Relational - thoughts by Lorie Hughes
Posted: Tue, 2011-04-05 20:11
How do we encourage and support people seeking a deeper relationship with Christ?
Everything we do in Christian education has the goal of helping people develop a deeper relationship with Christ. We do this by centering our teachings on faith building through Bible stories, working on key practices such as prayer and worship, experiencing faith milestones and other milestones in our lives through the lens of Christ, teaching the Four Keys for nurturing faith (caring conversation, devotions, service, traditions and rituals), and the very essential work of developing relationships among God’s people.
How do we foster the development of relationships among God’s people within our programs?
Our faith is all about relationships. Christian education is all about relationships. The accepted saying is “Faith is caught more than it is taught.” In the context of Christian education settings we strive to have authentic relationships so the seeds of faith can develop. Another accepted saying is “Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” David Anderson from Vibrant Faith Ministries stresses again and again that “faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal trusted relationships – often in our own homes.” In our Christian education settings we can foster relationships among God’s people by providing programs that include multiple generations, equip families to pass on the faith, help people to interact with each other, help people see how their faith applies to daily life, encourage service, and more.
Our faith is all about relationships. Christian education is all about relationships. The accepted saying is “Faith is caught more than it is taught.” In the context of Christian education settings we strive to have authentic relationships so the seeds of faith can develop. Another accepted saying is “Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” David Anderson from Vibrant Faith Ministries stresses again and again that “faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal trusted relationships – often in our own homes.” In our Christian education settings we can foster relationships among God’s people by providing programs that include multiple generations, equip families to pass on the faith, help people to interact with each other, help people see how their faith applies to daily life, encourage service, and more.
Do our teachers care about their students?
We presume that all teachers care about their students and feel called to teaching because they love children. Hopefully, this is true 100% of the time. However, teachers are only human, so it is necessary to provide teacher training that helps teachers learn to deal with different concerns that arise. It is also important to help teachers SHOW that they care. The teacher can feel caring, but kids need to interpret the teacher’s actions as caring for the caring to be felt. Teachers can do this “showing” by welcoming each child into the classroom, listening to them, smiling at them, taking an interest in the child’s life, and by being authentic with them.
We presume that all teachers care about their students and feel called to teaching because they love children. Hopefully, this is true 100% of the time. However, teachers are only human, so it is necessary to provide teacher training that helps teachers learn to deal with different concerns that arise. It is also important to help teachers SHOW that they care. The teacher can feel caring, but kids need to interpret the teacher’s actions as caring for the caring to be felt. Teachers can do this “showing” by welcoming each child into the classroom, listening to them, smiling at them, taking an interest in the child’s life, and by being authentic with them.
Do we build a spirit of cooperation and teamwork among our volunteers?
Each group of volunteers for the same cause is like a team. The members of the team are “in this together.” Team members are not isolated individuals. Unfortunately, educators in a Christian setting often feel isolated, so effort needs to be made to foster a team frame of mind. Again, training is a key component here. From the beginning of the year, teachers can be encouraged to work together in their planning and to share any teaching concerns or problems with each other. Our Sunday school team of teachers meets most months for Sunday School Team Connect for a half hour before Sunday school begins. The goal is to help teachers get to know each other, support each other, and share ideas and concerns. We learn so much from each other.
Each group of volunteers for the same cause is like a team. The members of the team are “in this together.” Team members are not isolated individuals. Unfortunately, educators in a Christian setting often feel isolated, so effort needs to be made to foster a team frame of mind. Again, training is a key component here. From the beginning of the year, teachers can be encouraged to work together in their planning and to share any teaching concerns or problems with each other. Our Sunday school team of teachers meets most months for Sunday School Team Connect for a half hour before Sunday school begins. The goal is to help teachers get to know each other, support each other, and share ideas and concerns. We learn so much from each other.