into the headwaters of their lives and hearts, to meet Jesus there and discover the wholeness God has for them. Led by Wild Goose Collective & The Harbour at Riondel on Kootenay Lake. Applications & details are available at: headwatersdiscipleship.net | "Just as the headwaters of a river affect everything the water touches, we recognize that all we do and believe is affected by what flows out of our heart… Jesus’ model of discipleship was life on life and time spent with Him. In John 15, Jesus calls his disciples to remain in the vine, remain in him. Our desire is to empower our students to have thriving relationships with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, through intentional discipleship, community living, the pursuit of creativity, in a beautiful creation setting. We intend to guide young adults on a path of a sustainable relationship with God that will be walked out for the rest of their lives... Our long term plan is to develop a second year, 6 month leadership development program that builds upon the foundation laid in the first year 2 month program. We see the first year program being the ‘journey in’ (healing and restoring our relationship with God) while the second year program will be the ‘journey out’ (missional expressions from the overflow of our restored relationship with Jesus)." –Mark Hagen |
| Bilingual Sunday School Ministry | Emmanuel Covenant Church | BC | $5200 | Children's Ministry, Evangelism, Discipleship, Hospitality | 2021 | To assist new staff to create hospitable space for Mandarin-speaking families in their neighbourhood to find belonging in their church community and come to know Jesus. | "We seek to reach out into our multicultural community in a meaningful way. We are seeing a population increase around Emmanuel's neighbourhood in the thousands. Many of the families moving into the area are bilingual, speaking Mandarin & English. By bringing in two dedicated bilingual staff, with Early Childhood Education certification, to serve in our nursery and Sunday School ministry, we commit to building up our next generation in Christ. We want to provide opportunity for young families to join us in fellowship knowing their children will be learning God’s word, support parents who may want to communicate about their children in Mandarin, and offer a chance for non-Mandarin speaking children to learn some new language skills." –David Wright |
| Family Discipleship Care Packages | Lake Ridge Community Church | AB | $2100 | Children's Ministry, Family Discipleship, Worship, Community Service, Mental Health, Care Packages | 2021 | To resource families to explore the story of Jesus in fresh ways, gather with others in ways that express hospitality during this pandemic, to equip families to worship God through creative prayer activities, and to experience generosity received and given. | "We have a renewed love for children in our community, and see both their suffering in this covid season, and their heart to love God. We want to put them and their families front and centre in this season. Proverbs 1 expressly reveals that children do well if they learn young about God from their families, Proverbs 22:6 says that when we train a child young, they will not depart from the Good Path even when they grow up. Jesus showed love for children, and our faith is a story of being adopted in the Family of God. In this season our children’s ministry has suffered the loss of many of the tools we formerly found helpful and today with restrictions we are finding difficult to use. So we are eagerly looking for new tools to help us love kids and encourage families to make discipleship something they can do easily and find life giving." –Tara Linsley & Preston Pouteaux |
| Women’s Retreat | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | Up to $2500 | Retreat, Women's Ministry, Discipleship, Equipping Disciple-Makers, Contemplative Prayer | 2021 | To re-kindle women's connections with Jesus and one another, re-set a trajectory for women ministering together for the sake of their neighbours, and respond to the changes brought on by the pandemic. | "The retreat is intended to be a re-set in women's ministry, following Covid-19, providing a space for women to re-discover their role as followers and Disciples of Christ. Fellowship with each other has great potential to be strengthened so that on returning to our day to day lives, each will have a greater sense of who is God, who is our neighbour and how we serve as individuals and as a community." –Claudette Leduc |
| Discipleship Driven Community | City Collective Church | BC | $10,000 | Discipleship, pastoral staff, Equipping Disciple-Makers | 2021 | To develop a discipleship pastor position, cultivating a consistent, intentional, structured approach to discipleship in their church during the current pandemic and beyond. | "The goal of this initiative is to develop a renewed focus upon spiritual practices and scriptural study through teaching, serving and accountability. This program will fill the gap of pastoral discipleship and development within our young community. It provides a clear next step for those wanting to deepen their understanding of the Bible. We want to empower and equip our church so that out of a deeper more mature relationship with Jesus they can bring change in the world around them." –Jason Charles |
| Scott Erickson Retreat | The Harbour At Riondel | BC | $3500 | Retreat, Spiritual Formation, Contemplative Prayer, Creative Arts | 2021 | To encourage and strengthen disciples of Jesus on their journeys, slowing down to lean into prayer and to connect spiritual formation and creativity. | "We believe that the rhythm of retreat is essential to our discipleship journeys with Jesus. Taking time to step back, examine, and evaluate are vital in our walks of faith. Jesus often would retreat with just his disciples to provide insight and perspective as he was teaching and forming them. Scott is an innovative, thought provoking speaker and artist. He provides insight and perspective in a creative and engaging way. We believe he will beneficial to all who attend this event, and will encourage us to continue in our journeys with Jesus as well as walking alongside others in theirs." –Mark Hagen |
| Creative Ministry Internship | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $3600 | Internship, Worship Arts, Storytelling, Evangelism | 2021 | An internship for a young adult to coordinate worship services and leverage digital platforms for strategic communication of the gospel, encouraging spiritual formation through social media, and telling good stories in the midst of this challenging season. | "We believe that central to the Gospel is making disciples and loving others. This role will be paramount in seeing that our Gospel message is heard well, both in-house and online... As a collaborator and leader, they will be able to extend hospitality and friendship to the people they serve with... The hope is for creativity in engaging the community mid-week, such as through sharing video stories of how God is at work in the lives of each person in this season, or sharing how God’s love is still being displayed as we ‘love our neighbor’ and pursue Christ." –Melissa DaSilva |
| Coffee Shop Baristas Training | Riondel Community Church | BC | $4340 | Hospitality, Community Service, Spiritual Formation, Evangelism, Church Planting | 2021 | To equip two staff to care for spiritual needs while creating the community’s only public cafe space. This ministry will develop good relationships in the region in preparation for a church plant, under the umbrella of The Harbour At Riondel. | "The Riondel Community Church building was a gift to the society of the Harbour at Riondel. Upon receiving ownership of the building, it was learned that there was a community desire to see this church building become a coffee shop/gathering space (before it was graciously donated to The Harbour). There is currently no community gathering space like this, and coming out of COVID we believe there will be a strong desire to gather in community spaces such as this. Our initiative is to create a space within the church building to house a coffee shop and to train up staff to be able to both serve coffee and to care for the spiritual needs of all who enter this coffee shop." – Mark Hagen |
| Post-Pandemic Ministry Coaching | ECCC | Canada | Up to $10,000 | Equipping Disciple-Makers, Church Vitality, Leadership Development | 2021 | Ministry coaching for pastors, church staff teams and/or leadership boards, with up to five coaching sessions, with all costs covered by this Trellis grant. To assist churches in reflecting on the challenging pandemic season, looking back to seek God's healing, and moving forward into renewed spiritual formation. | |
| Community Care Packages | Lake Ridge Community Church | AB | $1000 | Mental Health, Care Packages | 2020 | To deliver three different curated mental health care packages to distinct groups in their city as a way of supporting people’s spiritual and mental well-being this winter. One care package will go to households in their church family, another to teens connected to their youth group, and a third to support leaders in the city who are themselves encouragers in the community. | "At no time have we sensed so greatly the need to respond with the attentive love of Jesus as we do now. This winter we expect that our community will be facing tremendous pressures and anxieties, closed in their homes and away from community. In response, we are working on a community-wide plan to address these stresses by naming them, talking about them, and resourcing people to face them together, and in Jesus’ name." –Preston Pouteaux |
| Internship | Covenant Heights Bible Camp | MB | $4500 | Internship, Camping, Equipping Disciple-Makers | 2020 | Summer internship for a young adult to grow in ministry skills and spiritual formation, to be equipped for leadership and disciple-making in the camp setting and in their home communities. | "We want to help our interns discover their gifts/talents and give opportunities to use those gifts to bring glory to God. But we also want to highlight that there are times we need to do the dirty, undesirable jobs. We hope that they will be able to approach these tasks with the same willingness Jesus did in this passage. To challenge them to look through Jesus eyes where they can find the beauty and even experience joy in the jobs that, as humans, are often looked down on." –Kyra Barkey |
