G.I.F.T.:  A Perspective on Faith Formation

Faith formation is a communal endeavour.   It may include specific ministry efforts targeted at individuals, families and age-groupings, but in essence is an outcome of the cross-generational people of God living and growing in faith together.  Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through immersion in a dynamic ecology of relationships and practices that is the body of Christ.

I have adopted the acronym “G.I.F.T.” to summarize this understanding or perspective on faith formation.  GIFT stands for” 

Growing In Faith Together

The Christian life is a dynamic, communal journey with and into Christ.  Persons grow in faith through encountering and receiving Christ in one another, in and through their faith communities.

 Generations, Individuals and Families Together

Passing on of the Christian faith involves a partnership of generations, individuals and families within the Christian congregation.

Gospel-Inspired Faith and Trust

Ultimately, the Christian faith and its effective practice and communication is not about what we do, but about what God does in and through us.  In all of our life and ministry together, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is central.  The Gospel is not only news of God’s salvation of us through Christ, but is the effective power of God for creating and sustaining faith (see 1 Rom. 1:6; Cor. 1:18; Thess. 1:5).

 Unpacking the GIFT

At the heart of faith formation is God’s gift to us of grace through faith in Christ, and our response in faith as individuals, families and a whole Christian community.  In particular, faith formation involves Celebrating the GIFT of:

Life Together in Christ

Christianity is a communal religion.  While we are saved as individuals, we are at the same time incorporated into the wider body of Christ.  Our continuing growth as individual Christians – whether we are children, youth or adults – involves connection to and participation with Christians of all ages in worship, learning and fellowship.

The Life-Long Baptismal Journey

At the heart of the Christian journey of faith is baptism.  Through baptism, the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ unites persons to his crucifixion and resurrection, giving them the benefits of his saving work and adoption into the family of God.  The Christian life does not progress on from baptism, but involves returning to its gifts and promises again and again.  In other words, baptism inaugurates a life-long journey, which circles back to the font again and again.

When Jesus instituted baptism he connected it directly with teaching and obedience:  “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  (Matt. 28:19-20).  The teaching of which Jesus speaks is not something that involves only children or youth, but persons of all ages.  Similarly, the call to Christian obedience – the practice of the Christian life – involves all baptised persons, from cradle through to grave.

Faith in Family Life

The Scriptures point to and affirm the home as the primary place where the Christian faith is to be taught, learnt and practiced.   When faith is gifted to children in baptism, their families respond to God’s gift by promising to teach the faith to their children and practice the faith as part of the wider church.  Family life itself is also a key arena through which God shapes us as his disciples and calls us to practice discipleship.

The “Faith Family” We are Born into Through Baptism

Through baptism, Christians gain a larger “faith family” that transcends their biological family.  This is the family of the congregation and of the whole people of God.  While God’s plan is for the home to be a key place of faith nurture, no home is able to pass on the faith alone!  Home and the larger “faith family” are called into partnership with one another.  Children, youth and young adults need mature non-parent adult faith mentors and connections with the wider Christian community in order to grow in baptismal faith.

Generations Learning and Growing Together

It is interesting to note that nowhere the Scriptures speak of age-specific ministry!  While age-specific ministry (e.g. children’s or youth ministry; seniors ministry) has clear benefits, growth and learning in faith is ultimately a cross-generational endeavour.  God gathers together persons from all generations into the church in order that they might share with, minister to and learn from one another.  Seniors, for example, are blessed through the simple faith of children, even as children learn from seniors that faith involves a life-long journey with Christ.

Implications of GIFT for Congregational Ministry

Because the home is the primary place of faith practice and nurture …

• Congregational ministry seeks to support parents, grandparents and godparents to practice the faith in and through their homes, and to teach the faith to youth and children.
• In particular, congregational ministry seeks to aid parents to fulfil the promises made around the font, i.e., to raise their children in the church and teach them the basics of the Christian faith.
• Congregational ministry seeks to enrich family life (in all its various configurations) and tend Christian marriages.
• Congregational ministry aims to help families and family members explore their particular callings as part of the overall church and its mission in the world. 

Because the whole congregation is the “curriculum” for passing on the faith …

• Congregational ministry seeks to bring together persons of faith from different generations for mutual conversation, service, sharing and learning.
• Congregational ministry aims to provide children, youth and young adults with multiple adult faith mentors.
• Congregational ministry seeks to supplement age-specific programming with cross-generational interaction and learning.
• Congregational ministry aims to help persons of all ages continually grow in discipleship, so that they can be effective mentors in faith to one another. 

Because baptismal faith is passed on by being “practiced” together in home and congregation …

• Congregational ministry aims to help individuals and families integrate the “Four Keys” into their daily lives:  Caring Conversation, Faith Rituals & Traditions, Service and Devotional Practices.
• Congregational ministry seeks to model and promote the use of the “Four Keys” through worship, education, community life and pastoral care. 

Because to pass on the faith we need all generations learning and growing in Christ ...

• Congregational ministry aims to develop a life-long learning path for members of the congregation, spanning across different parts of the life-cycle.
• Congregational ministry aims to help persons at different ages and stages consider their calling and role in passing on the faith to others.