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The Synod of the Northeast has always been committed to fostering vibrant faith communities that share the love and message of Christ in new and transformative ways. Through the Emerging Gospel Community Grant, we seek to support innovative and mission-driven gatherings that bring people together in fresh expressions of faith.
In a time when so many churches are asking big questions about the future, how to reach new people, how to reimagine ministry, and how to faithfully respond to the Spirit’s movement in their community—there’s good news: you don’t have to do it alone.
The Emerging Gospel Community Grant exists to support exactly these kinds of bold, Spirit-led initiatives. It is designed for emerging churches and leaders who are ready to take risks for the sake of the Gospel—who are listening closely to their neighborhoods, imagining new ways to gather and grow in faith, and building communities where Jesus is truly good news.
If you’re nurturing a fresh expression of church or dreaming about one, this grant is for you.
What is an Emerging Gospel Community?
An emerging gospel community is a new or developing group of people who share a commitment to Christian faith and the teachings of Jesus while seeking to embody the gospel in unique and contextual ways.
This new worshipping community might not look like traditional church—and that’s the point.
It could be a house church gathering around a shared meal and Scripture. A network of spiritual seekers meeting in a coffee shop. A bilingual Bible study bringing together neighbors across cultures. A youth-led ministry in a city park. A rural cohort committed to hospitality and discipleship. If it's rooted in the gospel and growing in community, it's worth exploring—and worth investing in.
Whether led by pastors, church planters, or lay leaders, these initiatives are grounded in Presbyterian theology and a commitment to engaging people who may not connect with traditional church settings.
We believe innovative approaches to living out God’s call to justice and love help to promote diversity and lift up previously marginalized communities -- two of the Synod's core values!
Recent Grantees
La Iglesia del Pueblo
La Iglesia del Pueblo established a gospel-centered community rooted in the transformative teachings of Jesus Christ and the theological principle of God's preferential option for the poor. They are committed to meeting the physical, material, and spiritual needs of the Latino community around them and within New York City.
La Iglesia del Pueblo also provides a much-needed ministry of hope for new immigrants.
Through their ministry they have also become community organizers where they seek to challenge and educate the community by encouraging them to organize and act collectively, thereby becoming agents of their own liberation.
Hope Church of New York
Hope Church of New York is a multilingual, culturally diverse community, primarily composed of Korean American immigrants and their 2nd and 3rd-generation descendants. Each week, around 40 people gather in person for bilingual worship, fellowship, and Bible study. Additionally, they hold a monthly online gathering for about 20 college students and young adults, many of whom have a church background but are not currently attending church regularly. They also organize occasional joint special events to strengthen their community connections.
The Share Alliance
The S.H.A.R.E. Alliance – (Sowing Hope And Reaping Equity) is a consortium of congregations and other interested parties in Springfield, NJ, dedicated to addressing food justice in their communities. They believe that no one should involuntarily go to sleep hungry or wonder where their next meal will come from. The SHARE Alliance seeks to approach the issue with a three-prong tactic: Create availability of healthier food, via collection and donations. Coordinate their distribution, via a community pantry and kitchen. Promote their right use, via cross-cultural cooking classes.
Start Now, Get Your Team Together to Dream and Act
You too can be the among the next Synod of the Northeast Emerging Gospel Community Grant recipients! DREAM BIG and be inspired by the moving of the Holy Spirit as your community envisions fresh approaches to being community as Christians.
The 2025 Emerging Gospel Community Grant process opens in June. You can access the grant application process through the Synod’s website: www.synodne.org. Click “Grants” at the top menu, then Emerging Gospel Community Grant.
As we get closer to the application launch, look for videos and webinar announcements to help navigate our grant application system and provide tips on effective grant writing in our monthly newsletter, emails, and our social media connections.
Questions? Contact Mike Yeoman, Grants Coordinator @ michael.yeoman@synodne.org.
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