| Mental Health Internship | Covenant Bay Bible Camp | AB | $4200 | Internship, Mental Health | 2020 | Internship for an emerging leader, working with their new in-school program that cultivates mental health and emotional well being among students. | "Our research for the in-school program, which included conversations with parents and educators, and searching for similar programs, has shown us that we are positioned uniquely to offer a timely program to children and youth... With our Program Director's expertise as a child and youth care counsellor, we have developed a unique curriculum for the in-school program. While there are other mental health programs within our community, we did not find any targeting schools. Putting this all together, we saw an opportunity to have compassion, serve children, youth, and schools, and give a young adult experience in ministry." –Jon Drebert |
| Mental Health Support Group | Rosebud Church | AB | $1200 | Mental Health, Small Group | 2020 | A mental health support group, engaging a course from Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, to offer safe space for those suffering and to equip church members to better support their wider community. | "One of the goals of Rosebud Church is to minister to the whole person: body, mind, soul, spirit. Offering psychological and spiritual support to those experiencing, or those helping with mental illness, extends the ministry of Jesus’ work, which is the aim of the Church. Another of the goals of Rosebud Church is to add value to our community. In this season of stress and uncertainty, issues relating to mental health are regularly observable in our community and people are searching for answers/resources to assist them in coping with life’s challenges. This initiative has the potential to alleviate fears regarding mental health issues and to equip our faith community to be an understanding ally in the struggle." –Renita Hamm |
| Multiplication residency | City Collective Church | BC | $6000 | Pastoral Internship, Equipping Disciple-Makers | 2020 | Development of a pastoral leader’s discipling gifts in preparation for ongoing future ministry which could include planting another local church. | "This program will fill the gap of pastoral discipleship and development within our young community. It provides a clear next step for those who feel called into pastoral ministry and an intentional step for our church towards the vision of multiplication we have carried from inception. We want to recognize and celebrate the pastoral and missional giftings in our community and create space for that to flourish in the church. We believe that this program will be an ongoing position for future multiplication and present pastoral work." –Jason Charles |
| Bee-ing Neighbourly | College Park Covenant Church | SK | $1150 | Retreat, Neighbourhood, Community Service, Leadership Development | 2019 | Weekend workshops with Vine & Table community, an intentional Christian community house for young adults, using beekeeping as a practical tool & metaphor for transforming the way participants think about and interact with our neighbours as Jesus-followers. | "We are inviting Preston Pouteaux (author of The Bees of Rainbow Falls) to lead sessions, supplemented by the experience of CPCC and Vine & Table leaders. We expect participants to be a cross-section of hopeful beekeepers, neighborhood enthusiasts, and members of the CPCC community who want to grow in new expressions of discipleship." –Terri Lynn Friesen |
| Bridging Into Youth Ministry Retreat | College Park Covenant Church | SK | $3340 | Retreat, Youth Ministry | 2019 | A weekend retreat to be equipped, to brainstorm and to identify next steps in developing intergenerational ministry with young people. | "We want to effectively empower and equip the people within our church to love, encourage, guide and mentor teens well. As most adults are aware, being a youth in today’s world is a radically different experience than what most of us grew up with. The ‘containers’ for ministry that we might assume from the past are not necessarily effective in the rapidly changing context that our teens are living in. As a congregation, we want to take this ‘starting from scratch’ opportunity to learn from seasoned youth pastors in our Conference, to develop a philosophy and practice of ministry that is innovative, relevant to what teens today need, and is specifically designed to suit our church’s strengths and limitations." –Kirsten Waldschmidt |
| Refugee Journey | Serve Globally-Middle East North Africa [SG-MENA], ECCC | Canada, Lebanon | Up to $12,000 | Discipleship Trip, Intercultural Development, Justice, Mercy | 2019 | Refugee Journey: Learning To Love the ‘Other’ At Home & Afar is a discipleship trip to Lebanon, to deepen our churches’ understanding of & response to refugees in our local contexts & abroad. Currently on pause due to COVID-19. | "Refugees have been a part of history since Biblical times. The Israelites were refugees in Egypt as was Jesus and his family when they fled from Herod. Worldwide current refugee statistics reinforce that refugees are an ongoing reality. Refugees should not be ignored by followers of Jesus. North Americans tend to think that the refugee crisis is “over there”; far away and distant. In fact, although the refugee reality is far away it is also near, in our neighbourhoods and communities.... This trip encourages us to live into the great commandment by loving more broadly. Relationship building is foundational to making disciples, this experience will highlight the power of relationships in introducing others to Jesus." –Darlene Anderson |
| Snow Days Youth Retreat | Faith Covenant Church, Winnipeg | MB | Up to $5000 | Youth Ministry, Retreat | 2019 | To develop Snow Days Youth Retreat (with other MB & SK Covenant churches), expanding capacity of the event for wider outreach among teens & increased discipleship impact. Currently on pause due to COVID-19. | "This initiative is a catalyst in disciple making the same way a Mission vision trip or camp or any retreat has the capacity to be. The Spirit will use the weekend to plant seeds, break up hard ground, pick rocks and water what has already been planted... The youth crave these times together and we as leaders experience them as critical for our ministry." –Erik Anderson |
| Youth Discipleship Trip | Holy Community Covenant Church | MB | Up to $5000 | Youth Ministry, Retreat, Intercultural Development | 2019 | To take a group of teens from Winnipeg Covenant churches to Toronto and Montreal for learning, service, spiritual formation & mission with Covenant ministries there. Currently on pause due to COVID-19. | "Jesus sent his friends in Matthew 28 to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth to make disciples - a vision of expanding outward beyond their homebase. While Montreal and Toronto are not “the ends of the earth” they certainly are not the homebase for our students, many of whom have no experience of what the work of Jesus’ followers looks like beyond their experience in our two local Covenant Churches. In these new settings the students would be exposed to and participate in the Church’s work in different cultural contexts, broadening their understanding of what discipleship and mission means, while hopefully offering some practical help to ministries there. By including reflection and worship within the week of serving, we seek to cultivate deeper awareness and love for God while they learn to serve and love those around them in these new circumstances." –Gavin Jensen |
| Pastoral Internship | Junction Covenant Church | BC | $2500 | Leadership Development, Internship | 2019 | 8-month position to mentor an emerging leader in pastoral ministry and equipping disciples in the local church. | "Jesus discipled mainly through mentoring. As He taught and ministered his disciples were right there to see, learn and try. The internship program allows for a similar mentoring experience. The intern gets to work alongside ministry leaders in the church and try out various ministry areas. They also get to step out try things that they feel called to or want to just try. Just as Jesus’ disciples had the freedom to try things and even fail - so too does the student intern. In the process others in the community will benefit from this discipleship process as they get to both receive ministry and give ministry." –Jesse Lerch |
| People Care, Soul Care weekend | Lake Ridge Community Church | AB | $1800 | Retreat, Spiritual Formation, Contemplative Prayer | 2019 | A retreat weekend to equip people to reflect on their own spiritual journeys, access ways of soul care, and use these insights to love and care well for their neighbours. | "If the whole of the law is fulfilled in the act of loving our neighbours, our aim is to try to live this way. What if a neighbour-centric discipleship was possible? Could we come to know Jesus by tending to our souls and loving others with our lives? We believe this is precisely the way Jesus taught his followers and we aim to try that through this experience. People Care, Soul Care is an experiment in choosing to walk down the road of neighbour-love. We have so much language around loving God (theology), but so little around loving neighbour (plesionology). We think that we can help create a community around this vital command of Christ." –Preston Pouteaux |
| Discipleship & Mission Trips to Alaska | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | Up to $9500 | Discipleship Trip, Mission Trip, Intercultural Development | 2019 | Two discipleship trips: one with their young adults partnering with Covenant Bible Camp near Unalakleet; one with their youth partnering with the Lantzs & Covenant Youth of Alaska in the Mat-Su Valley. | "We believe strongly in the great commission, and see its goal as twofold: we need to both go from where we live to disciple others, and we also need to go from where we live so that we ourselves can be discipled. We have been intensely studying discipleship recently with a deep desire to follow the process of discipleship that Jesus models for us in the Gospels. I believe that our own discipleship grows exponentially when we begin to disciple others. We will be leaving our own comfort and safety to go elsewhere and will further our own discipleship by discipling others. We will be serving the greater world, while at the same time learning from it." –Matt Clever |
