NBA Announces Fall 2025 Mission & Ministry Grant Recipients
December 5, 2025 | by NBA Cares
Addressing food insecurity through a community garden; offering educational, emotional, and programmatic support to youth transitioning out of foster care; and providing counseling and wellness resources to older adults. These are just a few of the projects that are recipients of the National Benevolent Association’s Fall 2025 Mission & Ministry Grants.
In total, $155,500 was awarded to 24 Disciples projects and ministries across 15 Disciples regions working with older adults and youth and younger adults. This includes awards to 13 congregations and 11 health and social service organizations.
“Woven into our grants processes at NBA is a deep commitment to empower and connect Disciples-related organizations and congregations doing health and social service work in their communities to the many resources NBA has to offer,” said Kara Whitehouse, NBA’s Operations and Grants Management Coordinator. “Including grant-writing workshops, mental-health resources, coaching opportunities, online resources, and social-entrepreneurship cohorts and connections, we hope that the grants experience at NBA is relational and builds connections that strengthen the church and surrounding communities for years to come.”
This cycle’s awardee list also includes the projects of five alumni of NBA’s SENT Cohort program:
- Harmony Grows (Kristy Doering- 2022 SENT Cohort)
- Restore Clergy (Rev. Kinsie Tate- 2023 SENT Cohort)
- First Christian Church Honolulu (Rev. Nan Riddle- 2025 SENT Cohort)
- YOUR Place to Shine (Rev. Dr. Seungil Eo- 2025 SENT Cohort)
- The Healing Garden (DeJuana Golden- 2025 SENT Cohort)
In addition, two projects- Restore Clergy and Child Saving Institute- are NBA Health & Social Service partner ministries. These investments demonstrate NBA’s commitment to continue building long-term relationships and supporting health and social service organizations helping to transform their communities.
For nearly a decade NBA’s Mission & Ministry Grants program has made purpose-restricted funds available for Disciples’ congregations and health and social service ministries. This is the third year of our twice-a-year cycle, which allows the NBA to award up to $400,000 a year. In 2025, NBA has collectively granted $332,100 to 55 projects and ministries.
For a complete list of Fall 2025 Mission & Ministry grantees please see below.
| Purpose Restriction | Organization Name | Project Title | City | State | Amount Funded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth and Young Adults | Cairn Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | Circles of Belonging: Building Skills, Resilience, and Justice with Youth | Lafayette | CO | $7,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | Child Saving Institute Inc. | Independent Living Skills (ILS) Program at Child Saving Institute | Omaha | NE | $8,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | Disciples Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)-Bartlesville, Oklahoma | Connections Youth Program | Bartlesville | OK | $8,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | First Christian Church- Honolulu, HI | Kaleidoscope Learning Center | Honolulu | HI | $7,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | La Nueva Sion | Bridges of Hope: Building Faith and Future | Tyler | TX | $4,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | Mannam Christian Church, YOUR place to shine | Together We Shine 2026 | Everett | WA | $7,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | Shalom Community Christian Church, Inc | Shalom's Restoration Outreach Ministry | Greensboro | NC | $9,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | Springs of Life Church San Marcos | Collective Care: Community Mental Health and Wellness | Seguin | TX | $6,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | United Ministries in Higher Education (dba Ekklesia) | Wayfinding Leaders Cohort | Springfield | MO | $7,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | West Des Moines Christian Church | Improving Grades, Increasing Attendance, and Fostering Belonging among At-Risk Youth | West Des Moines | IA | $6,000.00 |
| Youth and Young Adults | Young People in Action | Level Up Mentoring Summer Program and Retreat | Houston | TX | $6,000.00 |
| Intergenerational | First Christian Church-Hiram, OH | Creating Art Together With and For Our Community | Hiram | OH | $4,000.00 |
| Intergenerational | FTCC BRASS BAND | Empowering Youth Older Adults Through Music and Leadership | Taylorsville | UT | $10,000.00 |
| Intergenerational | Glory Days Senior Care | Memory Cafe Support Group | Mesa | AZ | $4,000.00 |
| Intergenerational | The Healing Garden Project | Plant to Heal | Lakewood | CA | $8,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | First Christian Church- Vallejo, CA | Peace Garden Little Free Pantry Hydration Station | Vallejo | CA | $6,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | First Christian Church-Madisonville, KY | Friends Place Respite Care | Madisonville | KY | $8,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Girl Chat Bible Talk | Faith & Wellness: Strengthening Intergenerational Communities of Care | Norwalk | CA | $6,500.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Harmony Grows | Senior Food Access Market Program | North Canton | OH | $6,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Hillside Opening Possibilities for Everyone, Inc. d/b/a HOPE.wrx | Reducing Hunger for Older Adults | Kansas City | MO | $5,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Just Love - Greater New Orleans | The Good Samaritan Initiative: Unhoused Elder Dignity and Connection | New Orleans | LA | $4,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Loving Jesus Christian Church | Social service Counseling for older adults | South Pasadena | CA | $3,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Northwood Christian Church | Golden Years, Golden Health: Senior Health & Wellness Series | Indianapolis | IN | $8,000.00 |
| Older Adult Ministries | Restore Clergy | Vital Ministry: Supporting Clergy and Congregants Through Midlife and Beyond | Newport Beach | CA | $8,000.00 |