Perspective “It’s a relational experience, unlike traditional wor-


ship, which can be passive and unengaging,” Spencer said. Like Faith, Trinity uses Faith Inkubators’ Bible Song


curriculum. “It has revitalized the congregation,” Spencer said.


“Instead of three or four kids in Sunday school, we average 15 to 25 people per Sunday. It fl ips Sunday school on its head. It has empowered our lay and young people. It has been exciting to see them take ownership of the service.”


Congregation conversations Congregations facing decline in Sunday school atten- dance can explore new approaches rather than hold out for success of the Sunday school of bygone days. “I always tell my students there is nothing sacred about Sunday school,” Hymans said. “It has been in existence since the 1780s, and we have been passing on faith from one generation to the next for much longer than that.” Talking with other congregations can help, said


Karen Matthias-Long, associate of the bishop for youth and family ministry, and curator of synodical resources for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. “You can share resources and ideas,” she said. “But be


careful not to replicate what is working in another con- gregation. People will be diff erent and the situation will be diff erent. Rather, look at how you can use resources in a new way and in a new context.” Hess added: “What works in one congregation is not


guaranteed to work in another. People oſt en ask me what curriculum they should be using, and I tell them, ‘I can’t answer that because each congregation is diff erent.’ ” Listening to children can provide valuable insights,


as well. “Don’t be afraid of letting young people in your congregation share their faith in new ways, like using digital portfolios, stories or music videos,” Hess said. “Young people can be incredibly powerful missionaries for the rest of the congregation.” God doesn’t diff erentiate between a child’s baptism


and an adult’s, Spencer said. “We are all equal under God’s eyes. We can learn from each other,” he said. “It isn’t just about adults passing on faith. It provides a sense of humil- ity that kids have things to teach us.” 


Author bio: Novak is a freelance writer and a mem- ber of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Naperville, Ill.


The show is over


Young people now won’t just sit and listen By Richard Melheim


W


e live in a post-television, Internet era—any kid who was a 10- or 12-year-old in 2005 is arguably a diff erent generation than their older brothers


and sisters. In 2005, Internet time surpassed television time for American kids. T e Internet generation mindset is much more


active, engaged and conversational. T ey won’t just sit and watch someone else’s show. We need to provide a much more active and engag-


ing approach to worship and education. But churches continue to use the television model in faith formation: when professionals put on a show, you watch and don’t have any input. You might say that the show is over. Yet most of our


churches are still trying to put on a good show. T ose who do a great show will still have some audience, but it will be smaller and smaller as time goes on. Starting with Johannes Gutenberg and the printing


press, media became the delivery system for informa- tion. Educated, wealthy and literate professionals pro- duced the content. Everyone else consumed whatever was provided. Anyone under 25 today is expecting an entirely diff er-


ent experience when it comes to worship, education and fellowship. And if the church does not provide the form and format they understand and feel most comfortable with, we are going to be saying goodbye to most of the post-television generation. Maybe we already have. What we do in the future has got to be much more


engaging than just sitting in the pew and watching a show up in front.


Faith Inkubators is holding a national “Killing Sunday School/Birthing Cross+Gen Worship” conference in Boulder, Colo., Sept. 29-Oct. 1. For more information, call 888-55-FAITH or 888-430-0762 or visit www.faithink. com.


Author bio: Melheim, an ELCA pastor, is the founder of Faith Inkubators Foundation.


September 2014 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52