The Melheimian Sabbatiblog

More Faith Stepping Stones Beta Testing Feedback

Rich,

I am so glad to get the Beta for the Faith Stepping Stones. It is worth the wait to get something so comprehensive. I took a day to look over the 3 sessions and interact with the material. Here are my observations:

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Having everything computer and power point ready is the best way for me to have curriculum these days. This gives me the control and the ability to adjust as needed.

The Power Point is great, a step above with the sound mixed in with the visuals.

I understand why the song is in three different spots in the PP presentation. I like the option of when and how to use it.

The songs “Train Children” and “As for Me” are great. Very useable. No Greater Joy was disappointing, the tune and presentation both missed what the other two songs had, in my opinion.

All the instrumental pieces were nice to have over the power point. If people don’t want to use it they don’t have to have the audio active.

I liked that you gave us the music for doing in worship. It will be nice to have for our musicians.

The ending blessing song is the best. I love it and hope it because a regular in the homes of our families.

The developmental stuff was great. I really appreciated that you focused on essentials and things that parents could reinforce.

The handout for guests are top quality. It will forces us to print them in color, but that is a good thing so the parents may hold onto the materials.

The list of resources in the quest pages is great.

I liked the way you had the quiz introduce the concepts that would be taught and the terms reinforced it all.

I found all three Stones to be great. The break down into three sessions is long enough to build some relationships among participates, but not too long to hold them for the whole stone.

The ease in handing this off to volunteers is great.

That fact that these first three steps have had so little attention or support from congregations to families open up ministry to whole new people, those who often we ignored until Sunday School age. This stuff is a blessing to the families. I wish we had had this when are kids were little.

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I could continue to praise the material in detail, but instead I will tell you that it lives up to what I had hoped it would be. I have been using the overview for a year to give people a vision of what we can do and what this curriculum will be. You have not disappointed me.

We are planning to run a post-Easter offering of Step 1 and hopefully step 2. Maybe in July we will try Step 3. If the experiences go as I believe they will, this will become a foundational piece in our faith formation curriculum.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to any of the training sessions this winter or early spring. If you want to do on in the Northwest, we would love to host it for you.

By God’s grace alone,
David Greenlee
Edmonds Lynnwood Parish

Chief Creative Officer

Hey FINKS,

To paraphrase Mark Twain: “The reports of my ‘retirement’ have been greatly exaggerated.”. Let me explain…

Those who know me know that my passion (and admittedly, my gifts) lie squarely on “creating”…and somewhat less on “managing and implementing”. However, for the last few years, I have had TWO full-time jobs: creating the vision and the processes that allow our ministry to bring the Lord into the daily lives of more and more families (which I love) and managing the day-to-day things required to keep the “business” of Faith Inkubators going and growing (which I don’t love to do quite as much).

In order to focus exclusively on the “creating” side, I assumed the role of chief creative officer on January 1, 2004. Faith Inkubators COO Patrick Patterson has been named CEO, and Brad Lynch has been hired as the new COO. This move frees me to get back to doing that which I love (i.e., creating)…and delegates the “business” of Faith Inkubators to two creative guys who have also been blessed by God with the gifts, experience, and passion for the business aspects of ministry. We chose to make these organizational moves now simply to allow us all time to adapt before I leave on my year-long Sabbatical in Colorado in June.

I am really looking forward to Sabbatical. In addition to being able to focus my energies on the future of FINK, I plan to bring to long overdue closure several outstanding projects. I will draw cartoons for our new Bible Song Sunday School for three months, then finish “The Fifth Church” (www.fifthchurch.org). Maybe even write a sequel to Unfinished Business if there’s any time left. I will return to Stillwater in June 2005 as FINK’s Chief Creative Officer (since everyone needs a title), focusing on Research & Development.

I will also be continuing to build our new non-profit youth arts foundation, the Faith Inkubators Endowment, out of the Lutheran Community Foundation. This entity will award scholarships to young musicians, artists, videographers and writers for creating worship arts for their own churches. It will also provide sabbatical funds to pastors, teachers and thinkers who want to focus on parent-involved faith incubation systems. (Keep checking www.faithink.com for the latest information on the Faith Inkubators Endowment.)

Blessings, blessings, blessings!

Rich

More First Impressions from St. Paul's Lutheran in Fulton, MD

Rich:

My first impression was: Hey, they finally made something even the not-terribly-computer-literate can use! I was pleased and very relieved to see the Adobe print version of all the stuff – and then some – that we saw in Power Point. I was able to get a better overview from the print material, and felt that we would be able to actually use this program even if we can’t round up an entire posse of technocrats. There are even low-tech options for the games. Thank you!

