2027 Connect Church Cohort Application

Thank you for your interest in Connect Church coaching.

Connect Church is a program offered by the NC Rural Center's Faith in Rural Communities aimed to help churches renew their faithful witness and connect with opportunities to improve the health and prosperity of their communities. It is funded through the generous support of The Duke Endowment and The Lilly Endowment Inc.

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 over the nine months 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 eligible churches to launch a new or expanded missional engagement project.

TIMELINE

July 31, 2026 | Application period closes.
August - October, 2026 | Site Visits from NC Rural Center Staff.
November, 2026 | Accepted applicants are notified.

If you have any questions about the program or application, contact Program Manager Hamid Kamara at hkamara@ncruralcenter.org or 434-250-2357. Click here for a printable copy of the application essay questions.

Pastor's Contact Information

Pastor's First Name

Pastor's Last Name

Pastor's Gender

Gender

Pastor's Preferred Email

Email Type

Pastor's Preferred Phone

Phone Type

Should someone besides the pastor be the primary contact for the application?

Yes

Alternate Contact

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Phone

Preferred Email

Phone Type

Email Type

Church Information

Church Name

Federal EIN / Tax ID Number

Church's Denomination

Other Denomination

Racial Makeup of your Congregation

Congregation Demographics

Please provide us with your best estimate of the percentage of each race who actively participate in the life of your congregation.

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Middle Eastern or North African

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

White

Mixed race

Physical Address

Street

Town

State

Zip Code

County

Is your mailing address different from your physical address?

Yes

Mailing Address

Street

Town

State

Zip Code

File Upload

Please upload a copy of your Certificate of Nonprofit Status / 501c3 Determination Letter.

Tell Us Your Story

Please answer these questions in a narrative format with enough detail to give the application review committee enough information to have an accurate picture of your church community.

150 - 200 words per question.

How would you describe the community your congregation serves, including any specific challenges or opportunities in your area?

What is your congregation’s current level of engagement with the community outside of the church (e.g., outreach, service projects, partnerships)?

Please explain your choice to the previous question and describe specific initiatives.

How does your congregation engage with the diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups within your community? Can you provide specific examples of how your church has intentionally reached out to and included diverse populations in its ministry and outreach efforts?

What resources (skills, space, networks) does your church have that could be leveraged in developing a strategic plan for increasing your church’s community engagement?

How ready and willing is your church to create a team of 6-10 members who will be trained to lead local missional engagement efforts? What roles or skills do these members possess that will help your church fulfill its mission?

How do you envision Connect Church helping your church grow its local missional engagement, and what specific outcomes or goals do you hope to achieve through this partnership?

Please share any additional information that would help the decision team understand your congregation’s readiness and potential for collaboration with Connect Church.

What was the source that referred you to Connect Church, and why do you believe this program is a good fit for your church at this time?

Contact Information