Faith Formation

Faith formation is central to the ministry of every congregation and to The Ministry Lab’s calling. 

We understand the joys and challenges of creating effective faith formation programs—and we know that many who are tasked with forming faith are flying solo. We stand ready to be your co-pilot!

The Ministry Lab’s support includes:

• Robust and ever-evolving online resources for all ages
• Hard copy resources you can borrow, including books, DVD, curricula and study guides
• Co-Lab Feedback Loop gatherings where you can share with and learn from colleagues

For Leaders

• Jesus was born in a time such as this; Jesus is born for such a time as this. Ministry leaders and whole congregations are invited to join Church Anew for Christ / Christmas / Covid, a free online event featuring engaging and short talks from both world-renowned speakers and emerging voices providing space to grieve and lament, while reclaiming the prophetic hope of this season.
• Keep an eye out for information on our next ConNext Summit. We’re looking for feedback from faith formation leaders on how we can bring you inspiration, affirmation and hope.
• Looking for more? Check out our Leader Development Resources to bolster you and inspire your ministry.

For Children & Families

In these unprecedented times, parents and faith formation leaders are looking for ways to help their young ones process everything that’s happening around them and within them.

PBS Kids for Parents offers stories and advice on raising kind, caring and resilient children, which includes:

• tips on how to talk honestly with children about racism
• book recommendations about race and diversity
• questions to discover your child’s thoughts
• how to talk to your kids about coronavirus and how your kids can de-stress during coronavirus.

Many resources are broken into specific age brackets and include links to videos that support the conversation.

To support in-home social/emotional well-being, we suggest the Sitting Still Like a Frog series, which includes:

• original children’s book, with DVD and parent guide
• 75 Mindfulness Activities for Kids
• Breathe through This: Mindfulness for Parents of Teenagers

Looking for more? Check out our resources for:

• Online/At-home tech helps
• Talking about grief & trauma
• Talking about racism & white supremacy
• Children & family curricula and storytime
• Summer Camps & VBS/Day/Bible School

For Tweens & Teens

Helpful new tools for engaging young people in the topics of our times include:

• The ABC’s of Diversity: Helping Kids (and Ourselves!) Embrace Our Differences by Carolyn B. Helsel, Y. Joy Harris-Smith (Chalice)
• Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color (Broadleaf) by Khristi Lauren Adams
• White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson

To help with online spiritual formation, we recommend d365, an online daily devotion with leading questions that are helpful in journaling and/or for group discussion starters 

Looking for more? Check out our resources for:

• Online and at-home tech ideas
• Talking with tweens/teens about trauma & grief
• Talking with tweens/teens about racism & white supremacy
• Confirmation/affirmation of Baptism curricula
• Mental & spiritual well-being
• Social justice & community engagement
• At-home/family sexuality and gender identity learning

For Young Adults & Adults

Not sure what to discuss with your young adult or adult group? There’s a lot of ground to cover these days!

Let participants decide with Filter:Media. Enter the URL of a news article and the site will analyze the article’s political bias, comparing it to other articles on the same topic. Ask participants to share articles of interest or import to them. If you can get the article ahead of time, you can develop a connection between relevant Scripture or doctrine.

Or, if there’s been a lot of discussion followed by “What do we do, now?” you might engage in some contemplative practices or mindfulness: inner work is essential to changing minds, attitudes and social norms. We suggest:

• 30-Day Journey with Martin Luther King Jr. by Jonathan Chism
• Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe
• The Inner Work of Racial Justice by Rhonda V. Magee
• Mindful of Race by Ruth King

Looking for more? Check out our resources for:

• Racism & white supremacy culture
• Free and subscription small group discussion guides and bible studies

Intergenerational Resources

Need a conversation starter that can span your age-groups? The PC(USA) store has a couple great options:

• Faith questions come in Coffeehouse versions, great for use on Zoom or in socially distanced settings. You pick the topic; they make great conversation starters.
• OR try the guide for Feasting on the Word Curriculum. It helps leaders put together adapted weekly lessons appropriate for children & families, youth or adults.

Looking for more? Check out our resources.