I also liked the gruesome and gory detail outline for planning sessions. I think volunteers will be easier to come by if they’re given clear ideas of how to proceed; what and whom they will need; and the option of low-versus high tech. Frankly, the CD has allayed some of my concerns that we were biting off way more than we could chew by trying this program out.

I cannot speak to the technical aspects of the CD because I am very new to stuff like Power Point, etc. I do wish that, as I went through the numbered “slides” on the left side of the screen, there had been some mini-description of what was on each one – a title, a phrase, something. When there are 99 frames, it would be nice to not have to whip through 45 of them to find the one you’re looking for!

We will probably inaugurate our FSS program this fall, so we won’t be able to do a test run by August 31, probably. I would appreciate some sense of what resources we will need to order; how much they will run; what licensing fees there might be; etc. This will not only help us plan a successful Stepping Stone event, it will also help our Youth and Family Ministry Team to properly propose a realistic budget in upcoming years as we (hopefully|) expand this program to the other Stepping Stones. Right now we are very literally in the dark about the financial outlay for one, much less 8, units of material!

We hope to have several folks at the March event, especially with your generously discounted registration plan. Incentives are good; incentives are our friends. Seriously, I can see how you have taken to heart the wisdom in that book, “The Experience Economy!”

Hope this feedback is helpful. We look forward to previewing the next CD-ROM.

In Christ,

Rev. Cathy Ammlung
Interim Associate Pastor
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Fulton, MD

Stepping Stones 1-3 Beta - A User Evaluation

Rich:

After Debbie Bennett and I looked in greater detail at the CD-ROM of the FSS
1-3, we did come up with some additional observations.

1. Where are the actual blessing liturgies located on the CD-ROM? We looked
everywhere we could think of, and couldn't find them. Debbie did get a
photocopy of them, but the reproduction isn't very good. Probably a copy of a
copy!

2. Which leads to the major critique: It would be very helpful if the CD-ROM
had a real table of contents; so on, say, an opening screen you'd see listed
every major sectiion (FSS 1, Print Version; FINK Resources; etc.) and under
each of those major headings you'd have, in essence, another table of
contents listing what's in there. For example, under the major "first-page"
heading of FINK Resources, you could just import the table of contents from
the manual itself, to the CD-ROM's major Table of Contents page.. That would
eliminate a lot of the "search for where the $%^# something might be"
moments! We could have simply scanned the Table of Contents page and either
located the exact place we should go next to find the blessing rites, for
example, or we'd have discovered in moments rather than many minutes that it
evidently (?) isn't in there!

3. We weren't sure why the Head To Heart material, and even the main FINK
training manual, were in the FSS material - mostly because what we were
especially interested in, which was recruiting and training leaders for FSS,
didn't seem to be in there; what we saw seemed geared to getting guides for
the Confirmation material instead. Is there a "Getting and training FSS
Leaders" manual hidden in the 110 pages somewhere, or is there one in the
works? This was a case of Too Much Information, and it made it difficult and
discouraging to find what we really needed for this particualr project.
Granted, some of the FINK manual stuff is going to be useful as background,
and some of it may be easily adaptable; but given the excellence of the
individual FSS session materials, I was a little sorry that there wasn't
something equally specific, "on task," and clear with respect to the "behind
the scenes" stuff. If some of that FINK manual IS specifically written to
help recruit and retain FSS leaders, could it be highlighted, excerpted, or
something, to make it more obvious for dimbulbs like me?

4. As we advertise and talk up FSS, we'd like to incorporate a bit of the
introductory material - such as the "overview" page that describes the goals
of each stone, or one of the brief summaries of the goals of FSS - into our
newsletter, bulletin, website, posters, etc. What material may we use? What
may we NOT use in such formats? What attestation would be considered
appropriate? We really want to launch the first Stone this summer - and yes,
Debbie skis so that promise of Colorado is alluring! You really did take that
book "The Experience Economy" to heart, didn't you? :-D

Anyhow, we are eager to move ahead with this, and are trying to figure out
the best way of getting and training (or at least giving recruits exactlythe
resources they need to lead one or more segments of the first stone) leaders.
Onward and upward!

