From time to time I get mail that's rather affirming. Like this one that came from the Northwest District of the LCMS's new youth newsletter:
"At Grace Lutheran, Pocatello, Idaho, we are in our second year of using Faith
Inkubators Head to Heart Confirmation. It is a great system that has enhanced our
Junior High ministry by blending confirmation and youth group into one focus area.
When we started H2H, we grew from 12 to 55 students. Part of the growth was due
to the change from lecture-based confirmation to a nontraditional interactive event.
Most of the growth occurred due to a restructuring of students. Instead of having a
lone-ranger students, we put kids into small groups.
A small group consists of 3-6 kids and a small group Guide. This small group is
together for the confirmation year. At Grace, we chose to separate the kids by grade
and gender.
"Every Sunday night (that’s when we have confirmation), there is a time for small
groups to come together to discuss the learning theme for the evening. This is critical
to learning. In a large group, some students are afraid to ask a question when they
don’t understand a concept. In a small group, those students can comfortably ask
their small group Guide a question because they feel safe and secure by the friends
that surround them. In a large group, some students can take over all discussion
because they have an exuberant personality. In a small group, a Guide can control
that behavior, but more than that, the small group can control that student by
stopping the behavior.
"Kids become accountable to each other and they learn, over the course of time,
how to pray for one another. Each week the students share the good and bad things
that have happened over the last week. In the beginning, the “highs and lows” are
silly and small, but by the end of the year, students are sharing real feelings because
they know they have a small group and Guide that truly cares about them.
Rich Melheim points out in his explanation of the Head to Heart System, “Most
churches are popping their buttons if 25% of their juniors and seniors are regularly
active in worship, service, and fellowship. That’s another way of saying we’re
pleased if we only lose three-fourths of our kids.” If 75% of kids are not coming
back to church right after they have made their commitment to God, then something
is wrong.
"There is never a perfect answer, but I think small groups help. Small groups bond
the kids together. Small groups build a community that will grow from Junior High
ministry to a significant Senior High ministry. Youth want and need to know that
they are valued; this is just one way to encourage them in their faith."