| Art of Parenting course | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $315 | Small group, Parenting | 2019 | A course to equip parents in the church & in their neighbourhood in how to parent their children well & help them grow up as disciples of Jesus. | "We as a church want to come alongside the parents as they walk this journey in raising children, growing disciples of Jesus Christ by impacting both the lives of the parents and the children. We recognize that raising children can be a difficult 'job', but Christ did not intend for us to do it on our own. The church is a crucial part of raising children to be disciples. Our initiative will create a space for parents to come together to encourage one another, mentor one another, create potential new supportive relationships, and allow space for parents to be open with one another about any parenting challenges they may be facing." –Rachel Kilbreath |
| Rekindle Women’s Retreat | Norquay Covenant Church | SK | $2520 | Retreat | 2019 | A spiritual formation weekend to foster deeper relationships with Jesus and one another, empowering women to live out their God-given callings in their homes, church and community. | "God has challenged us to move beyond the “arms length” relationships that we find ourselves in, and be the women that God teaches in His Word. Our desire is that this retreat will bring women to a place where their hearts are spurred on to greater depths with their Saviour— rekindling their need for an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Our goal is to disciple our women, empowering them to live out their God-given callings in their homes, the church, and our community. We believe that as we spend time ‘away’, barriers will be broken, and women will be able to connect with each other." –Abigail Abrahamson |
| Community-Building Events | Stonehouse Covenant Church | MB | Up to $8746 | Hospitality, Community Service | 2019 | A series of community-gathering events to grow friendships with unchurched people in their town and to equip their core leaders in Jesus’ kind of kingdom-hospitality. Paused due to COVID-19. | "We are called to anchor ourselves in our identity as God’s people; as we gather, we intentionally remember who we are and who God is. [And] we are called to create space for people to experience the goodness of community. We orient ourselves to the ways and teaching of Jesus and our mission has arisen out of that. In the gospels we see him out among the people, loving strangers, doing acts of justice and mercy, building community, and showing radical inclusivity and grace. We too are meant to give these gifts." –Shannon Johnson Friesen |
| Block Grant | Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada | Canada | $15,000 | Multiple Discipleship Initiatives | 2019, 2020, 2021 | From 2019-2021 a $15,000 annual block grant to the ECCC was renewed, to be used for a wide range of disciple-deepening projects across the conference, such as the Lenten Reader, Adventures In Leadership, Alive conference, Christ at the Checkpoint Israel/Palestine study tour, training for ministry coaches, development of spiritual directors, and scholarships for pastoral leadership formation. | "As I review how [past ECCC Block Grant] resources have been used, I see three general categories: people, events, and resources. I believe the Block Grant has been a helpful way to honour and steward on-going discipleship efforts in the spirit of Covenant Bible College’s historic investment and presence in the ECCC. Some examples might be: the reality that CBC faculty often played a role as 'adjunct ECCC staff members' providing coaching, care, and support at ECCC events through speaking, relational presence, and intentional mentoring to clergy and lay leaders; or Discipleship initiatives or relationships birthed out of Covenant Bible College, like Haiti engagement or the Israel/Palestine trip, that have lasting impact and now are sustained by the ECCC. It has been helpful for planning and development to know that there is ongoing support for these kinds of discipleship activities." –Glenn Peterson |
| Creative Leaders Internships | City Collective Church | BC | $8500 | Pastoral Internship | 2019 | A mentorship for young creatives, developing their leadership capacity in making and maturing disciples and in worship arts ministry. The internships will involve hands-on responsibility in facilitating Sunday morning gatherings, creative team development, spiritual formation, spiritual disciplines, weekly creative challenges, and long-term project development. | "[We aim to meet some of] our need for internal leadership development and spiritual formation in the lives of those seeking Jesus at City Collective. We want to recognize and celebrate the creative abilities in our community and create space for that to flourish in the church. We believe that this internship will not just have a short-term impact but play a role in the network vision of City Collective in the future. This discipleship initiative will task the individuals in three unique areas which are also interconnected over the course of the summer and leading into a strong fall launch.” –Jason Charles |
| Building Bridges Movie Nights | Erickson Covenant Church | BC | $1000 | Hospitality, Community Service | 2019 | An initiative to build bridges with isolated and potentially at-risk families in the Creston valley: to host a series of family-friendly film nights to make space to grow trusting, agenda-free friendships with parents in their area from the FLDS and Bountiful communities. Several members of the Erickson home group that proposed the project interact with these communities professionally (as a nurse, a principal, and a child protection worker). Paused due to COVID-19 and other factors. | “The movie nights will develop disciples in two main ways: First of all, it provides opportunity to increase the connection and well-being of at-risk families. The chance to build connections with other community members, to develop friendships, to be heard, to be cared for and accepted, is powerful in and of itself. And, over time, it is possible and likely that people will become more comfortable with our church space and the people who attend here, and may well decided to join our community and learn about Jesus. Second, it challenges believers to reach out of their comfort zone and make friends with people who are potentially very different from them and to do so without a specific agenda. Acceptance, listening, friendship, and care will be our guiding values and give shape to our time together. This is a direct application of the call to love our neighbours as ourselves…. like the Jeremiah mandate to build houses and plant gardens and pray for the welfare of the city you’re in. We want to consider the specific context we’re in, and work toward the welfare of the people who are here with us.” –Dana Sproule |
| Strengthening Marriages | Erickson Covenant Church | BC | Up to $3000 | Small Group, Marriage Enrichment, Evangelism | 2019 | A marriage-enrichment initiative utilizing Alpha’s Marriage Course. A two-month-long weekly series of ‘date-night’ evenings with supper and babysitting provided will be the context for couples to watch a video teaching series, discuss between the two spouses ideas raised by the video, along with couples’ homework each week. | “We want to give an opportunity for couples to address marriage-related issues before they arise or help them work through current issues they are facing, to increase effective communication and deeper love between the spouses…. The course is designed to have couples explore what this [Christ-like] love looks like and how they can practically put it into action. It has time dedicated to getting to knowing each other better and to see each other as made in the image of God, [to grow] more willing and able to meet each other’s needs, strengthening love for each other and commitment to each other. The structure [offers] an exploration on how to truly demonstrate God’s love to each other…. Participants relationships will be strengthened becoming stronger disciples and better able to help their friends when they see them struggling. By learning how to practice daily this love for our spouse, each couple becomes stronger and are more equipped to help within the kingdom of God.” –Ken Wien |
| Teen Drop In Centre Volunteer Training | Faith Covenant Church, Breton | AB | $500 | Youth Ministry, Leadership Development | 2019 | To equip volunteers serving in their new Teen Drop In Centre by sending volunteers to the ECCC Youth Ministry Conference in October. This project complements their new initiative to create a safe space that teens in grades 7-12 can come to, find a place to belong, connect with other teens, and connect with caring Christian adults. Part of equipping their volunteers will include receiving training and building relationships with other youth workers in the ECCC at the Youth Ministry Conference. | “Through prayer and discernment, we have a vision to start a Teen Drop In Centre…. We believe that making disciples is key to our calling as followers of Christ. As teens long for a community and [belonging], we believe that offering this space will provide opportunities to bring the hope of Christ to them through intentional discussion times, through relationships build with caring, godly volunteers, and through prayer ministry…. Our hope is that this Centre will be a place where teens from all backgrounds and belief systems can come and encounter the love of Christ.… Our mission is to help youth reach their full God-given potential and to share God’s love and hope with them through mentorship with Christian adults and peers.”–Jenneth Barg |
| Summer Children’s Ministry | Holy Community Covenant Church | MB | $1700 | Children's Ministry | 2019 | To develop Holy Community’s Sunday connections for kids, expanding their VBS and fall follow-up, along with support for a Children’s Ministry Coordinator. This initiative will teach kids about Jesus and the Bible, increase the church’s hospitable presence in their neighbourhood, and welcome children as full participants in their community. | “This initiative will develop disciples of Jesus Christ because it seeks to teach kids about Jesus in a way that is interactive, fun, and engaging. We go and make disciples by teaching those within our own community about Jesus and by inviting others in. Our hope is that the fun of VBS will give our kids an opportunity to invite their friends to church. We also want those friends to come to a church on Sunday morning that considers kids and how they learn about Jesus together with adults as one worshipping community…. When we began [as a church plant], there were four kids in our church. We now have 30 with more expected! We want to continue [developing our children’s ministry] through more targeted approaches in our summer Sunday program as well as VBS.” –Julia Sandstrom |
