Foundation 4

Scriptural basis:
Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 4:1-16, 1 Peter 2:1-5, Hebrews 5:12-14, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:10

Partnering with God in his mission and ministry in the world is the task of faith communities. By faithfully valuing each other, being committed to one another’s faith formation and by serving and being in unity, all those connected to and impacted by the church will know Christ’s love.

The best approach to develop this is to support families through the different ages and stages with a strategy that works seamlessly throughout childhood and teen years (and hopefully through to adulthood, once you have this established). It means that we seek to understand what faith formation looks like from birth through to death.

Having an integrated strategy for faith formation means that we know and understand what is needed at each age and stage of life. We pray, read, talk about and plan what faith formation looks like and requires e.g. what preschoolers need to know, understand and experience about God, his world and our place in it, is different to what 9 year olds, or 14 year olds will need. Having an integrated strategy means that as a leadership team we work  together to understand what is required and how each stage feeds into, aids and compliments the other. It also means that we look closely at how we transition children and their families from one ministry area to the next i.e. from Children’s Min. to Intermediate Min., from Intermediate Min. to Youth Min., and from Youth Min. to adult church. This seamless transitioning will help children, youth and adults alike to feel that they are still welcomed, connected and valued.

The development of this type of strategy will ideally involve children’s, youth and other ministries working in harmony and as a team, with each still holding their own area of expertise and responsibility. They will have frequent conversations and will seek involvement, where possible, with each other’s ministry area. This approach should expand to a level where each ministry values each other and is working at breaking down the disconnect that can develop. When ministry teams value and work for the good of each other, they are more likely to achieve the end goal to which they are all working—growing life-long followers of Christ.

Establishing an integrated strategy for faith formation will have the long term benefit of supporting the faith formation of children, teens, their families and other adults and also demonstrate the model of love and unity to which we are called.

“If the church is haemorrhaging young people, we have to ask ourselves if it’s because we address the issue of discipleship too late. Is the spiritual nurture we provide for our young people neither consistent enough nor rigorous enough to provide them with the means to have a strong & stable faith in a time when there are many challenges to the authenticity and relevance of our beliefs?”

Jason Gardner

DEPENDING ON YOUR CONTEXT AND SIZE THIS MAY INCLUDE:

MINISTRY AND MISSION

  • Pastoral staff and ministry leaders meeting regularly to develop and grow a strategy for lifelong faith formation, to encourage partnerships between ministries and to pray together.
  • Developing an intentional partnership between youth and children’s ministries so that faith formation is integrated.
  • Designing a plan for faith formation that takes into account all ages and stages, ethnic diversity and learning capabilities.
  • A strategy for how to transition people from one ministry to the next.
  • Youth and children’s leaders taking an interest and investing in each other’s ministries and planning and running events together as appropriate, rather than competing for resources such as leaders and space.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

  • How could you take into account different learning needs and abilities?
  • In what ways does ethnic diversity impact faith formation?
  • How frequently should leaders meet together?
  • Who takes responsibility for the partnership?
  • How do you get all ministry teams on the same page?
  • Transitioning between children’s and youth ministries.
  • How to include non-churched families into our ministries.

Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

SUGGESTED READING

  • Re-imagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century – John Roberto
  • Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Future of the Church – Valerie Bell
  • Families at the Centre of Faith Formation – John Roberto et al
  • The Seasons of Adult Faith Formation – Ed Gordon et al
  • Think Orange – Reggie Joiner
  • Lead Small and Lead Small Culture (two books) – Reggie Joiner et al
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Churches – Andy Stanley
  • Shaped by God – Robert Keeley, editor
  • Growing Young – Kara Powell

OTHER RESOURCES

  • BCFM has developed a set of Faith Formation charts and posters, designed to illustrate what is needed at each age and stage for the child, family and the church as a whole.
  • For ideas on ways that you can help children transition from children’s to youth ministry contact your Regional Coach or email: [email protected]

WEBSITES