Last Spring, I attended a conference for an organization called Christian Deeper Learning, which is an international organization for Christian schools who strive to create lasting learning experiences for students that will impact their whole selves. I sat in a breakout session and the leader said a phrase that has been stuck in my head ever since:
Everything is Formation.
He was trying to get this room full of educators to understand that when it comes to students, every practice that we do is forming the students in our care in some way. He gave an example about tardy slips that honestly changed my life.
Even though this break out was targeted towards teachers and school staff, my little pastor heart was pulled. There’s evidence of this statement being true all over our lives. We are being formed by the things around us all the time, sometimes intentionally or formally, like through school, books, church, or continuing educational experiences. But sometimes we are formed informally, through social interactions, family dynamics, the media we take in, the experiences we have in our lives.
When I was 15 and learning to drive, my driving habits were formally formed by my parents, my driving instructors, and those terrifying videos about drinking and driving. But informally, I was the last of my friends to get my license and so I was also being formed by friends’ driving habits. Which may have caused me to fail my driving test because I thought a rolling stop was an acceptable method.
We are being formed by the combination of all our experiences and the people in our lives – both the ones we choose and the happenstance. Everything is formation.
I’m not saying it to fear monger, or to scare us into the false dichotomy of good and bad. Rather, I want us to look at it as an opportunity to take a closer look at how we are being formed and remind ourselves that we are not passive in our own formation. We have the unique opportunity to examine both our past formation – from former traditions or families of origin – as well as our current means of formation. It’s a daily practice of centering our minds, hearts, and spirits to the tune of God. This is one of my main goals as Associate Pastor of Formation at LSC, to help us grow in discernment and critical thinking around our own formation – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and socially.
My other main goal in this role is walk alongside our kids and youth as they grow in their formation. In my time as a pastor to kids and youth, I have seen how every part of church life provides formation for the youngest members of our body. Every part of our life together at LSC is forming our kids and youth.
Formation doesn’t just happen inside the walls of room 300 over at Cornerstone, although that’s a big part of the equation. Formation happens on a Serve Sunday when our kids are working alongside of the adults towards a project or goal. Formation happens as we pass the peace and greet a child by name. Formation happens when we encourage our students to use their gifts in our midst. Formation happens when families engage in Sabbath practices together, no matter how imperfectly.
There’s a theory that comes out of Fuller Youth Institute that talks about the benefit of intergenerational relationships for our young people. The 5:1 ratio talks about how kids and youth benefit from having 5 adults in their lives invested in them and their formation. This can include teachers, mentors, family friends, Sunday School teachers, or youth leaders. The hope is that beyond their parents, who are obviously invested in their well-being, kids and youth need other adults to be in healthy relationship with them.
I am working on building a team of adults to be the cloud of witnesses for our kids and youth. To teach or support Sunday School, co-lead youth group, be mentors for Affirmation, pray for our kids and students regularly. I’m dreaming of a kids and youth ministry that helps our kids and youth experience warm, welcoming community in a church body that helps them develop a deeply rooted faith, discernment, and habits for a lifelong faith journey. The reality of this dream is that I cannot do it alone.
To end this leadership blog post, here comes my shameless plug in the form of an invitation, consider how you can invest in our kids and youth who are the literal future of the church. I know that working with kids and youth isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay, but investing in our young members can come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. So, be creative – how can you encourage the faith formation of our kids and youth?
Some of you reading this are interested in jumping in and serving, I know it. God’s been tugging at your heart and you’re looking for an entry point. You may be afraid of it a little, you may not know where to start, you may feel unqualified, but you are intrigued by this idea of being a consistent adult in the lives of our awesome kids and youth. Don’t worry, I got you.
I’m planning some training opportunities in early January to get some new people involved with our kids and youth. Or maybe reignite some of us that have previously worked with kids and youth. I will help you find a place to engage, train you, and support you through the process. All you need to do is send me an email saying, “Hey Rev Alicia, I think I’m interested,” And we’ll start the process together.