Lessons from Confirmation: Talking about our faith with one another

What an incredible blessing it has been to sit down with our ninth graders as they prepare for their Confirmation/Affirmation of Faith, and talk about their journey faith.  We discuss what they believe about God and why they believe in Jesus Christ.   They share what some of their faith/spiritual experiences have been.  They reveal some of the people who have been their faith mentors/role models from childhood to today.  We also discuss how they are involved in the church, where they are using their gifts and serving the Lord, and where they hear God leading and guiding them next.

I wonder what a difference it would make if the parents and adults of our church would sit down with our youth and just listen to them talk about their faith and life?   What a difference that would make to how we understand and value our Children, Youth, and Family Ministries! 

Peer Ministry Leadership – Faith is about relationships

(Excerpts from a letter about the new Wednesday Night Youth Group at CV)  Well it has been a whirlwind fall so far, with planning and gearing up for the future of youth ministry at Christus Victor.  To help and guide us through this year of transition the church council and Pastor Kent have hired a Youth Ministry consultant by the name of Lyle Griner, who comes to us with 30 years of Youth Ministry experience, and is the national trainer of Peer Ministry Leadership.  The plan is to train a core group of youth and adults in Peer Ministry Leadership to equip and empower the youth to continue the Wednesday night Youth Program which will become a Peer Ministry led by the Youth (with support and guidance from adults)!  

The new and improved Wednesday Youth Program will begin on November 2^nd.  The youth group runs from 8:00-9:00pm every Wednesday evening and is open to all high school students grades 9-12.

The training has been occurring on Wednesday evenings and one Saturday morning in September and October, with the youth program beginning again on Wednesday evening, November 2^nd .  We will be continuing our relationship with Lyle Griner as our coach and consultant to assist in teaching the youth how to be in charge of their youth group, guided by some adult volunteers, parents and other caring individuals.

We want to encourage all of our high school youth to attend and become a part of this fabulous opportunity to grow in their faith while bonding with their friends.  We are also encouraging  the youth to bring their friends, from school or other areas of their life.  We want to make it a place where youth feel at home and  welcomed.

Faith Based Loving Relationships Take Time and Commitment

This post had been a bit of a hodge-podge, but here is the final point/take away.  In all of my conversations about faith-spiritual experiences and faith role models and mentors, almost 99% of the time the kids point to their family as the place and people who have had the biggest influence in their faith (duh!)!  Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and yes, even their brothers and sisters are people of faith who have made a huge impact on their life and faith in Jesus Christ.  Oh, yes, there are friends, camp counselors, Sunday school teachers, and even pastors (sort of), along the way.  But it is in the family that our children and youth are shaped and impacted by the love of God in Jesus Christ. 

So, all you parents, grandparents, aunt and uncles, and yes, brothers and sisters, my word of encouragement and challenge to you is to keep growing in your own faith in Christ Jesus!  Keep living out your faith, even when you think it isn’t making a difference or an impact, your family is watching and paying attention.  Stay involved or get involved in your church; serve, worship, sing, teach, count, make new friends over a cup of coffee, take a class, just get involved, stay involved and help!  God is already, and will continue, to work in your life, and through you touch the lives and faith of your family and friends around you.