| Couples’ Retreat | Lake Ridge Community Church | AB | $1000 | Retreat, Marriage Enrichment | 2019 | To develop their annual retreat which helps couples listen to each other, discover the ever-present love of God in their stories, and experience how the church community can be a healthy part of their relationships. Lake Ridge has found this kind of retreat to be instrumental in introducing people to Jesus, growing a high trust culture of real relationships, and helping newcomers find belonging in their church community. | “[Our church] has been built on the foundational belief that authentic relationships matter and that loving our neighbours is a prime way that we learn to experience of the love of God. This ministry is innovative because it continually inspires couples [that are new to our church] to take a step of faith in Jesus, to open new doors in their relationships, to love the church, and to trust anew…. We are also diving into new material around the Enneagram to help couples better connect their unique values and faith to a healthier relationship. Further, this retreat is not restricted to married couples only, we aim to create a welcoming space for anyone in a relationship.” –Preston Pouteaux |
| Discipleship Pilgrimage | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $3500 | Youth Ministry, Discipleship Trip, Retreat | 2019 | A week-long journey for teens to grow with Jesus by learning from Covenant brothers and sisters in Eastern Canada about how they walk with God and engage in their unique callings and ministry contexts. They will send time with leaders of Avenue Church in Toronto, Abundant Life Covenant in Brampton, along with ministry friends in Ottawa and the Keeners in Montreal. Lighthouse aims for this innovative retreat to help their high school students go deeper in Christ and grow together as a ministry team, in part to prepare for a mission trip to Alaska next summer with CYAK. | “We believe that God is placing this opportunity before us for several reasons: to further enable us to draw nearer to him; so that God can also respond to us; as a means of setting ourselves aside and discovering the cross that He wants us each to pick up; as well as discerning how God has molded and shaped us as a group so that we may uniquely follow Him. We don’t simply want to tell our students what discipleship is and how to live it; we want to show them…. This trip will be an experience of learning from others: how they function as branches of the vine, how they are fed from the vine, how they grow from the vine, how they do the work of the vine and how they bear fruit from the vine. We want to be functioning limbs of the body of Jesus, so we are going to learn from and receive from other parts of the body of Jesus.” –Matthew Clever |
| Summer Camp Scholarships | ECCC | QC | $3500 | Camping, Youth Ministry, Children's Ministry, Leadership Development | 2019 | Camp scholarships through Crosstalk Ministries 2019 Summer Bible Camps in Magog, Quebec. These Junior and Senior Youth Camps are co-directed by Di Keener, with pastoral leadership by Tim Keener (Covenant missionaries in Quebec). The scholarships will allow kids to go to camp whose families cannot otherwise afford it, as well as supporting bursaries to cover expenses for volunteer staff who are unable to make the standard donation for working at camp. | “We believe in equipping youth on their spiritual journeys and young adults as they become strong leaders. The camp atmosphere provides an organic environment for kids to learn about Jesus and be shaped by the leaders around them. We also provide training for the staff prior to camp to help them prepare both their hearts and their minds to serve…. In the end, it’s not only the camper that’s being shaped, it’s also the leaders. We are all changed by our week of serving…. We have seen how vital summer camp is for the ECCC in other provinces. Our camps allows the ECCC to play a part in spiritual formation for the church of tomorrow in Quebec." –Di Keener |
| Developing Missional Leaders – Haiti | Erickson Covenant Church | BC | $2500 | Mission Trip, Leadership Development, Intercultural Development | 2018 | Support for two of Erickson’s lay leaders to participate in the ECCC leadership training trip to northern Haiti in January, 2019, with an intention to catalyze global mission engagement in their local church. Emerging from a recognition of their community’s need to develop more global awareness and participation in God’s mission, Erickson’s church leadership’s goal is for this trip to renew a passion to serve globally and help others get more involved in future opportunities. | "Moving across cultural, linguistic, and geographical lines is inherent within the gospel commission. We believe that sending George and Terri Goulder will result in tremendous growth in their own discipleship, opening their eyes and hearts to the greater work of God and fostering his missional call on their lives. They will learn so much about the global church and the ongoing work of God through our Haitian brothers and sisters…. We believe that the catalytic effect on the missional discipleship of the Erickson Covenant Church will be significant." –Tom Greentree |
| VISTA Learning Cohort | ECCC | Canada | Up to $15,000 | Leadership Development, Church Vitality, Equipping Disciple-Makers | 2018 | A Learning Cohort in partnership with VantagePoint3. This innovative learning community offers pastors and church leaders an 18-month guided process to reflect on the discipleship culture of their church (or ministry organization) and develop long-term pathways for adults to grow as followers of Jesus together. Three thematic questions guide the learning modules: How do you think clearly about the spiritual development of adults? What do you need to design in order to help adults develop in your context? How will you implement what you’ve designed? Paused due to COVID-19. | "At the heart of VantagePoint3 is a commitment to intentional discipleship and development of the church rooted in Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus, 'For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he prepared beforehand to be our way of life' (Eph 2:10). Coming together as partners in this VISTA experience will create a framework for development of individuals and churches through the intentional creation and design of discipleship cultures…. This VISTA initiative most directly will shape our efforts to make and deepen disciples and develop leaders, but we believe it has the potential to shape and focus all of our mission priorities. It has the opportunity to leverage past learning and multiply it across our community of churches. Because VISTA is a longer-term process that interacts with church leaders as they are leading and working in their congregations, the potential for health in our churches will rise." –Glenn Peterson |
| Crescendo Into Leadership | Gateway Covenant Church | SK | $1100 | Leadership Development, Mentoring, Seniors | 2018 | A nine month process utilizing Make & Deepen Disciples’ new Crescendo material and coaching to unleash the potential of boomers and beyond to engage in the work of God’s kingdom. Gateway’s plans include a specific focus on mentoring emerging young adult leaders, as well as inviting other Saskatchewan Covenant churches to take part. 'Aging is not optional. How we do it is… The holistic approach of Crescendo is rooted in biblical models, historical evidence, and current studies of aging. These inform us that purposeful living and giving of oneself in serving others directly correlates to spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional well-being' (from https://covchurch.org/crescendo/). | "We have a tremendous resource in our boomer and beyond generations. These generations are in need of spiritual care and discipleship opportunities that address their specific life situations and realities. Many have adult children that no longer attend church. Others are facing health struggles. But their wisdom and gifts to our congregation are neglected to our peril. We envision deepening our discipleship to, and care for, the boomer and beyond generations at Gateway. We envision equipping and enabling them to contribute in fuller ways to Gateway’s vision and ministries and mission. And we particularly long for this generation to be able to come alongside the younger generations, equipping and enabling and mentoring them to become the next leaders of this church." –Stacia Michael |
| Pilgrimage Retreat | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $3760 | Retreat, Contemplative Practices | 2018 | A spiritual formation retreat, a space for men and women to explore contemplative practices of rest and restoration in the midst of active lives of service. Lighthouse will invite churches across Sarnia and Covenant communities in southern Ontario to join them. The retreat will be led by Phileena Heuertz, co-founder of Gravity, a Center for Contemplative Activism. | "Lighthouse has grown rapidly over the past several years and it is very important to us not only to engage people in service but help them grow up in Christ in a healthy way. The key need this initiative seeks to meet is to equip women and men with contemplative practices, both teaching and in practice, believing that these will bring increased joy into their relationship with Jesus Christ, lead them into deeper peace, and out of this rest and confidence learn to love their community and their world well." –Trudy McIntosh |
| Children’s Ministry Internship | Balfour Covenant Church | BC | $2000 | Children's Ministry, Pastoral Internship | 2018 | To create a part-time ministry internship position to assist with their growing children’s ministries, including a summer Kids Kamp and after-school program. This intern will receive intentional mentoring to nurture their giftedness, help them discern a possible call to ministry and grow their walk with Jesus. | "We hope that this internship will develop our intern’s gifts and abilities and encourage further education in Christian ministry. Our intern will be equipping and leading teachers who will grow through their preparation…. Our children will grow in faith as we plant seeds and nurture them to grow up to follow Jesus – they too will go and make disciples." –Judy Dickieson |
