Organizational Development

How We Work

Supporting Disciples Health & Social Service Ministries

NBA accompanies entrepreneurs in the growth, impact, and sustainability of innovative faith-rooted social enterprises. To established organizations, we offer supports such as coaching, executive search consulting, accounting, and networking opportunities.

We partner with Disciples-affiliated ministries and nonprofits in the shared work of creating compassion, healing, and justice for all of humanity. Our hope is to inspire and invite people of faith into activism and advocacy for communities that are often overlooked and underserved.


Program Areas

Transform Your Ministry in Partnership with NBA

Explore the ways NBA accompanies and collaborates with Disciples-affiliated health and social service organizations to cultivate and strengthen communities.

Organizational Development Stories and News

NBA Holds 2nd Annual Hybrid Mental Health Professionals Conference

NBA Holds 2nd Annual Hybrid Mental Health Professionals Conference.

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NBA Launches imPACT Fellows Initiative

The NBA Social Entrepreneurship team is excited about the launch of our pilot imPACT Fellowship, onboarding two exceptional fellows dedicated to advancing social entrepreneurship within historically marginalized or under-resourced communities in the United States.

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NBA Board of Trustees June Meeting Emphasizes Dedication to Equity

The Board of Trustees of the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met June 6th – 8th, 2024 at Union Avenue Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. 

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Spring 2024 Mission & Ministry Grants Awarded

We are pleased to announce our Fall 2024 Mission & Ministry Grant recipients!

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Health & Social Service Partner New Communion Reflects on the Impact of Working with NBA

As New Communion’s time as an Incubate Partner came to an end, we spoke with David Harrison to learn more about the organization, how it’s changed throughout its partnership with NBA, and what it has meant to have the support of the organization over the last several years.

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NBA Grants More Than $170,000 to Fall 2023 Mission & Ministry Grantees

We are pleased to announce our Fall 2023 Mission & Ministry Grant recipients!

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NBA Board Meets and Affirms Bold Visions and Ministries

The Board of Trustees of the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met November 9 – 11 at Community Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

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A Space to Belong: Mission & Ministry Grant Supports Community Center for Trans & Gender-Diverse Community

In 2022, Galileo Christian Church established Finn’s Place, a community center where trans and gender-diverse people gather, grow, and flourish.

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Camp Sunflower Provides a Place for LGBTQ+ Youth to Soar

Recently, Social Entrepreneur Program Coordinator Rev. Ashley Mayham and NBA trustee Wanda Scott visited Camp Sunflower in Wichita, Kansas to observe how the ministry has grown since they first engaged with NBA in 2019.

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NBA Welcomes Two Social Entrepreneur Cohort Members as Incubate Partners

We are excited to introduce our two new Incubate Partners joining us this year.

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Announcing the Spring 2023 Mission & Ministry Grantees

Meet our newest group of Mission & Ministry Grantees.

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Creating Their Destiny: Mission & Ministry Grantee Teaches Young Black Girls Life Skills

Mission & Ministry grantee uses funds to support and encourage young Black women.

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NBA Welcomes New Health and Social Service Partner Program Coordinator

We’re excited to introduce Jerell DeCaille, NBA’s Health and Social Service Partner Program Coordinator!

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Trauma-Informed Church Offers Ministry Like Jesus Would

This east side Indianapolis congregation is leading with love and on a mission to be in ministry that mimics Jesus’ time on Earth.

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A Place to Belong: Indiana Congregation Creates Community Events for Older Adults

When Countryside Christian Church realized the older adults in their congregation were feeling particularly isolated, they turned to NBA for support.

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How One Congregation Created a Network of Compassionate Older Adults

In 2020, Beloved Christian Church began its Compassion Practice+ program, which teaches the Compassion Practice (CP) to adults over 50.

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Unleashing the Potential of Careers in STEM for St. Louis Youth

The STEM field is notoriously homogenous. To combat this, Mission & Ministry Grantee Unleashing Potential developed Experience STEM.

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Mission & Ministry Grant Supports Those in Addiction Recovery

The wake up call that lead to a ministry that supports those recovering from addition.

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First Christian Church Texas City Invites a Blue Theology Mission Station to Engage Children

First Christian Church in Texas City, Texas used their Mission & Ministry grant to partner with Blue Theology to teach youth in the Galveston Bay area the importance of ‘being blue’ and taking care of the ocean and natural water sources in their community.

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Meet the 2023 Social Entrepreneur Cohort

Meet our third group of individuals and the ministries they’re building.

