FaithChest® (click here to download plans; click here to download FaithChest® labels to place on FaithChest®)
One way a congregation can support a family in the nurturing of faith in their child is to give each family a FaithChest® at the baptism of the child. The more people from the congregation who work on building FaithChests®, the better it is. Most congregations have people who are skilled and love to work with wood. This could be a mission and ministry project for a group of retired people, a men's fellowship group, a Cursillo reunion group, or a service event. Remember to train and use teenagers also.
Each child should receive a FaithChest® at the baptism. The FaithChest® is used to keep all the resources for nurturing faith at various milestones in this young persons life. When the child has grown through adolescence and is ready to move out from home, the young adult will take the FaithChest® which is full of resources for nurturing faith in the home.
We suggest that the family store the baptismal candle, certificate, napkin, copy of the worship service, dress, small photo album of the baptism, and perhaps a video of the baptism or a family celebration of the anniversary of the baptism in the FaithChest®.
The FaithChest® can be used as a devotional center or altar in the child's room or wherever it is placed in the home. The devotional resources can be stored in the FaithChest®. Several congregations have begun giving a FaithChest® at confirmation to each of the confirmands. The family works with the confirmand and go back to their baptism and add photos, documents, letters, from parents, godparents, and the congregation. This is another excellent time to give a FaithChest®.
The concept of the FaithChest® was developed by Drs. Roland Martinson, David Anderson, and Dick Hardel for the Child In Our Hands Initiativee which provides a process for tending the baptismal journey of a person from pre-birth to the grave, partnering home and congregation in nurturing faith. The congregation can support the family of the baptized child further by developing A SplashedWith Promise Baptismal Journey Kit made up of resources suggested in the FaithLife in the Home Resource Guide developed by our Institute to assist godparents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and parents in purchasing family friendly, theologically solid resources to nurture faith in the child at a specific milestone in the child's life.
We have included the FaithChest plans designed by Jan Gunderson for you to download and use. He builds these FaithChests for Ezekiel Lutheran Church in River Falls, WI. You may wish to call one or more of the churches below to learn how they are building or using the FaithChests®:
Ezekiel Lutheran Church River Falls, WI (715) 425-8294
Advent Lutheran Church Calgary, Alberta Canada (403) 239-6966
St. James Lutheran Church Crystal, MN (763) 537-3653
First Lutheran Church Blooming Prairie, MN (507) 583-6621
Minnetonka Lutheran Church Minnetonka, MN (612) 935-3419
Stallsville United Methodist Church Summerville, SC (843) 875-7050
First Lutheran Church Pipestone, MN (507) 825-5837 - uses a decorated plastic container
Faith Lutheran Church Phoenix, AZ (602) 265-3394 - uses Ace Hardware toolbox as a FaithChest.
Zion Lutheran Church North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada rhaugen@sk.sympatico.ca; http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/zinuth |