Pastor Cathy Ammlung
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Fulton, MD

Stepping Stone #1 - A User Evaluation

We’re starting to get some preliminary feedback on the prototype versions of Faith Stepping Stones 1 – 3. Here’s a sampling of what some of our 180 test sites are telling us about the resource.
Rich

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To Rich Melheim:

Thank you for the opportunity to review your program. I am very excited
about implementing it, as our congregation has a large number of young
families and this program is a perfect way to get more families involved in
the word because it offers a ministry that fits their daily needs as
parents. As per our agreement, I looked over the Beta version of Stones 1-3
for review, testing and feedback. Here are my suggestions:

After reading the premise for FSS #1 I have two comments and some questions.
It might be wise to list how old the baby can be, for parents to sign up for
the course. (The terms in “who owns it” like babies, like preschoolers, like
the kindergarten age” are too vague, parents want specific ages.) Try
something like, SS#1 is for newborns to 1& ½ years of age) #2 It would be
helpful to offer suggestions as to how to get members of the congregation to
sign up as a teacher/leader. I am sure you know how difficult it is to get
volunteers, so do you know of any type of “carrot” that can be used to get
their interest? (You offer baby sitting incentives for participants, so what
can we offer the leaders?) Also in our area, we can advertise something ten
ways to Sunday, but the only way people respond is if you contact them
directly. Is there a way to target people in the community other than fliers
and newspaper articles? (Do you have a format for telemarketing?) Pivot

How are hand prints added?

I suggest that you label each document with “user friendly” language. For
example: FSS SYSTEM SECTION should be labeled “BRIEF PREVIEW OF THE 8 FSS
SECTIONS” FINK GUIDE MANUAL should be labeled “A STEP BY STEP APPROACH TO
CREATING A LEADERSHIP TEAM” There should be another section entitled “HOW TO
IMPLEMENT A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM”

My overall view of this program is that the FSS SYSTEM SECTION is too
limited. I know that you shortened the original to the 36 pages that I
looked at, but you need to be more descriptive. Church members might be
interested in leading a FSS but they might not have the time to come up with
their own ideas as to how to put it together. I believe you should offer
several models that include approximate times allotted for each section of
one model. For example in FFS #1, you say on one page, “During Session 1,
parents learn about the physical and developmental needs of an infant” Okay
give us resources on what those needs are to be. I looked over the pages
expecting to find a step by step program (that with a little training,
anyone could use to create a class) instead all you list is a brief outline.
“Opening Music, Ice-breakers, game show based on infant development, plus a
short prayer.” There are to be 3 1 & ½ hour sessions, so you should offer 3
1 & ½ course descriptions that offer a main body and several options for
each class. Again, if you expect members to become leaders, you have to help
them by giving them as much information as you can, so all they really have
to do is study the preparation sheet, and then teach.

Also do not lump the three days involved for teaching FFS #1 together.
Instead, section it out for easy reading. Call the first section, “FSS #1
leaders guide-DAY ONE” and then outline one 3 & ½ hour course. Add another
section and call it “FSS #1 leaders guide DAY TWO”. The more user-friendly
this study appears, the easier it will be for we pastors and church leaders
to get others involved.

As for the recruiting and training manual, you offer way too much
information. If we tried to implement every section in there, we would be
putting off FSS for another year. I agree there might be people who would
like to take this slow, maybe recruit and train for the first year, and then
implement FSS for the second year, but other congregations might like to try
and get the ball rolling ASAP. So why not offer two manuals, keep what you
have but also create a simpler approach. Start with an outline and do what
you did in the FSS SYSTEM SECTION by offering brief descriptions and a few
“how to implement” pages (only please make sure that you include enough
information so that no needed skill or study is lacking)

What is the average time to implement the training for group leaders?

From the moment a church gets this packet, how long should it normally take
to get things rolling. Help the leaders in the church by giving them target
dates. For example say, “We estimate that it should take one person, three
weeks to preview our studies, and gather several more to discuss and pray
over the studies. We estimate another 2 weeks to gather a group of leaders
willing to take on the challenge of leading a FSS. We estimate training for
those leaders to last another six weeks.” Also it would be wise to suggest
overall how long it should take from the day you get the entire course, to
the day you begin to implement it. I did appreciate the FSS calendar on page
29. Why not do the same thing to implement my suggestion?

Overall, if you offer a simplistic outline followed by more detailed
instructions, I feel you won’t scare off possible leaders.

Also we have our own confirmation set up that is very, very successful. I
would have liked to see something written up about how to implement this
program around your own confirmation system.

Pastor Douglas W. Koehler
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Ridgewood NJ

WMD or TMD?

