Growing Deep Devotion #10

3.2 Nurturing Faith
The second descriptor for leading the team is nurturing faith.  This descriptor involves providing opportunities for the spiritual formation of others appropriate to their spiritual journey. It includes demonstrating a commitment to one’s personal faith journey, leading the school community in faith, reaching out to the wider community to build faith and deepen their understanding of Lutheran beliefs and values. It also includes creating an environment where Christian spiritual reflection and formation are valued and strongly encouraged.
 
Devotion:
The Apostle Peter is his letter to the early Christians in Asia Minor[1] who were experiencing persecution penned the following words which also impact how we nurture faith in our school communities; Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.[2]
 
How do we encourage the nurturing of faith or spiritual growth in our early learning centres, schools and colleges? You might think I am not a pastor, a chaplain, a Christian studies teacher, I am not a regular churchgoer, I not a person of great faith, that’s not really my thing. But we are all part of the Christian community present in our school, so we all have a part to play in being formed in faith and influencing others to grow spiritually. Whether we are strong in our Christian identity or not we all impact and influence other people, either positively or negatively. The spiritual values and beliefs we model have an impact on others.

Reflecting on your own spiritual journey, how comfortable are you in talking about your faith, your spirituality to others? Many people find it hard to talk about their faith for a variety of reasons. They don’t have the language, the background or the confidence. The advantage of teaching in a Lutheran School is that we are all on a spiritual journey through life, growing in our knowledge of the Bible, God, and the teachings of the Church together. We are not doing this alone, we are part of a community which welcomes the growth and grace that comes from questioning together; where are we and where is God in this?
 
Check out this list of seven “ush” words below. Seven reasons why people find it hard to talk about their faith. 
 
1)  Blush  (it’s too personal or private)
2)  Hush  (I wouldn’t really know what to say)
3)  Rush  (I would struggle to find the time)
4)  Push  (I don’t have a right to force my faith on anybody else)
5)  Gush  (I wouldn’t feel able to speak intelligently about my faith)
6)  Mush  (my own faith feels confused or unclear)
7)  Crush  (I’m worried or scared how people might respond)[3]
 
Activity:

• Check out the above list of seven “ush” words. Are there any of these reasons you empathise with?
• What would have to change in your life for these “ushes” not to be a concern or a barrier for staff in your school?

 
Prayer:
Gracious God, help me to take time out to reflect on my own faith journey. Encourage me to engage in those spiritual practices like prayer and worship which will grow me closer to you. Give me the grace to live out my faith in my school community and when the opportunity arises to share my faith. Teach me, Lord, that you are with me in a very real way in all the ordinariness of life, of work and of family. Bless me with your presence, Jesus, as you bless others through me. Amen.

[1] Modern day Turkey
[2] 1 Peter 3:15
[3] From the resource “Faith Pictures” which is produced by the Church Army UK, Getting started, Session 1,  Leader’s Notes, http://www.faithpictures.org