Will our children have faith? How will our children have faith? What role do we play in shaping that faith? What kind of faith will our children have?

Those are some of the questions that have shaped our approach to Youth and Family ministry at St. Luke’s.

Of course, we believe that God is the Creator and giver of faith. That is, we believe that we can no more manufacture faith than we can manufacture rain, or good looks, or bring about our own births. However, we also believe that we have been called by God to make disciples of all nations, to love one another as Christ has loved us, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world—which seems to imply that we are somehow directly involved in faith development. So, what is our role?

Historically, in our country, religious education has followed the nature of public education. With the development of Sunday School way back in our nation’s early history, we have come to heavily rely on the “professionals” to teach the faith. The problem is that public education trains our children five days a week, 9 months a year. Sunday School, at best, is only 1 hour a week, 9 months a year. The question then becomes, how much can our children learn about faith? And how will they understand the importance of faith in relationship to Math … or Science … or Spelling?

Make no mistake, Math, Science, Spelling, etc. are good things … important things … and so is the educational process our country has developed to provide education for all children. Yet, we need to somehow shape “faith lives” within that context. So how do we do that?

We do that by teaching faith foundations within the context of Math, Science, and Spelling. That is, we do that by connecting the gift of life and the gift of faith with the realities of the world in which we live. Faith isn’t simply a piece of our life’s puzzle … it is the structure that provides space for the pieces.

Understanding that, our approach to youth and Family ministry is to provide faith life opportunities for children of all ages as well as their families to help each of them learn and understand how God is at work in the world and at work in their lives. Everyday opportunities exist to see more clearly the interconnectedness of God and the world. Our goal is to help people of all ages identify those possibilities as they continue to exist and grow in God’s grace.

Therefore, our programming includes faith life experiences in education, worship, fellowship, and service for families, for parents, and for children of all ages.

As we equip parents for the ministry of teaching the faith, as we impart faith wisdom to our children, as we live together in community, it is our hope that we at least begin to experience the fullness of living life in Christ.

2008 Scholarship recipients

Pastor Heather's Trip to the Holy Land

Holy Land Pastor Renewal blog
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