From Soccer Field to Fellowship
Inglewood Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alta., used a ministry-shares creativity and collaboration grant to help bring their local community together through a summer soccer camp. With the support of this small but meaningful grant, the church was able to expand its reach, grow its team of volunteers, and create a welcoming space where faith and fun came together for over 55 campers and their families.
Andrew Aukema, pastor at Inglewood CRC, said the grant allowed them to increase their enrollment from 40 to 55 campers. He said, “Camp ran quite smoothly with the help of seven coaches from Athletes in Action, 12 youth and young adult assistant coaches from our church, and the Lunch Bunch, who kept everyone well fed.”
Inglewood CRC first learned about the grant opportunity through a CRCNA fundraising workshop. The creativity and collaboration grant is an advancement micro-grant designed to support Canadian CRCs as they pilot creative, collaborative ministry ideas in their church or surrounding community. The grants are small, usually $500-$1,000, but they help to provide ways in which congregations can see how being part of the CRCNA community of churches that support ministry shares can have an impact.
After the fundraising workshop, Inglewood CRC identified a clear community need, crafted a thoughtful proposal, and applied the new skills they had learned. Their application reflected vision and practicality—elements that the creativity and collaboration grant is designed to support.
The soccer camp included a morning routine of prayer, ground rules, warm-up exercises, and a large group activity. Afterward they entered into their “More Than A Game” devotional time focused on the theme “Jesus Is the Best Teammate.” The camp devotions focused on Bible stories that showed Jesus’ intentionality, love, grace, and faithfulness. After their devotional time together participants gathered into small groups where they discussed the lesson material, asked questions, and prayed for the campers.
Inglewood CRC concluded their week of soccer camp with Soccer Sunday, a time when many of their campers and families attended a church service that included sharing about some of the highlights of the week. Aukema said that during this time they “pulled together the themes of the camp week with an invitation to see Jesus as the champion who wins the victory and then gives it to us when we believe in him.”
“During the post-church-service party we had conversations with a few families who don’t currently have a church and who said they appreciated what the church has done—and that they would come back,” said Aukema.
He added, “We are thankful for your support this year. Please know that your partnership has helped create relationships, and that these are relationships in which the gospel is taking root in people’s lives.”
The creativity and collaboration grant began in 2023. Roshani Morton, director of advancement (Canada) for the CRCNA, said, “The creativity and collaboration grant helps churches turn learning into tangible ministry. Inglewood did that beautifully—they took new stewardship practices and turned them into a soccer camp that built community, connection, and joy. It was a win all around.”
Since 2023, eight micro-grants have been received by Canadian CRC churches. To learn more about ministry shares or the creativity and collaboration grant, reach out to [email protected].
