Grant-Funded Faith Forward Program Helps Small Congregations Nurture Faith in Kids
Congregations looking for practical ways to nurture faith in the next generation—especially small or rural congregations—may find a valuable opportunity through Faith Forward, a grant-funded program designed to equip adults to share faith with children in everyday life.
Faith Forward supports congregations by helping parents, grandparents, and other faith mentors cultivate meaningful faith practices with young people. The program is specifically designed for congregations that may not have large staff or extensive youth programming but still want to strengthen faith formation among families.
Congregations eligible for the program include those located in communities with fewer than 10,000 residents or congregations with average worship attendance under 100 people.
Participants begin with a two-day kickoff training at Grand View University, an ELCA university in Des Moines, Iowa, in May, followed by a year of learning, collaboration, and implementation. During the year, pastors and youth leaders gather for monthly Zoom sessions to share ideas, learn new approaches, and encourage one another as they experiment with faith formation practices in their congregations.
Importantly, the program is fully grant funded through the Lilly Endowment’s Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program, making it especially accessible for small congregations. The grant covers:
Transportation for pastors or youth leaders traveling to the kickoff event in Des Moines
Housing and meals during the two-day training
A small congregational grant to help implement Faith Forward practices locally
Pastor Sarah Stadler, a former pastor in the Grand Canyon Synod who is participating in the current cohort, says the program has been both practical and transformative.
“The basic principles of the Faith Forward model have helped me think differently about the enterprise of faith formation and what makes faith formation truly effective,” she shares.
In her congregation, a Faith Forward team now provides resources families can use at home. Quarterly worship services also focus intentionally on five core faith practices known to nurture children’s faith:
Prayer
Scripture reading
Faith conversation
Acts of service
Shared meals
Rather than functioning as just another church program, Faith Forward shifts the focus toward equipping adults to share faith naturally within daily life.
“Within the congregation, Faith Forward isn’t really a program; it’s a way to do programs that equips adults to share their faith and nurture the faith of kids,” Stadler explains.
Congregations interested in strengthening faith formation—particularly those with limited staff or resources—may find Faith Forward to be a practical and supportive model.
Applications are now open for the May 2026–2027 Faith Forward cohort.
Learn more or apply at:
www.grandview.edu/faith-forward
Questions are welcome, and Pastor Stadler is happy to speak with anyone considering the program:
From Pastor Sarah Stadler…
Equipping Adults to Pass on the Faith to Kids
Are you part of a small congregation? A rural congregation? A congregation wishing to pass on the faith to young people? The Faith Forward program might be for you and your faith community!
The aim of Faith Forward is threefold:
EMPOWER rural and small congregations to more effectively partner with parents, grandparents, and faith mentors in helping the next generation grow in faith and values.
EQUIP parents and grandparents with doable, repeatable, and livable faith practices.
ENCOURAGE families to create homegrown faith through easy-to-use activities and resources that weave faith into the everyday routines of family life.
In the congregation I serve as pastor, we are about to close out our Faith Forward year. After initially getting trained at Grandview University in Des Moines, Iowa, I started participating in monthly zoom sessions with 19 other pastors and youth directors from the other Faith Forward congregations to be encouraged and equipped. In my congregation, our Faith Forward team provides resources to our families for them to use in their homes, and on a quarterly basis, we are shaping worship around the 5 faith practices that help form the faith of kids – prayer, scripture reading, faith conversation, acts of service, and shared meals. The basic principles of the Faith Forward model have helped me think differently about the enterprise of faith formation and what makes faith formation truly effective – and this has altered our congregation’s approach to worship and our other programs and events. Within the congregation, Faith Forward isn’t really a program; it’s a way to do programs that equips adults to share their faith and nurture the faith of kids.
Faith Forward is a funded through the Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program of the Lilly Endowment. To learn more—or to apply for the upcoming May 2026–2027 cohort—visit www.grandview.edu/faith-forward. And I am always happy to talk with anyone who has questions (sarahleestadler@gmail.com)!
—Pastor Sarah Stadler