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Announcing the Fall 2022 Mission & Ministry Grantees

Meet our newest group of Mission & Ministry Grantees. These ministries represent 22 different Disciples regions and will serve a multitude of generations in topics of mental health, entrepreneurship, and creative endeavors.

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NBA Board of Trustees Fall 2022 Meeting Centered on Partnerships

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Impacting the Future by Growing Leaders Through Adventure and Service

Over the last two years FCC Princeton has taken a group of adolescents across the country and helped them experience their home state of Kentucky in new and exciting ways!

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NBA Invites Three New Organizations to Become Incubate Partners

Meet our newest Incubate Partners for 2022!

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Wellness, Rhythm & Balance: A Retreat for Peer Groups

In the spring, NBA brought together members of our Peer Learning and Wellness Groups for a weekend of fellowship, reflection, and healing.

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Deepening Connections Among NBA’s Entrepreneurs

Earlier this year, NBA’s social entrepreneurship team planned its first in-person trip for our 2021 and 2022 Social Entrepreneurship Cohorts.

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Staying Connected: Kansas Christian Home Uses Technology to Help Older Adults Socialize During Pandemic

For 60 years, Kansas Christian Home has provided social and health services to meet the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of seniors. They continue to do this by using new technologies like the iN2L.

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NBA Trustees Meet Virtually to Deepen Equity Work, Celebrate Outgoing Trustees

In June, NBA Trustees met virtually to deepen their equity work with the organization, review program updates, and celebrate outgoing trustees.

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Juliette Fowler’s Ebby House Provides a Place for Young Women to Heal and Gain Independence

NBA’s Mission & Ministry grants support young women like Amy who was a homeless teen taken in by Juliette Fowler’s Ebby House and has blossomed ever since.

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NBA Announces Spring 2022 Mission & Ministry Grants

We are pleased to announce our Spring 2022 Mission & Ministry Grantees! Our grant program granted a total of $203,000 to 28 Disciples projects working with older adults, children, and youth.

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Get to Know Our Partners

Operation BookBag

Fort Worth, TX—Operation BookBag offers youth tools to address mental health and wellness and life skills to become positive, productive adults.

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Root Cause Collective

Garner, NC—The Root Cause Collective exists to build community as a means of preventative health care, to create an ecology of wellness for the whole being.

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Whosoever Will Community Assistance Program

Beltsville, MD—Provides fresh, healthy, nutritious food to food-insecure communities.

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Chain Reaction Ministries

Houston, TX—Recycling bicycles by linking donors with identified needs in the community.

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All Peoples Community Center

Los Angeles, CA—Social services and programs that empower individuals and promote community respect.

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Child Saving Institute

Omaha, NB—Early childhood education, foster care, adoption, and emergency shelter.

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Broken Mended and Restored

Los Angeles, CA—Helping individuals impacted by emotional, spiritual and physical abuse.

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Christian Care Communities

Louisville, KY—Kentucky’s largest faith-based provider of housing, long-term care, and adult day centers.

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Christian Church Homes

Oakland, CA—Building and managing affordable housing communities where seniors can thrive.

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Columbia Area Older Adult Ministry

Columbia, MO—Spiritual and emotional support to the elderly population in long-term care.

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Disciple Homes Management Group

Longview, TX—Quality affordable housing for senior adults since 1972 in Northeast Texas.

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Cleveland Christian Home

Cleveland, OH—Children, youth, and families struggling with mental illness, abuse, and neglect.

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Disciples Retirement Community of Oklahoma

Edmond, OK—Funding to assist Disciples older adults living in Bradford Village.

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Florida Christian Center

Jacksonville, FL—Activities and pastoral care to seniors and disabled adults at three facilities.

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HER Faith Ministries

Memphis, TN—Assistance with food, clothing, utilities, and housing to impoverished women and children.

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Garden of Eden Health Center

Jayuya, Puerto Rico—Healthcare and holistic preventive medicine for women, children, and seniors.

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Hiram Farm

Hiram, OH—Agricultural setting that serves developmentally disabled adults.

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Good Life Care Resource Center

Los Angeles, CA—Daycare, preschool, afterschool programs; Spanish & Korean translation; transportation.

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Inman Christian Center

San Antonio, TX—Childcare, affordable housing, adolescent substance abuse treatment.

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Juliette Fowler Communities

Dallas, TX—Senior assisted and independent living, children's foster care, and adoption services.

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Manistee Manor Apartment Homes

Glendale, AZ—Apartment home rentals for low-income senior residents.

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Kansas Christian Home

Newton, KS—Meeting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of its senior residents.

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Mission Behind Bars and Beyond

Louisville, KY—community-based mentoring programs for those released from prison.

