Holistic Spiritual Formation With Children-Mimi Keel

Today, I am attending The Apprentice Gathering at Friends University in Wichita.  During the day, I attended a workshop led by Mimi Keel.

Below you will find notes from the workshop:

John Westerhoff in “Will our Children Have Faith?” writes, 
In the formation of children we do four things:
  • We tell and retell God’s story until it becomes our own personal story
  • We participate in the Eucharist and the liturgy
  • We listen and talk to each other about our relationship with God
  • We practice acts of ministry together
Holistic-Relating to the whole, rather than dissection of the parts; whole is greater than the sum of its parts

The Whole Child

Multiple-Intelligence Theory
  • Educational philosophy that is based on developing the whole child
  • Creates environments for the whole child to explore
  • Types of multiple intelligences-Bodily, Verbal, Musical, Naturalist, Interpersonal, Mathematical (Logical), Visual
    • See Handout: Multiple Intelligences and Prayer
    • Video-What intelligences are happening?
The Whole Community

Parents
Primary influence in the life of a child-Deuteronomy 6
It’s not one-sided—we form them and they form us.
Conversation Starter Question

Church
Ivy Beckwith “The simple acts of holding, feeding, and changing babies in the nursery helps the children understand the church is a safe and loving place to be. These simple acts of love are putting building blocks in the foundations of trust these children will need to know the love of God.
Need to feel a part of “big” church. Find ways for them to be a part of corporate worship. Find ways for them to serve.
Robbie Castleman Quote-Parenting in the Pew

School
Classmates and school community and friends

City
What are the needs? 
Our head, heart, and hands are our superpowers.

World
Global awareness, Missionaries & Ministries that your church is involved with

The Whole Church

What might God be up to with our kids in our community at this time?
We did not want propositional or moralizing teaching. 
Introduced to Ivy Beckwith’s Postmodern Children’s Ministry
What do we need to develop a kids ministry what God is up to with our kids in our community at this time? Not copying big churches
Our People
The Word of God and the Holy Spirit
Theology of the Ordinary by Julie Canlis quote
Inspiration (books, art, multiple intelligences, sermon series)
Imaginative Prayer by Jared Patrick Boyd
Vision, Mission, and the Values of Our Church-Avoid silos and disconnected ministries
Mission: We are a community of people following Jesus and learning to live in his ways.
Jacob’s Well Core Commitments: Worship, Hospitality, Creativity, Learning, Justice
Jacob’s Well DNA-Present: God Shows Up, Generous: God Shares, Creative: We risk, Transformation: We are changed, Hope: We act
People-Chemistry, Competency, Character
How about us? See note
Blessing: God made you, God loves you, God blesses you, God is with you

Holistically Designed Formation

Outer Frame-Play
Inside Frame-Relationship, Story, Spiritual Practice
They write their own curriculum from birth to 5th grade
Relationship-It’s huge.  Connect with ice breaker so kids feel known and seen. Kragen structure (education). Things to touch while talking
Story-Everyone is captivated by story.  Trusting Holy Spirit is guiding them. Allow kids to process (questions). Figure out application. Captivate their imagination with the story of God-Ivy Beckwith. Godly play-YouTube, Steven James (Active Play)
Questions-Thin (Who, What, When, Where), Thick (How, I am wondering..., open ended, Why, What if, How would you feel)
2 Questions for each story—Who is God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit? and Who am I? 
Spiritual Practice-See handout. We model with kids.
Sacred Spaces

Holistic Ministry

Phases by Orange
“The best gift you can give to people you lead is a healthy, energized, fully surrendered, focused self. No one else can do that for you.”
 Life Balance Wheel
Investing in your leaders
Blessing for Adults and Children






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon Notes-"Transitional Thoughts"

Introduction: As I was thinking and praying about what to share during my final sermon on staff, I began to think of the transition that I am making as well as the church.   We as pastors have been consistently focused on three priorities over the last several years: prayer, worship and equip.   So, even though I may no longer be on staff in a few weeks at this church, as a member of this church I believe just as strongly that Hesston MB needs to continue to be about these priorities in the days ahead.   However, the more I prayed about it, the more I realized that to get to these priorities, we as a church also had to make some transitions so that is why I am entitling this message “Transitional Thoughts”.   Transition is defined as “the process or an instance of changing from one form, state, activity, or place to another.” Educate to Equip- Ephesians 4:11-16 ·          What is the difference?   o    To educate the focus is information; to equip the focus is transformation o
Read more

You Are Blameless

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Read more