Faith in Rural Communities – Connect Church Application Open
The Faith in Rural Communities program at the NC Rural Center is now accepting applications for our 2026 cohort of Connect Church. It’s a one-year program built on the principles of asset-based community development and upon completion of the program churches are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to launch a new or expanded missional engagement project. Please share information about this opportunity with churches in your district.
Connect Church is a program offered by the NC Rural Center’s Faith in Rural Communities aimed to help rural North Carolina churches renew their faithful witness and connect with opportunities to improve the health and prosperity of their communities. Participation in the program is valued at $25,000, but offered to churches for free thanks to generous funding from The Duke Endowment and Lilly Endowment.
The one-year Connect Church program provides in-person coaching, training, and resources to increase your church’s missional engagement impact. Our coaches and experts focus on your church and your community.
Your church creates a church team of 6-10 people interested in leading missional engagement. This team agrees to meet at least twice per month and participate in three Saturday workshops.
What we offer:
- monthly coaching for a team of church leaders;
- assistance in understanding the community’s and the church’s assets;
- networking with other churches asking the same questions;
- a grant up to $10,000 for churches to launch a new or expanded missional engagement project.
Click here for more information and apply by August 30th.
