We are excited to welcome 20 new congregations into Cohort B of the Thriving Congregations Initiative.
The Initiative – designed to strengthen churches’ values, mission, and community – launched with Cohort A in 2024. As this first cohort moves to the next stage of the program, Cohort B will begin to work with our team of trained coaches to define their mission and identify their strengths, challenges, and ministry opportunities.
Cohort B includes congregations from the Atlantic, Allegheny, Midwest, Pacific, and Susquehanna Conferences (listed below). Through individual coaching, assessments, and large-group gatherings, participants will be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to fulfill God’s mission in their unique contexts.
Here’s what Cohort B is looking forward to as they embark in the program:
- GracePoint Church in Chino, Calif. – Our Church is hoping to learn more about ourselves and our community. We want to have the maximum impact we can in our neighborhood. We believe the tools and funds being offered in the Thriving Congregations Initiative will help us meet that goal.
- The Vine Church in Smithsburg, Md. – When we reviewed the details of Thriving Congregations, we were impressed that it was not focused on increasing attendance as the goal. We are focused on helping people connect more meaningfully and deeply to God and so is Thriving Congregations.
- Cedar Grove BIC Church in Mifflintown, Pa. – Our lead pastor will retire in June 2026, and we felt that Thriving Congregations would be a good place to start as we examine who we are as a congregation and what we need in our next lead pastor. We are also excited to find new ways in which our congregation can meet the needs of our community.
- Souderton BIC Church in Souderton, Pa. – We have a significant number of Zimbabwean families in our congregation; we also share our building with Iglesia Cristiana Souderton, a newer Spanish-speaking congregation. Given the heightened conversations around immigration in the U.S. right now, we believe we could have a unique and powerful witness for the Kingdom of God as we lean into our multicultural identity. We hope being part of the Thriving Congregations Initiative will help us clarify our identity and purpose in the Souderton community.
Meet the Congregations in Cohort B
Each participating congregation has formed a team of 3-6 people, known as the Congregational Learning Community (CLC), who will lead their congregation in applying the material learned through this program. Together, they will complete three phases aimed at examining church health and community engagement.
Cohort B includes these 21 congregations:
- Bright Hope Fellowship, Atlantic
- Cedar Grove BIC, Susquehanna
- Conoy BIC, Atlantic
- Convicted by Christ, Midwest
- Crest Community Church, Pacific
- El Monte Calvario BIC, Pacific
- Gateway Karis Church, Pacific
- GracePoint, Pacific
- Grantham BIC, Susquehanna
- Green Spring BIC, Allegheny
- New Community BIC, Pacific
- Peace City Church, Pacific
- Redland Valley BIC, Susquehanna
- Redwood Country BIC, Pacific
- Silverdale BIC, Atlantic
- Solid Ground BIC, Pacific
- Souderton BIC, Atlantic
- The Spring, Allegheny
- The Vine, Allegheny
- West Side BIC, Allegheny
To effectively use our resources, Cohort B has been divided into two sub-cohorts by geographical region: Western and Mid-Atlantic. Cohort B will run for three years from 2025 to 2027.
- Cohort A, 2024-2026
- Cohort B, 2025-2027
- Cohort C, 2026-2028
Applications for Cohort C – the third and final cohort of the Initiative – will open in late 2025; all BIC U.S. congregations are welcome and encouraged to apply.