Our church has a vibrant, 2-year Confirmation program for 7th
and 8th grade students where they study the Old and New Testaments
as well as a smattering of church history and basic theology. It’s become a BIG part of our youth program
and an extremely positive experience for the students. So much so that students have actually
cited Confirmation as one of the highlights of their faith journey. I’m not making this up.
A few weeks ago I was having a great chat with a parent of a
9th grade student about the strength of the Confirmation program,
but lack of any follow up course of study.
It got me thinking quite a bit because...he was right! We are doing
a great job bringing up kids in the church, teaching them the Bible, and then
right when they get to the age where the faith needs to sink in at a deeper
level or their faith may be sunk, we sort of leave them to fend for themselves.
So…With the success of the program, and following this
conversation, it’s left me asking the question, “What’s after
Confirmation?” For two years
students are showing up every Wednesday night, skipping sports and other
commitments, to be a part of a class that studies the Bible. Yes, our families are actually choosing
faith development over sports and other extracurricular activities for their
children. But then, just months
after graduating the program, many disappear as they enter high school, never
to be seen in Sunday school or youth programs again. What changes in the lives of these students who are so fired
up for God in the spring of 8th grade as they enter high school a
few months later? Or, what is it
we’re not offering, or calling them to participate in, that could continue the
journey begun in Confirmation? Is
it possible that we lose some students because there is an empty answer to the
question, “So I’ve graduated Confirmation, what’s next?” I think the same can be said in the
studies surrounding the large number of our students who leave the church after
high school. “So I’ve graduated
from high school, what’s next?” We
need answers to these questions.
Answers that are varied, creative, and that tell the truth of the
struggles of owning one’s faith during and beyond adolescence.
What comes after Confirmation? Is there anyone out there who has implemented a program or
post-Confirmation study for their youth?
I’m part of a denomination that elevates Scripture to a high level, and
rightly so, but I’m afraid we haven’t done a good enough job in helping our
students to have a continued appreciation and ongoing desire to study God’s
Word.
So, what’s after Confirmation? Dream dreams with me.
Think big.
Discipleship?
Mentoring? Bible
study? Confirmation 2.0?
1 comment:
chad, this is a great post with some good reflection. i love that you do confirmation and do it so well. as far as what is next, it has to always be connecting students to the larger church. making the adult worship service their new home.
we still need youth group and sunday school, but a renewed effort to get kids to big church will have the best and lasting results.
the best part is that this isn't a larger programatic tasks you need to pick up. your church already has big church, it is just about finding easy onramps for them.
you rock and i hope to see you at midwinter.
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