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Kentucky Appalachian Ministry

Lexington, KY—a cooperative Mission Center of the Kentucky Region and Disciples Home Missions.

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New Communion

Winston-Salem, NC—Providing food and building relationships with those experiencing food insecurity.

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Patchwork Central

Evansville, IN—Food pantry, children's programs, healthcare access.

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Oakland Peace Center

Oakland, CA—A network of orgs including direct service, advocacy, youth empowerment, arts, culture.

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QC Family Tree

Charlotte, NC—Supporting families and building community in the historic Enderly Park neighborhood.

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Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center

Tulsa, OK—Parenting skills, homeless outreach, food assistance, addiction recovery, re-entry programs.

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Be The Neighbor

Austin, TX—Youth mission and education experience exploring issues of culture, gender, and poverty.

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Learn and Grow with NBA Resources

Business 101 Definitions with Dr. Jennifer Madden

This is a helpful resource for those in the beginning stages of envisioning or creating their organization.

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Innovation Institute: Organizational Wellness Webinar

Innovation Institute: Organizational Wellness Webinar

Prioritizing wellness within organizations is essential for creating environments where both employees and the communities they serve can thrive. This webinar equips you with practical insights and actionable strategies to enhance wellness within your organization by exploring key elements of organizational wellness such as holistic wellness, assessment, and strategies to integrate a more structured wellness approach in your non-profit. 

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Love is an Action Word: A Discussion on Reproductive Justice

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NBA Impact Report 2022

Read and download the 20-page PDF of the 2022 NBA Impact Report, featuring stories from NBA programs, partners, and Disciples leaders.

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2023 NBA Town Hall

There have been so many exciting resources, initiatives and partnerships at NBA recently, hear all about it!

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Gun Violence and Mental Health

Resources focusing on the intersection of gun violence, trauma, and ways to care for our mental health and the mental health of our communities.

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Resources for Transgender Day of Visibility and Beyond

AllianceQ and the NBA offer resources for those looking to be more inclusive of all gender identities and expressions.

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Webinar: How Congregations Can Organize Around Justice Issues

With the right tools, congregations can play a big role in social justice issues that arise in their communities.

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Webinar: Restorative Justice in Action

Our current justice system and practices aren't working, restorative justice may offer an alternative.

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Webinar: How Congregations Can Practice Restorative Justice in Their Communities

Restorative Justice encourages the humanization of those who have caused harm and provides better alternatives than our current incarceration system.

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Second Chance Employment: Making an Impact by Hiring Formerly Incarcerated People

This webinar explores the importance of considering the employment of people who are returning from our prisons and jails and those who are in recovery.

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Sustainable Fundraising: Building a Community of Support with the New Generation of Donors

Fundraising Consultant Kerri-Ann Appleton shares her tips for building a sustainable community of donors.

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SENT Seminar 2020: Recorded Classes

SENT Seminar 2020: Recorded Classes

Participants in the 2020 Seminar experienced online education on the importance of impactful work in our communities, as well as lessons on how to plant and grow new faith-rooted social enterprises.

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Webinar: Why Our Corrections System Is So Dysfunctional

Join our experienced panelists for a conversation on why the corrections system has become so dysfunctional and broken.

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Worship for Families of Incarcerated Individuals

These resources were created to offer people of faith an opportunity to worship together and reflect on the experience of immigrants in the Bible and the experience of immigrants living in the United States.

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Liturgy for Working with Incarcerated People  

We invite you to explore immigration through these liturgies and worship resources.

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Liturgies for Immigration and Detention

We invite you to explore immigration through these liturgies and worship resources.

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Liturgy for Reentry Ministries

We invite you to explore immigration through these liturgies and worship resources.

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Webinar: Why Followers of Jesus Should Oppose Capital Punishment

What does the Bible say about capital punishment? Should followers of Jesus Christ, who was executed himself, oppose the use of capital punishment?

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WEBINAR: Resources for Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention

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Faith-Based Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention Guide

16-page PDF resource with historical insight into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, sermon starters, and statistics.

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Webinar: Introducing “We Are Witnesses”, an important video series about the U.S. Criminal Justice System

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Webinar: Combating Mass Incarceration through Bail Reform

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Webinar: Beyond the Labels: The Humanization of God’s Children

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Liturgy for Immigration and Detention

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Ferguson, Clergy, and the Faith that Fuels their Lives

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Webinar: The Privatization of Prisons and Prison Industry Divestment

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Webinar: The Prison Abolition Movement

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Webinar

Webinar: The Rising Number of Incarcerated Women

Join us as we discuss the impact of the increasing number of women, particularly women of color, that are spending time behind bars and work to address solutions

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