Newsletter: DECEMBER 2025
Church Creativity Grants a Great Success in First Year!
A year ago, our network leader and board members wanted to find a way to assist churches with financial support in areas that helped them think "out of the box." From innovative outreach efforts and youth efforts to strategic planning, churches were able to take chances and impact our communities for the Gospel. The network gave out $35,650 to eight churches and the reports of learning and successes are streaming in!
Below is a list of churches and their projects:
Bristow Reformed (Bristow, IA): Citywide BBQ, Movie Nights, Church Service at Bristow Days
Northridge Community (Eldridge, IA): Fresh Start Giving Bags and Christian Counseling Ministry
Bethel Reformed (Aplington, IA): Discipleship Training, Media Efforts, Community Outreach
Thorn Creek Reformed (South Holland, IL): South Holland Missions Hub
Emmanuel Reformed (Morrison, IL): youth internship, Sonshine Preschool
Dumont Reformed (Dumont, IA): Strategic Assessment of Church by VitalChurch
Christ's Family Church (Davenport, IA): Small Group Initiative at Local Colleges
Washington Reformed Church (Ackley, IA) Strategic Assessment of Church by VitalChurch
We will be refining the Church Creativity Grant for 2026 and we are looking forward to assisting churches in outreach and revitalization in the coming year! Churches who did not apply for a grant in 2025 will be given preference in 2026.
Recommended Vendors now on Website
Ever wonder what a good resource for operations is or who to call for communications help? Well, now you have another option to check! The UMV website now lists a number of trusted partners that can help you in the following areas:
General Operations
Human Resources
Discipleship & Leadership Development
Transitions and Interim Pastors
Communications
Missions
Finance & Budgeting/Church Compensation Surveys (coming soon)
We'll be adding more soon so be sure to check back!
Merry Christmas from the Upper Mississippi Valley Network
We have had a great year in the network and we have lived into many things as we rolled out grant programs, refined our 5 year review for churches, got training in conflict management and so many more things! Our annual report will detail all of our efforts.
We all seek to glorify our Lord and impact our communities for the Kingdom together. Whether we are two miles down a gravel road, worshipping hundreds or ministering to just a few, together we are the Upper Mississippi Valley Network and we do this together!
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and we can't wait for where God is going in 2026!
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