For Christian education and nurture leaders.
Transformative experiences
By Marlene Kropf
Recently a 70-year-old woman confessed to me, “I’ve quit going to Sunday school.” When I asked her why, she said, “All we ever do is say the same things we’ve been saying for years. I go elsewhere for spiritual nourishment and challenge these days.” Not long afterward, a 60-year-old man commented, “The church is a good place to get started in faith. We learn the stories and we’re introduced to the path, but then we don’t receive guidance for the later stages of the faith journey.”
Both of these people are deeply committed to Christ and the church, yet neither of them is finding what is necessary to keep growing toward maturity as Christians. Although getting started on the Christian journey is important, it’s even more important for people to experience conversion as a lifelong process. Being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, not just being introduced to Christ, is our goal.
So what makes a transforming experience? How does the church become a place where growth is expected and faith flourishes? Whether we are planning a retreat, leading a training event, guiding a small group, or teaching a class, what are key considerations for leaders? What practices encourage and make space for transformation? Neither glitzy nor even mysterious, the basics of transformative experiences are pretty simple: purpose, process, and power are the essential ingredients. If we keep these three in focus and train the congregation’s leaders to do the same, we will have what is needed for guiding transformation and change in the church.
Purpose.
For any formation experience to reach its potential, leaders must have an explicit purpose for the event. It isn’t enough to simply cover the agenda. Nor is it enough to simply do what we’ve always done before. Instead, if transformation is the goal, we must have a clear sense of desired outcomes.
Being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, not just being introduced to Christ, is our goal.
Because growth in faith involves the whole person, three purposes are typically considered in formation settings: growth in understanding (goals related to the mind), growth in attitudes (goals related to the heart), and growth in action (goals related to behavior). Since all three goals can rarely be met in a single session, these overarching goals become the focus for an entire series or a cluster of events. At the same time, each event within the series must have its own defined purpose within the larger sequence.
Process.
Once we have clarity about the transforming purposes of a gathering or event, our next step is to ask what sort of process or plan will help us achieve our goal. Those who lead adults will not go wrong if they follow Thomas Groome’s approach called shared Christian praxis (see Resources, page 48). Because this flexible and wellgrounded approach pays careful attention to the way adults learn and change and because its explicit goal is transformation, it is a reliable framework for planning a single session, a weekend event, a conference, or an entire sequence of experiences.
Power.
Recognizing that the Holy Spirit is the true transforming agent is essential. What this means in practical terms is that both our planning and our leading are rooted in prayer. Through listening prayer we discern God’s desires for our congregation. As we plan, we open ourselves to the Spirit’s guidance. Within our formation settings, we take ample time for worship, reflection, and prayer. We see ourselves as partners with God’s Spirit, who longs to transform us in all ways into Christ.
Transformation.
Though the above essentials may seem obvious, their importance can’t be overstated if transformation is our goal. How will they help the two disillusioned adults mentioned above?
If the 70-year-old’s Sunday school class is led by someone who understands the necessity of a clear purpose, class discussions will not degenerate into a rehashing of old opinions. Instead, each participant will regularly be challenged to take new steps of faith—in understanding, attitude, or action.
If the 60-year-old’s congregation is led by someone who understands that conversion is a lifelong process, opportunities will be provided for people of all ages to reflect on their faith and receive guidance for growth. Even when people find themselves questioning the basics of Christian belief, nonthreatened leaders will engage them in careful, vigorous exploration of old and new understandings of faith. Together they will discern how God may be calling them to discard old wineskins for fresh expressions of faith.
And when leaders are plugged into the Holy Spirit’s power through intentional practices of prayer, they find their own strength renewed. Instead of becoming depleted or discouraged with the ongoing demands of spiritual leadership, they will remain faithful to their call to guide the people of God into transforming paths.Marlene Kropf teaches spiritual formation and worship at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and is also minister of worship for the Congregational and Ministerial Leadership Team of Mennonite Church USA. A member of Belmont Mennonite Church, she lives in Elkhart, Indiana.