Ch. 3 - Nurtured as Partners in Ministry

What seemed most meaningful to you in this chapter? This basic look at faith formation is essential to us, as we work with children, both in the church and elsewhere in our lives. How do the gifts of the children (trust, fresh point of view, unrestrained emotions) impact you in your experience of church and in the classroom?

The authors tell us, "Every child needs someone to listen to events that have happened at home, to jokes and riddles to fears and triumphs. Every child needs someone to listen to his or her question sensitively." In a classroom setting, how can we help facilitate this listening?

The authors also write, 

"Faith, too, follows a developmental process that is related to the other processes of development. Children are persons of faith. Their faith may be different from the faith of an adult, but it is real and genuine and fits the development and needs of the child. Faith involves building trust, developing a body of beliefs, and taking action on those beliefs."

 What does this mean to you, as you work with our children?

The authors do a great job looking at developmental stages and faith development. Did anything in this chapter surprise you?

And, finally, the authors include some wisdom from John Westerhoff,

"...all three generations are necessary in the faith community. Children, the first generation can be persons of vision. The second generation confronts the community with reality. The third generation provides memory and a sense of continuity. All three are necessary because each makes its own contributions."

Which role belongs to you? Are you living up to your responsibility? Are you inviting others to participate and live up to their own responsibilities?

Ah, the church is an invigorating, exciting place.

Let's breathe in the always perplexing, always challenging, always inspiring ways in which Spirit leads us forward.

Tamalyn