| Camper Follow Up Podcast | Covenant Bay Bible Camp | AB | $2200 | Camping, Children's Ministry, Evangelism | 2018 | To develop their Embark Camper Follow Up initiative, an experimental project to disciple campers who have no connection to a local church through podcasts and emails. Their Teaching Coordinator will create materials to teach foundational Christian concepts, provide resources for their parents to use to encourage their kids to grow closer to Jesus, and offer connections to local Covenant churches. | "Currently the camp follow up model for most camps emphasizes campers going to church. While this is ideal it has proven ineffective with campers whose families do not regularly attend church prior to their child attending camp…. A common conversation that we have with parents of campers goes something like this: “My daughter told me she became a Christian at camp. I think that is great! What does that mean and what should I do for her?” These types of conversations have been our inspiration…. We believe that anyone stepping closer to Jesus is in a great position to encourage others to do the same. So perhaps it will be the children discipling the parents and the parents supporting the children. Regardless of how it is articulated we have observed positive change when a parent wishing to support a child in their new faith does so by beginning a journey toward Christ. We want to encourage and promote this!" –Jon Drebert |
| Closer, Deeper Small Group Intensives | Holy Community Covenant Church | MB | $1700 | Small groups | 2018 | A series of four short-term topical small groups focused on Marriage Strengthening, In-Depth Friendship, Self-Discovery, and Healing Past Hurts. These topics will be addressed through Christ-centred resources and scripture, with an intention to help newcomers to build deep relationships and be discipled. | "The focus of these groups will be to demonstrate how God is truly alive and moving through our lives in practical, real ways. These small groups will not only provide an opportunity for greater connection between Christ followers but because it is topical based it will allow for greater freedom to invite non-Christians into our community and learn of Christ’s love and purpose for our lives, especially the Marriage Strengthening course.… In the past, HCCC small groups have been long term groups focused on following the sermon series at the time. Due to a number of new regular attenders to our community over the past six months, we want to encourage the integration of long term members and these new attenders to build relationship and strengthen discipleship in the form of mentoring and deep conversations." –Angela Dunn |
| The Marriage Course: Date Night | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $1485 | Small group, Marriage Enrichment | 2018 | A seven-week course (offered by Alpha) is designed to help couples invest in their relationship, to grow in following Jesus together, and to have the space and support to work through relational difficulties, and build a stronger marriage. | "Couples will come and enjoy a meal, have one-on-one discussion through guided study questions following a video teaching, and have the opportunity to share in conversation with other couples if desired. The course will be offered to our church community as well as the community at large, thereby allowing both believers and nonbelievers to participate in the program…. There are so many other diverging messages from society that it can be difficult to decipher truth. This initiative provides the opportunity of speaking the truth of scripture back into the marriage relationship, of remembering foundational teachings of Christ: respect, forgiveness, love, patience, and trust. Our heart is for there to be growth of love between couples, for couples to know we value them and support their commitment to each other, and for our community to know that we value marriage." –Rachel Kilbreath |
| Women's Retreat | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $1500 | Retreat, Contemplative Practices | 2018 | A women’s spiritual formation retreat, with the grant amount dependent on number of registrants. The retreat will offer contemplative prayer practices under the teaching and guidance of two spiritual directors, at Mount Carmel Monastery overlooking Niagara Falls. The intent is to provide connection and kinship among their women as they enter new practices together and to walk alongside one another through the next year. | "We’ve become aware of a missing piece in the puzzle — opportunities and tools to grow deeper on a personal level. For a number of years now this same desire has become evident in the larger body of Christ as seen by the tremendous response to the 'Sensible Shoes' book series by Sharon Garlough Brown (one of our own Covenant pastors). Sharon’s introduction of ancient spiritual practices into the everyday life of the women of the story, the way they process them and experience transformation in the most unexpected but delightful ways, has captivated the imagination of our women. Coupled with the writings of Ruth Haley Barton, who applies those same practices to spiritual leaders finding themselves in burn-out, it seems to us that this may be a 'wave of the Spirit' in our midst, inviting us to times of refreshment with God." –Trudy McIntosh |
| AGAPE Project | Abundant Life Covenant Church | ON | $2750 | Community Service, Hospitality, Evangelism | 2017 | Training for their core leaders in disciple-making and a series of outreach events to engage their neighbours in Ward 7 Brampton. They seek to meet the great needs in their neighbourhood holistically, equipping the core members of their church plant to build significant relationships with their diverse neighbours. | "This project aims to instil and develop Christ-like love in the hearts of the members at Abundant Life Covenant Church as we aim to continuously and fervently reach out to the people in the community around us. The core members of the church plant will be equipped, trained and spend time in prayer asking God to give divine appointments to reach the least and the lost and walk alongside them lovingly and patiently – to see them experience the amazing Love of Christ and see their lives transformed." –Philips Nethagani |
| Paired Retreats for Men and Women | Avenue Community Church | ON | $3870 | Retreat | 2017 | A pair of men’s and women’s retreats focusing on identity as God’s beloved children, with grant amount dependent on number of participants. They are seeking to make space for slowing down in order to be more fully present to Jesus and to one another, paying attention to current needs of lay leaders to support long term fruitfulness in discipleship. | "We believe that these retreats will create space for our people to hear God’s voice in a fresh way, especially in this season of their lives, that they are 'known and loved' by God. And the more they become aware of this truth and embrace this truth and wrap themselves around this truth it will form them as the people of God to 'know and love' self and others. This fosters both the great commission and great commandment for it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance and to call others to repentance." –Samuel Williams |
| Hymn & Chorus CD Recording Project | Faith Covenant Church, Winnipeg | MB | $1700 | Worship Arts | 2017 | Support for a CD recording project documenting new songs created in their community’s corporate worship life so that the richness of Sunday morning worship can be extended through out the week and shared with neighbours and the wider Canadian Covenant. They seek to strengthen the church’s shared worship vocabulary, recognizing how significant the spiritual pathway of worship and music is for many people, following the legacy of CBC with arts, music & worship. | "Music itself has a way of cutting through our denseness and reaching a place where deep calls to Deep. Music helps our souls to meditate. Add lyrics that speak of God’s worth, invoke God’s help, or admit our humble place in the relationship, and the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts bring forth a pleasing offering to the Lord… When we sing a worship song, ideally we are involving our entire body. We have the chance in singing a worship song to love God with our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength. Then we are thrust forth into the world to love the other as we love ourselves." –Cody Anderson |
| Covenant Orientation Process for Lay Leaders | Holy Community Covenant Church | MB | Up to $3600 | Leadership Development, Study, Equipping Disciple-Makers | 2017 | Support for Winnipeg-area Covenant churches for a new Covenant Orientation process to deepen lay leaders through engaging with the Covenant’s theology and its local history in southern Manitoba. They are cultivating self-reflection deeper than a merely informational level, with collaboration between three churches to connect contextual history, place, scripture and vocation in their leaders’ lives. Paused due to COVID-19 and other factors. | "We have initiated a four-session program designed to inspire local church leaders and members, to give them moorings in Covenant identity, and to help them think critically, evaluatively, and concretely about how they might serve, grow, and lead in their local contexts, as well as a part of a family of churches seeking to see the work of God’s Kingdom advanced. The program expands upon the process of Covenant Orientation which prepares and informs pastors. The sessions include: a guided bus tour focused on the history of the Covenant Church, specifically in Winnipeg and area; an interactive teaching time on Covenant theological affirmations; a guided conversation on the mission and ministry priorities of the Covenant Church; and a reflective retreat focused on the growth of the servant leader." –Gavin Jensen |
| Freedom Session | Nelson Covenant Church | BC | $1100 | Small group, Mental Health, Addiction Recovery | 2017 | A guided process walking with adults through recovery from addictions and compulsions into greater healing and wholeness in Christ. They are investing for long term impact, seeking to grow spiritual health and wholeness that will lead to further disciple-making and deepening, with the 12 steps intentionally grounded in Jesus and his gospel. | "Freedom session is focused on equipping our people to take the next steps in their faith journey with Jesus, no matter where they are in their faith… Many people have deep seated pain. They do not realize that their pain is driving them to indulge in compulsive behaviour. These are Christian people that are searching for answers but not knowing where to find them or how to connect the Bible’s teachings or their personal relationship to Jesus with their pain. Freedom session will help people discover how God has made them. They will develop spiritual disciplines and practices that will shape new lifestyles and postures in their life of faith, helping them grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally." –Janice Van Caeseele |