TMD (terry@tmarksdesign.com) just sent me a bottle of bubbly and congrats on the "retirement" from the CEO to CCO (cheif creative officer) role at Faith Ink. Terry is a class act. Check him out and email him, asking if you also can have champaigne when you retire. Tell him Melheim sent you. His logo (simul justis et peccator) is included in the art to the right.

In other news, Arlyce and I are off for Puerto Rico for a week, prior to my teaching Faith Stepping Stones in Napa, CA, next week and speaking at the Youth Quake in Modesto. We're hooking up with six high school youth group friends who grew up together at Our Redeemers in Williston, ND. Aside from the fact that five clergy are included in the group and the temp rarely reaches below 65, we'll try to enjoy ourselves and plot the future of the church on the golf course.

If I am able to blog from Puerto Rico, I'll send some photos. If not, I'm out until Feb. 2. Leave a note if you wish. We'll leave the light on for you.

rich

Len Sweet

Rich:

I love the Sabbatical blog. Great idea. And great execution.

The word "retire" used in conjunction with your name just doesn't work somehow.

Still in One Peace,

len sweet

Len,

Thanks for the encouragement. Yeah, retire may not be the right word.

Just going under ground for a while to see where the church may be going.

If you decide to do a blog, I’ll connect straight to it instead of your regular site.

Let me know.

Rich

Teen Brains & FSS

Rich-

How are you? I am excited to let you know of my Children's committee's decision to pursue FSS. Now I need your help! Where to next? You sent me the CD with the first three stones which I had looked at before. I understand your system fairly well but want to know if there are new things I should be aware of or a new approach to this particular venture. I do not have any infants in the church but thought about opening this up to the community, what are your thoughts on that? This is a great church to be in. One lady on the committee talked with you during the interview process for me and fell in love with your system so I know she is on board.

I am also continuing to read about brain research and ran across a book you might be interested in. "The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries About the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids" by Barbara Straunch. Another resource is What Makes You Tick?: The Brain in Plain English by Thomas B. Czerner. If you have already read these let me hear your feedback. If not, we can dialogue later.

Jon
JONMESSER@VBMB.ORG

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

The Power of Context

(Rich’s Note: Here’s a book that’s worth a read if you’re getting ready to launch a revolution or change a church)

The basic tenant of the book is, when it comes to epidemics, a tiny percentage of people do the majority of the work. When it comes to making a change happen (at your church) you are not looking for everybody to get on board at first. You are looking for a few exceptional people energetic, knowledgeable, influential among peers.

The Law of the Few: One exceptional person, through social connections, energy and enthusiasm and personality, spreads the word. Word of mouth is perhaps the only kind of advertising most people respond to anymore. The only reason you’ll spend big bucks at a big buck restaurant is if a friend recommends it. The only reason they’ll come to your church, commit to a day at a conference (and spend a day of their most valuable currency – time), or even give you a chance is if a friend recommends it. (It’s the “Peter and Andrew Principle” as opposed to the “Peter Principle.”)

According to Gladwell, when it comes to starting an epidemic, there are only three kinds of people who matter.

1. Connectors: Six degrees of separation doesn’t mean everyone is linked to everyone else in just six steps. It means that a very small number of people are linked to everyone else in a few steps, and the rest of us are linked to the world through those special few. Your social circle is not a circle, but in reality, a pyramid. At the top of the pyramid is one or two people who are responsible for connecting you to all the rest. Your social circle is not yours. It belongs to one or two connectors. It’s more like a club that the connector invites you to join. People with a special gift for bringing others together are Connectors. A Connector knows lots of people. Between 20 and 40 the number of people you know roughly doubles. There are a small group of truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances. They are Connectors.

2. Mavens are the influencers. When they talk, people listen.

3. Sales People know how to get people to sign on the line, make a commitment. You need all three types if you’re going to reach a tipping point.

The Stickiness Factor means that a message makes an impact. You can’t get it out of your head. It stiiiiccccks in your memory. Stickiness is a critical component in tipping. Unless you can remember what I tell you, why would you go out and do what I suggest?

(Note: You can find a link to this book on the left-side of the page.)

Animation

We spent Friday with Gary Meyer and his crew at Wet Cement Productions (wetcementproductions.com). They have 14 animators, an amazing process for rendering art into cartoons, 36 new 10 minute cartoons on responsibility, respect, morality, etc., and a wonderful spirit.

Check out their website if you get a chance. We may be working with them on some creative interruptions in the future.

Rich