Frequently Asked Questions

The program will include 3 cohorts, 1 cohort per year, beginning in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Each cohort will consist of up to 25 congregations and promote a learning process whereby congregations identify both assets and challenges within the congregation and community.

Cohorts will be formed to represent congregational diversity in terms of: size (small and large), location (rural, suburban, urban), demographics (culturally diverse), potential of local leadership, and potential of future mentoring/modeling for other congregations in the region.

Cohorts will be regionally grouped to make best use of resources, thus reducing travel time to the Spring and Fall in-person gathering for most participants.

Yes, each cohort is limited to 25 congregations. If we receive more applications than we can accommodate in Cohort A, congregations may re-apply to for Cohort B or C.

Yes, Spanish-speaking congregations may apply to participate in Cohort C and will receive resource materials in both English and Spanish.

All congregations that are located in the United States and are part of Brethren in Christ U.S. may apply. Limited due to grant-funding specifications.

The primary purpose of this Thriving Congregations initiative is to help congregations foster ministries relevant to the lives of congregants, connect more deeply to God, and strengthen outwardly focused ministries that serve their community.

Travel costs to in-person training days for congregations traveling more than 50 miles will be reimbursed. Additionally, all assessments and program resources are part of the overall congregational investment of this program and will be covered. Congregations do not need a line item in your annual budget to participate in the program.

See a full breakdown of the three phases on our program page.

A congregational health assessment establishes baseline data about the group and its effective ministries. The program has partnered with PEAK profile and uses whole congregation surveys to honestly examine the health of the church.

Congregations will submit an RFP (request for proposal) detailing a ministry project and receive a $5,000 community ministry grant at the end of Phase 2 to help off-set costs in implementing an outward-facing community ministry project in Phase 3. The grant needs to be disbursed by the end of 2028, however, the churches do not need to have the money spent by that date. They will continue reporting their progress and spending to the Thriving Congregations team.

The BIC-trained coaches will check-in and serve as a resource person for the congregation during the initial year of their ministry program. Additionally, gatherings and/or Zoom meetings will be held to share information and collaborate with the other churches in their cohort.

Congregations will receive a community ministry grant at the end of Phase 2. Based on insights from the congregational and community assessments, funds may be used to implement an outward-facing ministry in the local community or strengthen and expand an existing ministry.

In phase 1 and phase 2, the BIC-trained coach that works with your congregation will provide summaries of meetings and any session charts that are created. Congregations just need to be willing to fully engage with the process. As congregations move into their Community Ministry Program, there will be reporting requirements related to their grant proposal.

The learning community will attend semi-annual in-person training days and facilitate implementation of all program material at the congregational level. Learning communities will likely meet and correspond as a small group intermittently throughout each phase.

Learning community members are required to attend one day in-person training sessions in Spring and Fall during each year of the cohort (6 in all). These trainings will be held in cohort sub-groups in an effort to reduce travel time for most participants. Additionally, learning community members are expected to attend the Summer gathering (2027) in ONE location with all cohorts.

There will also be breakout sessions as part of BIC U.S. General Assembly in 2026 for congregations that wish to participate.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed for congregations traveling more than 50 miles to in-person gatherings. Financial assistance for congregations traveling less than 50 miles can be provided on case-by-case basis.

Yes, each participating congregation will be matched with a BIC-trained coach. The coach will work one-on-one with the congregation for the duration of the cohort.

Grant funding will allow congregations to access a high-quality church health assessment with no fee. Congregations will complete the PEAK Profile and work directly with the provider and BIC-trained coaches to interpret the data.

Chad Frey, from Neighboring Group, will help congregations understand neighboring in multiple contexts, recognize their place in the community (presently and in the future) and identify community needs.

The Neighboring Group (specialists in community ministry development) will assist congregations in discerning appropriate ministry options as well as assess congregational scope for implementing outward facing ministries.

When applicable, congregations are expected to partner with BIC U.S. affiliate ministries as a means of strengthening the program and establishing relations across congregations and conferences. Examples of BIC U.S. affiliate ministries include Awaken Network and NextGen Ministries.

Congregations are also encouraged to collaborate with people and organizations already in your community.