Faith Webs are a way of mapping relationships, building community, and transmitting the faith from one generation to the next. I see these faith webs forming and strengthening each Sunday as our POP children run up to trusted adults. These adults pour into the kids and increase their self-worth. Do you know what it does for a child when another adult knows their name, asks them a question, and remembers something from last week’s conversation? The energy and light in their eyes skyrocket. I see it happen when my children open their letters from their Prayer Buddy Pen Pals. These simple examples offer a peek into what it means when a trusted adult cares and shows concern for a child. It has an impact bigger than we can know. You need an example? Think back to your childhood and name an adult who made time for you and valued your presence in their life. We all have those stories and those people. Building a Faith Web is about being intentional with these opportunities. And making these opportunities whenever we can.
Faith Webs are another way to live the old African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Might I add that it takes a village of children to raise an adult too! At least I think this is one to interpret the saying of Jesus “you must have faith like a child”. In a real sense, it means we ought to surround ourselves with children as often as we can. They have so much to teach us—even as we have a great deal to teach them. I often share that I learned just as much about God from my children as I did from my seminary professors. This is the beauty of God’s creation. This is one of the reasons I’m so excited about our newly created Children and Family Ministry Leader position that we are looking forward to filling here at Prince of Peace.
All this is to say that children and forming them in faith is a responsibility that we all bear. And, the faith that children exude rubs off on us each and every time we are all together as a church family. This is what our Family Faith Formation Nights are about. It is our chance for the Prince of Peace Church Family to be formed together in the faith. For three days (June 23rd-25th) our church family will gather in the evenings for food, fellowship, and formation. What does this mean? It means a church family dinner together; time for our children to learn some great bible stories, play some games, and have fun. And a time for adults to fellowship together, for parents to be resourced with a really helpful and easy way to connect with your children, and for the opportunity to get to know one another a little deeper and more fully. On that Friday we will have a big celebration and party. Be on the lookout for more information. We will need some folks who will be willing to help set up, clean up, teach, and love on our kids. These high-impact 3 days will help to form us all a little more into the Image of God that we already bear. Together we can walk closer to Jesus. Together we can build and strengthen our Web of Faith. Together is what we do. So don’t miss out and join us June 23rd-25th.
