Test Driving Theology

It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.   – Colossians 1:28

I miss maps.  Ok, maybe not totally.  I don’t miss trying to fold them back the way they came…I don’t miss trying to locate where I was while in transit…I don’t miss trying to figure out where to make a turn based on watching the odometer…and guessing wrong.  For all these reasons, there is no question that the “Maps ” app in my phone is far superior.

But I do miss seeing the big picture.  I miss being able to look at the starting point, the destination, and all the things I’ll get to see in between.  While I prefer to use my phone app while driving, I do love looking at maps.

We approach our faith journey more like we’re driving with a GPS than a map.  We just go through the journey, moving from milestone to milestone, without really paying attention to what is next on the journey.

Our stellar children, youth and family ministry staff, working alongside our amazing intern, Madison Chelberg, has been working hard this past year at creating a map for the faith of our young people.

In educational circles, it’s called a “Scope and Sequence.”  It sets goals and objectives for what our young people will experience and learn as they grow in faith.   We call it Trinity’s “Faith Formation Journey.”  It is a great tool:

• For the parents of our young people to know “what’s next” for their kids as they learn and grow in their faith
• For our staff, as they do their planning and developing their ministry
• For the congregation, as we evaluate our ministries against these goals and objectives
• For our young people, as they experience a cohesive and dynamic faith formation ministry

I encourage you to take a look at this document.  (You can also pick up a printed copy at the Resource Center in the Trinity narthex.) . There’s great stuff in here.  I’m grateful for and thankful to our children, youth and family staff, along with the parents and volunteers who have given great input into the process.

If you are a parent, or a grandparent, look and see where your young people are in their faith journey.  See where they have been…see what is coming, and be excited for the way that God is working in the life of that young person.

Thanks be to God, for faith lives being formed, and for knowing “what’s next” on our journey.

The next goal?  A faith formation “map” for adults!

Peace,
Pastor Todd