| The Timothy Project | Erickson Covenant Church | BC | $9,000 | Small group, Leadership Development, Equipping Disciple-Makers | 2017, 2018 | To create a year-long process called “The Timothy Project” to equip lay leaders for the work of making disciples, an intensive cohort program to make disciples who will be disciple-makers, and release them for leadership in their church and community. The grant was awarded over 2 years. | "Erickson Covenant has grown from 50 to 250 in just a few short years. We are feeling the growing pains… and need to multiply the number of capable, equipped disciple-makers now… The program will focus on increasing self-awareness, developing a biblical worldview, and practicing the art of mentoring… [This will] allow us to write the next chapter [for our church] where the people are equipped for the work of the ministry and they start multiplying disciples in every corner of our Valley. It’s where we learn how to study, obey and teach the scriptures and where we see people’s lives transformed as they come into relationship with Jesus. It’s where mature believers are able to spiritually re-parent those who suffered abuse and neglect and see them become who they were intended to be. It’s where we begin sending people out in mission way beyond our Church… It sounds simple, but forming a cohort of disciples who are committed to helping others grow in faith is the way Jesus practiced ministry." –Dana Sproule |
| Youth Ministry Conference | Covenant Bay Bible Camp & ECCC | Canada | $4000 | Youth Ministry, Retreat, Leadership Development | 2017 | To support Covenant Bay Bible Camp and the ECCC Youth Ministry Network as they launch an annual equipping conference for paid and volunteer youth workers in the Canadian Covenant. They seek to develop youth ministry leaders and equip them for longevity in discipling young people across Canada. This annual event continues to equip youth ministers each year. | "It is our desire to bring youth workers together for encouragement, networking and professional development… One of the cornerstones to healthy and vibrant churches is healthy and vibrant ministry leaders. Investing in these people will have a massive impact on the lives of those they minister too… Our theme for the conference is 'The Long Haul'. We want ministry leaders to be investing in ministry for many years." –Jon Drebert |
| Branch Leadership Development Program | Covenant Heights Bible Camp | MB | Up to $2,800 | Camping, Children's Ministry, Evangelism, Youth Ministry, Leadership Development | 2017 | This revised program develops high school age leaders, equipping them to disciple kids in the camping season and to serve in their churches. The participants engage in study, being mentored within their local church setting, exploring identity in Christ, discipleship in community, and cultivating personal and spiritual gifts over a span of 5 months – before and after the camping season. | 'This initiative is [inspired by] John 15:4: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” We will deepen our understanding of what it means to “remain in Christ and to bear fruit”, using the metaphor of the vine and continual growth. The “bearing fruit” aspect will engage students to reflect upon what it means to “go and make disciples,” as Jesus commands in the Great Commission. By focusing on remaining in Christ and bearing fruit, these teachings will create a foundation providing confidence for the students to share Godʼs love with their peers and younger campers.' –Sean Dyck |
| Worship Internship | Emmanuel Covenant Church | BC | $4600 | Worship, Leadership Development, Internship | 2017 | A worship internship to develop their worship ministry leaders and better equip them as disciplers and musicians. This internship will invest in the spiritual formation of the intern as well as worship team members, with a shared purpose of helping the church to love their neighbourhood through a more vibrant corporate worship life. | "By digging in to this Visionary Initiative [one of several from a vitality pathway appreciative inquiry] we hope to reach our changing community in a new way, working close at home to “make disciples of all nations.” …Worship is one of the key ways we have to express love to God. By recognizing our changing community we are seeking to love our neighbors by meeting expressed needs. And by helping identify an intern’s giftedness, call, and strengths we hope to encourage a deeper and healthier love for him/herself." –Sharon Rae-Douglas |
| Intercultural Competence Development Conference | Green Timbers Covenant Church | BC | $2,654 | Intercultural Development, Discipleship, Reconciliation, Justice | 2017 | A weekend conference intended to develop their congregation’s intercultural competence and better equip them to love diverse neighbours in their context. Arising from an appreciative inquiry, Green Timbers is seeking to increase their people’s self-awareness and capacity to listen and love well in the midst of cultural differences. The Intercultural Development Inventory will help frame the weekend, and Dr. Paul De Neui from the Center for World Christian Studies at North Park University will lead them in developing a plan for on-going growth. | 'In Surrey we “go into the world” every time we open our door because we encounter “all nations” right here in this city… David Livermore writes in his book Cultural Intelligence, “Our goal is not simply to learn more about different cultures, nor is it just to become better at “navigating cultural differences.” We must actually become more multicultural people so that we might better express love cross-culturally.” The world is literally at our doorstep here and we need to learn to love these neighbor as ourselves even though they are often nothing like us… We have been blessed with some incredibly brave, immigrant leaders from different parts of the world that have helped lead us along the difficult path to becoming a multi-cultural church. We are grateful for their continued leadership and are thankful that God continues to see us growing in diversity of people, cultures and mission. Even within our church, we struggle with the tendency to let the traditional ways of the majority culture (former majority culture) dominate our choices and our patterns of ministry. The Intercultural Development Inventory is designed to help us move toward a more intercultural way of being rather than a way that just minimizes or ignores the differences between us.' –Andy Sebanc |
| Pastoral Internships | Faith Covenant Church, Winnipeg | MB | $4000, $6000, $8000 | Pastoral Internship, Leadership Development | 2017, 2016, 2015 | A multi-year grant disbursed over three years was given to Faith Covenant for continuing their pastoral internship program that provides hands on pastoral/vocational ministry experience for seminary students. These interns also get experience in a couple other rural Covenant churches as well as some summer camp investment. | "The biblical inspiration we take for this initiative is that of Biblical mentoring – Jesus trained and mentored the Twelve, Paul does likewise with Timothy, etc. We believe this initiative is a short term catalyst that will provide long term fruit in loving God and neighbour as well as a facilitating a going into all the world to make disciples, teaching them the ways of Jesus and guiding them in way of obedience. We believe healthy pastors and leaders contribute greatly to “Healthy Missional” churches and ministries. Healthy missional ministries are full of people committed to growing up into full maturity – that is Christ... We invest in [our interns] likely as much as we receive from them in terms of “production”. We still believe the long view [offers] immense benefit for our family of churches. In some ways we see what we are doing as creating a feeder system (or farm team if you like sports imagery) for future Canadian leaders in the ECCC. Our church family has benefited much from the relationships, connections and gifts of these young leaders. One capacity increase for certain is the diversity that gets added to our local leadership, particularly the valued perspective of a woman in pastoral leadership." –Erik Anderson |
| Equipping Seminar on Anxiety and Depression | Junction Covenant Church | BC | $1,100 | Mental Health, Healing, Workshop | 2017 | A weekend of equipping seminars to address issues of anxiety and depression from a Christian perspective as a way of deepening discipleship with Jesus. The church seeks to foster growth in the lives of individuals in their congregation and in the way their church offers a safe, healing space in the wider community for those with mental health challenges. | "Last November we had a highly respected counselor who attends our church do an evening session with our youth group on this very topic. It was very well received and revealed to us the need for more discussion and teaching around this area… In Matthew 9:36 it is said of Jesus that when “he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.” We too when we see some of our people and people in our community struggling with anxiety and depression we want to see their lives transformed. We want to radiate the Fathers heart of love on each one of them… Even though anxiety and depression are huge issues in our church and community we have never really tried to tackle it nor equip people to walk towards freedom. We are hoping this will be one small step in making a difference in this area." –Jesse Lerch |
| Pastoral Internships Scholarships | ECCC | Canada | $3068 | Pastoral Internships, Leadership Development | 2017 | Funds for pastoral intern scholarships to have connectional opportunities with the ministerial community. These funds will be used to develop pastoral leaders by better connecting them to the wider Covenant through assisting with travel and/or registration costs to attend conference events. | "While all disciples are encouraged to “Look Unto Jesus,” the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow me as I follow Christ…” are lived out each time there is a healthy mentor/mentee relationship. Internships are one of the best ways to develop leaders seeking to discern a vocational call. The vocational life is not lived in isolation. One of the purposes of the Pastor & Spouse Retreat is to gather leaders for the purpose of both rest and refreshment in community. Giving an intern the opportunity to experience the wider Covenant family can be a safe place for discussing ministry with a broader context of leaders than the local ministry is able to provide." –Jeff Anderson |
