Transformation Stories

The Youth & Family Institute works with thousands of individuals and organizations each year, empowering

individuals to pass on faith and equipping congregations to develop a solid foundation for nurturing ongoing

faith formation.

Listed below are stories of how lives and ministries have been transformed as a result of implementing the

6-5-4-3 ministry framework into the fabric of home and congregational life.


	Greg Williams shares . . . "On Reformation Sunday we celebrated Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) for several youth. They are asked to select a favorite passage of Scripture. In a conference with a pastor prior to this, they share with the pastor why they selected that particular passage - what made it special to them in their faith journey. They recite the passage to the congregation during worship when they are confirmed.
During my sermon on this occasion, I shared some meaningful passages of Scripture from my journey with the congregation. I concluded by inviting them, over lunch, to share and discuss passages that were especially meaningful to them. Or, if they were dining alone, to call or email their children or grandchildren and share their passages and stories. The following week, one couple shared that they had in fact done what I had asked them to do. They had emailed their grandchildren AND they had asked the grandchildren, in turn, to also share their favorite Scripture passage and why it was meaningful. Within an hour that Sunday afternoon, they had replies from all but two. Before the evening ended, those last two had also responded."
Greg also shared . . . We are thriving congregation in a growing retirement area. We are richly blessed with experienced disciples. We are striving to become thriving with younger disciples also. As part of our strategic planning process and implementation, we hosted Dr. David Anderson for a "Passing on Faith" conference for the congregation. This initiated additional intentionality for ministries and hospitality aimed at children, youth, and younger families. Some ministries we implemented include: "Taking Faith Home" Sunday handouts; "Christian Parenting" Sunday School class; monthly Passing on Faith workshops for parents of younger children; utilizing the 5-4-3 language in publications and worship. Several months into this, a member shared that on this Sunday, he and his wife - separately - had each introduced themselves and welcomed two different young families. They each asked "What brought you to Grace?" Both said, "We came back and are planning to join because this place values children and that's what we want." One even noted how they had visited other congregations with much larger children & youth ministries. As pastor, my heart leaped within me to hear that already, early in this developing ministry, the Spirit was working and touching lives of parents who want the partnership of a church family in passing on faith in Jesus Christ to their children.

	Jan Wege shares . . .
	"After the service last Wednesday I purchased the "Faith Talk with children" packet for my grandson Hayden. {As the pastor's at St. Luke's know, Hayden is NOT a shy four year old.} Last evening I took Kristen and Hayden out for dinner for Kris's birthday at Maggianos in Edina. As we left the house, I thought...."I think I'll grab the "Faith Talk with children", and take it along. When we got to the restaurant it was quite full, so while we were sitting in our booth and waiting for dinner, I pulled out the packet for Hayden. Well, I must tell you that the next 45 minutes just flew by, and we had the most wonderful discussions with a four year old that you would never imagine. There were times we were all laughing so hard, and there were times that Haydens answers to his questions brought us to tears. When our dinner was being served, Hayden said, "This was the most wonderful and best game I ever played"! So....out of the mouth of babes! What a great way to create memories by just talking with your family in wonderful open discussion."

David Anderson, Director of Congregational Renewal and Leadership, was teaching TYFI 6-5-4-3 ministry framework to a group of confirmation parents on a Wednesday evening. The following morning he discovered an e-mail from the pastor of that congregation. The e-mail message simply stated, "Wow!"

Below was the message forwarded from one of the mothers in the parent group from the evening before. Obviously, for that mother, something clicked in a positive way.

Good morning. I'm not even sure where to start so please bear with me. This is very hard for me to do but I feel that I owe it to my kids to do what I can. The discussions we had last night hit very close to home with me. It made me realize that I have failed my kids as far as helping them with their faith. I grew up in the congregation and went through Sunday school and confirmation and thought I did my part. I went away to college and lost touch with the church. Then when I was 20 my mother died of cancer. I was so angry with God that you can't even imagine. At that time I turned my back on God and have not been able to find my way back to the church. Several years ago I wanted badly to find my way but was in a relationship with a married man and figured I didn't belong in a church. So I thought I was doing right by my kids as long as I got them to Sunday School and Confirmation. I now realize how very wrong I was. I hope all of this doesn't sound like I've flipped my lid. I have made great changes in my life and want to find my way back to God. I just don't know how to go about it. I want to be able to be an example for my kids and help them to have a relationship with God. Can you help me?

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