| Block Grant | ECCC | Canada | $16,000 | Multiple Discipleship Initiatives | 2016, 2017, 2018 | An annual block grant was given to the ECCC to be used for a wide range of disciple-deepening projects across the conference, such as the Lenten Reader, Adventures In Leadership, Alive conference, spiritual directors' training, Christ at the Checkpoint Israel/Palestine study tour, and pastoral scholarships for professional development and education, including Covenant events, Alaska Christian College, North Park Seminary and NAIITS. | "We are so thankful for the incredible gift of these resources that are powering significant experiences, ministry, and discipleship across the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. The flexibility the Block Grant offers us to support significant and diverse discipleship expressions that are ongoing, while at the same time innovate and dream about new initiatives would not be possible without the support of this grant." –Glenn Peterson |
| Children & Youth Ministry Internship | Minnedosa Evangelical Covenant Church | MB | $3600 | Internship, Children, Youth Ministry, Leadership Development | 2016 | To create a part-time ministry internship position to assist with their growing children’s & youth ministries. This intern will receive intentional mentoring to nurture their giftedness, equip them for ministry and grow their walk with Jesus. | "We feel extremely blessed as a congregation to be entrusted by God with so many children and youth from our community, many who are not from church-going families. Since we have a full time youth pastor, we also feel we are in a unique position to have a young person who is exploring their giftedness and call come alongside and learn from what we do. Creating a part time position will enable this intern to take on more of a role in the various ministries and get wider experience than a volunteer basis. We believe this would be an incredible ‘win-win’ opportunity for the church and the intern. They would be learning and earning and we would benefit from a stronger and developing ministry team. A mentoring position like this will be new to our congregation and is an exciting addition to what we are doing." –Jacquie Gerrard |
| Children’s Ministry Training Weekend | Balfour Covenant Church | BC | $2500 | Childrens Ministry, Leadership Development | 2016 | To support a weekend of training workshops to develop children’s ministry leaders and prepare them to disciple kids more effectively. This equipping event will be available to sister Covenant churches, Kootenay Covenant Bible Camp as well as other Christian churches in the area. | "Having one of the most important roles in our church, our teachers have functioned for 20 years without any type of professional help or equipping for this role. This children’s ministry workshop will provide this training, along with ideas and tools to intentionally build a support system for our teachers and youth workers. Discipleship development combined with good fundamental training will result in innovative and exciting approaches to presenting the Gospel to all our children in the church, to our community, as well as to our wider Christian community… Cultivating more faithfulness to Jesus in our children is our end goal, but we see opportunities for our teachers to grow in their faith through the process. [This weekend event] will help our overall plan to develop a stronger children’s program with positive growth for years to come." –Rick Dickieson |
| Peacemaking In the Neighbourhood: Reconciliation | College Park Covenant Church | SK | $1900 | Intercultural Development, Discipleship, Reconciliation, Justice | 2016 | A guided “Blanket Exercise” event (learn more at kairosblanketexercise.org), encouraging understanding and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians as a tangible expression of following Jesus, along with a reading library and book club on racial reconciliation in our Canadian context. This hands-on initiative addresses a topic that is very much on the public stage right now, but one that can be difficult for churches and is often avoided. A similar event will be held later in the year at Kensington Commons Church in Calgary. | "There is a call on our lives as a church community to be reconcilers in our Canadian context (1 Cor 12:13, 2 Cor 5:18). We want to explore what it means for us as God’s people to live into Jesus’ righteousness (right relationship) within the diversity that marks our nation. We believe that the slow steps of heart transformation – that can come through learning to understand people who are different than us – will yield fruit in the building of relationships with immigrants, refugees, First Nations, Metis and other cultures with whom our church comes into contact… This project will allow us to examine ourselves and our ideas, holding them up to the light of the Gospel. We desire to see all people as Jesus saw them. As a church body, we have never entered into intentional conversation about the longest standing reality of Canadian racism nor the relationship between the ‘Settler’ populations and First Nation populations. We believe that putting this conversation ‘on the table’ in a proactive way will mature, enrich, equip and empower our community to live into the mission to which God has called us." –Paul Benson |
| Right Now Media Discipleship Resources | Melfort Evangelical Covenant Church | SK | $1500 | Discipleship study resources | 2016 | To provide access to Right Now Media’s online resources for growing members’ understanding of the biblical story and their following of Jesus. These audio-visual resources will be utilized as teaching materials in small groups, children’s ministry and personal study. | "We believe this website will be a great resource to assist us in equipping and teaching our congregation “to know Jesus Christ and make Him known,” offering an incredibly abundant source of Christian teaching material for personal or group use. Our prayer is that, by accessing and using Right Now Media in their own homes or on their commutes, our people will dive deeper into studying the Bible through the video studies available by numerous well known Christian teachers, along with learning about theology, apologetics, leadership, discipleship and so many other topics. Through growing in their knowledge of God and His word we hope that our people will share what they are learning with others." –Lindsay Unruh |
| Financial Management & Stewardship Study Group | Erickson Covenant Church | BC | $1900 | Discipleship, Stewardship, Small Group | 2016 | To provide resources for a Connect Group focused on growing people’s stewardship and generosity with managing their household finances. Materials from Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace” course will be offered, with some adjustments for our Canadian context. | "Our church family has grown significantly in number over the past few years, and one issue we face is the need to provide instruction and encouragement regarding the management of money in a way that honours God. Many families and individuals have indicated that they experience financial struggles, in part due to a lack of knowledge and resources surrounding money management. We believe that this initiative will foster the great commission by encouraging people to intentionally manage their finances in a way that honours the teaching of Jesus. Stewardship of family finances will foster the great commandment as well, because in acknowledging that we are responsible for God’s money, and treating it as such, we can show our love for Him. In our generous giving, we can demonstrate our love for our neighbours above ourselves." –Jody McBlain |
| Youth Mission Trip | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $6000 | Discipleship Trip, Mission Trip, Intercultural Development, Youth Ministry | 2016 | To assist the Lighthouse Community senior youth group’s mission trip to Fairbanks, Alaska in partnership with Community Covenant Church (or C3). The youth from both churches had connected at CHIC 2015 and wanted to build those relationships and serve the C3 neighbourhood together as witnesses to the transforming power of God’s love, particularly to kids at risk and teen runaways. In the summer of 2016 the Lighthouse youth traveled to Alaska to be with their brothers and sisters in Christ, facilitated by the Covenant’s Merge Ministries. They hosted a VBS in the mornings and spent afternoons in hands-on service projects, together with C3 and the local Salvation Army. A grant from Trellis Foundation offset the exchange rate and some leader costs, making this life-changing mission trip affordable for 12 students. | "We are going to Fairbanks to make and grow disciples. The purpose of this trip is to grow others in their relationship with Jesus Christ and to bring the gospel to the kids in the community. We also want to engage in long term friendships with our brothers and sisters at Community Covenant Church. As we work alongside one another bringing hope and light into their community, they can continue to work with these youths long after we are gone; even then, we will continue to pray for the people we met and the lives we impacted. We also intend to see life change in our teens and leaders; how they live personally, and as a community here at Lighthouse, with our unchurched neighbourhood." –Matt Clever |
| Pastoral Intership | Norquay Covenant Church | SK | $4000 | Pastoral Internship, Leadership Development | 2015 | An internship opportunity for Bible school students sensing the call to ministry and even more specifically, rural ministry. Norquay intends to partner with small Bible schools scattered across Canada. | "We feel that Norquay Covenant Church offers a healthy example of what rural ministry can be like and an opportunity to someone to grow under the tutelage and mentorship of a seasoned staff. The intern would be integrated into the entire life of the church, from leadership meetings and participation in the various ministries of the church to living life in and with the rhythms of a small, rural community." –Arden Gustafson |
| The Gate | Gateway Covenant Church | SK | $5935 | Hospitality, Community Service, Justice, Mercy, Healing | 2015 | To support volunteer training and participant learning for a new outreach ministry called The Gate, a drop-in centre designed particularly for those with HIV and Hepatitis C. | "We intend for this space to be a place of welcome and support for those embarking on a healing journey – particularly (but not limited to) those infected with HIV and Hepatitis C – out of addictions, unhealthy relationships and lifestyle choices, towards both physical and spiritual health." –Linea Lanoie |
| Nano-pods | Holy Community Covenant Church | MB | $1575 | Small groups, discipleship, retreat, contemplative practices | 2015 | To create a modular three-month program exploring spiritual surrender. Participants will meet both in larger and smaller groups and will conclude with a weekend retreat. | "The experiential component will involve experimenting with various forms of spiritual dialogue, contemplative practices (e.g. contemplative prayer, Examen, Lectio Divina, etc.), and journaling. The three modules are: 1) Spiritual Formation; 2) Surrender as the Path and Goal of Spiritual Life; 3) Surrender in Stillness and Action." –Gavin Jensen |
| Triennial Scholarships | ECCC | Canada | $3300 | Retreat, discipleship, leadership development | 2015 | A grant for the ECCC Women Ministries to help provide scholarships for women attending Triennial XV in Kansas City in July 2016. There will be specific opportunities provided to foster deeper connections for the Canadian women attending both during the conference and afterward. | "Triennial is tailor-made for women who desire a closer walk with God. It is a multi-faceted experience, including a day of advanced learning workshops, innovative exposure to justice issues among women, a number of exceptional key note speakers, and greatly uplifting times of worship. Also available are stimulating seminars, spiritual directors, and prayer rooms. Triennial opens our eyes and hearts to this great body of women we are part of, who seek after Christ, who share in the same faith walk and obstacles we face, and whose stories and teaching inspire us to carry on our own story with courage and dignity, being aware of his presence, and experiencing his joy. I love that women from all over the world join together in this, and that, no matter the differences in culture, language, or trials, our common bond is that we are God’s daughters and he delights in us. I was once more encouraged and amazed at how the Holy Spirit worked in each of us in such specific, tailor-made ways." –Trudy McIntosh |
| Discipleship Retreats | Lake Ridge Community Church | AB | $2000 | Retreat, Discipleship | 2015 | To support two discipleship retreats that will help in the spiritual formation and growth of new believers at Lake Ridge. The grant will help off-set the cost so more people can attend. | "It is our desire to be a church that reaches out to the neighbourhood, but also models and demonstrates what a life of ongoing discipleship can look like. We believe that by hosting these retreats, we will set a pattern of intentional discipleship in our community for years to come." –Preston Pouteaux |
| Journal Project with interns | Kensington Commons Church & Hope Community Covenant Church | AB | $4150, $4250 | Discipleship study resources, small groups | 2014, 2015 | A discipleship journal project was supported over two years as a partnership between two churches. The discipleship journal was used at both churches for a year of teaching. It included descriptions of each preaching series, artwork, calendar for the church year, and space for journaling and taking notes on sermons. The second year included a team of design interns being mentored as they help with this project (Kensington) and a series of events which include ‘how to study the bible’ and connect with others in deeper community (Hope Community). | "In addition to helping church participants actively listen to sermon content, seeing a year’s worth of teaching helps them to understand the intentionality of the church, the breadth of scriptural content we intend to cover, and allows them to prepare their hearts and questions for upcoming sermons." –Jeremy Duncan "We believe that the introduction of the journal into our life together has increased intentionality and conversation around living a growing and reflected upon life." –Glenn Peterson |
| Marriage Workshop with Marriage Mentoring follow-up | Erickson Covenant Church | BC | $2025 | Marriage enrichment, retreat, mentoring, | 2014 | A grant for a weekend marriage workshop. 25 couples were able to attend the May 2015 workshop facilitated by FamilyLife Canada. The church is proceeding with a marriage mentoring plan coming out of the workshop. | "The Day Together was a success as a catalyst to conversation and forward movement in our marriage relationships. 25 couples participated, and we have received many good responses to the beneficial conversations and desire to increase in intentionality and relationship." –Tom Greentree |
| Children’s Ministry Coordinator | Kensington Commons Church | AB | $1500 | Childrens ministry, leadership development | 2014 | Assistance with the initial cost of hiring a children’s ministry coordinator. With much bigger start up numbers than anticipated and a large influx of young families, Kensington Commons needed to find new staffing solutions sooner than expected. | "We were incredibly blessed in the launch season of our new church. The merger of an existing community into the plant of a new church was fraught with potential pitfalls and yet the experience was not only smooth but filled with grace and peace on all sides. That grace has only extended out into our impact in the neighbourhood as far more people than expected have joined our community. We’re so grateful that the grant we received allowed us to keep pace with how God was moving in our community during that initial season, and it has helped us transition into a new permanent salaried role working with our growing kids programs." –Jeremy Duncan |
| Ministry Director | Covenant Bay Bible Camp | AB | $10,000 | Camping, Children & Youth Ministry | 2014 | Funds to help hire a ministry director who would be on staff year round. This staff person will be able to focus on ministry programming and making and deepening disciples. | "Covenant Bay exists to promote a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by providing opportunities for fellowship, worship and instruction in discipleship. It is our intention to expand these efforts and with God’s power, to see even more lives transformed by Him." –Jon Drebert |
| Enhancement of Vacation Bible School Program | Lighthouse Community Church | ON | $1000 | Childrens Ministry, Hospitality, Community Service, Mercy | 2014 | To enhance its existing VBS, Summer Palooza, to take the weeklong event to another level by providing funds which will help feed neighbourhood children during the week of VBS. | "Our mission with the Discipleship Grant is to reach the families surrounding our building, making the entire neighbourhood a dwelling place for God’s presence. An enhanced and impactful Vacation Bible School Program will add a chapter of fruitful community outreach to our Lighthouse story." –Sarah Parker and Ruth Drewitt |
| Pastoral Internship | Faith Covenant Church, Winnipeg | MB | $8000 | Pastoral Internship, Leadership Development | 2014 | Faith has a history of training up pastors and this grant allows them to do that with greater impact and over a longer timeframe. Two interns will be trained at Faith over the next year. The interns will also participate in ministering to other ECCC congregations. One has already begun pastoral work at an ECCC church while the local pastor is on leave. | "Our proposed initiative is to partner with women and men who have discerned or are in the process of discerning a call to pastoral/vocational ministry. We aim to provide real experience, guidance and ministry/theological reflection in actual ECCC ministry settings and life. We aim to partner with our sister churches from the ECCC and with formal institutions (such as seminaries) that provide theological and ministry formation training to tomorrow’s pastors, teachers, caregivers, and leaders." –Erik Anderson |
| Women in Ministry Soul Escape Event | Minnedosa Evangelical Covenant Church | MB | $500 | Discipleship retreat, evangelism | 2014 | The funds will be used to help cover the cost of a one day Soul Escape Event. This event will be held in Minnedosa so local women can attend without having to leave town. The purpose of the event is to encourage women to live their lives for God. | "Our group focuses on outreach while meeting together to grow spiritually, serve each other, develop relationships and try to impact the world for Christ, whether in our neighbourhood or in the world. We feel that this event will truly help women grow, serve, connect, unite, and impact." –Marie Gordon |
| Community Outreach | Sanctuary Covenant Church | AB | $5000 | Hospitality, Community Service, Leadership Development, Evangelism, Mercy | 2014 | To assist their summer outreach programs. These programs include a variety of community outreach events and classes. A full time community outreach worker facilitates the program. Trellis is assisting in covering wages as well as supplies for events and classes. | "Our hope is that this intensive season of outreach development will translate into ongoing outreach relationships for many in our congregation, in areas of their own personal interests and abilities. In addition to the discipling of our congregation in this key aspect of Sanctuary’s mission statement, we will also be forging meaningful and lasting collaborations with local community development agencies. –Philip Wright |
| Youth Internship | Faith Covenant Church, Breton | AB | $7000 | Internship, Youth Ministry, Leadership Development | 2014 | Funds to hire a youth intern who worked with the youth at Faith Covenant in discipleship but also received mentoring and training herself. | "In the few months we have had an intern, we have seen a great amount of missional momentum surrounding our church’s discipleship and specifically youth ministry. Based on some of her previous training, Maddison brought some really fresh ideas to a youth ministry that had grown rather “stale” in routine programs and people." –Marc Lantz |
| The Branch | Covenant Heights Bible Camp | MB | $7200 | Camping, Children's Ministry, Evangelism, Youth Ministry, Leadership Development | 2014 | A high school leadership development program with a goal to build relationships with the youth as they transition into cabin leaders and young leaders in their communities and to create a space for them to ask questions, share life, and grow together. | "Through this initiative our aim is to take a group of young leaders and work alongside of them throughout the year in a way that will help them to ‘Remain’ in Christ and connected to camp. It is also our aim to help them grow and develop into prepared and capable camp leaders for the next camping season." –Matt Hardy |