Hi my name is Pastor Mary Ellen Steinkraus and I am here to help you establish a family based Lutheran Confirmation process called Lutheran Faith Formation in your church that has been proven to ignite and reinvigorate true faith in Jesus Christ. Together with my partner, Pastor Bill Pohl we will be available to help you get started by introducing the process to families with children ages birth to 12th grade.
We created this blog to get your feedback and build something together that meets your particular church’s needs.
To contact us you can simply respond to our blog posts or you can reach us at lutheranfaithformation@gmail.com
We look forward to your feedback.
Let’s build something together.
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Featured
Overview of Confirmation Process: Actual Plan Used for Grades 3 and 4
OVERVIEW OF CONFIRMATION MINISTRY PROCESS (Copy of actual plan used at Grace Lutheran in Hermantown,MN) THIRD GRADE WORSHIP: Fifteen (15) Worship Units earned. SUNDAY SCHOOL: Fifteen (15) Sunday School Credits earned. CONFIRMATION UNIT: Enrollment Service & Receive Bibles (October) Learning: Liturgies for Worship. (January Sundays) Sunday 01: Parent/Student intro to Organ led Worship Sunday 02: … Read more
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Lutheran Faith Formation: A New Vision for Lutheran Confirmation Ministry
CONSIDERING OUR PRESENT SITUATION How would you describe the effectiveness, or the lack thereof, of present, so-called Traditional Confirmation processes? To answer, consider this question? What percentage of our High School Seniors are “functionally active” in our congregational life? Meaning: Worshiping at least monthly? Participating in any learning or serving dimension of the congregation? Including,… Read more
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Age Appropriate Approach
AGE APPROPRIATE LEARNING MODELS EMPLOYED Model 1. At home, Family Centered Learning. (Grades 3-5) Primary Learning of the faith centers in the at home, parent taught units, with direction, support and assistance from Pastor(s). Model 2. Family centered with at home and at church learning. (Grades 6-7) Learning that capitalizes on both home taught/learning and… Read more
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Age Appropriate Approach
A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES Infants to Grade 5: On Solid Ground (Child) Home, parents & family comprise their firm “base context” for almost all security,sense of belonging and of who the individual is as a person. Primary “giving them roots” occurs during their years. Self-image, relationships, life values & purpose are derived from the teaching,… Read more
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Revisit and Improve the Current Confirmation Ministry
HOW DID WE GET HERE? WHAT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED TO IMPROVE FAITH FORMATION OF OUR YOUTH? There are, as with so many such questions, multiple answers to that question as I see it. Primary among them, I would propose, that the whole process has been hijacked. Hijacked, in significant part by clergy. Supported, it… Read more
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Take into Consideration Child Development Facts
Tracking the social, emotional, physical & spiritual development of youth will yield up some rather poignant realities not taken into account in the “traditional Confirmation Ministry model”, beginning in grades 6-8 and ending in grades 8-10, if that means concluding in Fall of 10th grade. Reality is that the years of grades 6-9 are the… Read more
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2022 Child Discipleship Forum
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Child Discipleship Forum
I am currently attending this online forum and I would like to share a video here that gives you an idea of the topics and message behind the forum. It is put on by Awana and it is an excellent example of Faith Formation for children and families. https://fb.watch/83h2fyH_cJ/
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Child Discipleship Forum – Resilient Disciples
Why are kids leaving the church after high school? This is the question that has been asked over and over again in the Lutheran Church. The Child Discipleship Forum on September 16 – 17th, 2021 deals with that question. In this forum, the statistics are presented by the Barna Group as well as innovative suggestions… Read more
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Lutheran Faith Formation: Fourth Grade Curriculum
This is the first of the published curriculum for the Lutheran Faith Formation process. It is first because it is a good example of the age-appropriate nature of the process as well as the instructional and service components of the process. Families learning together and growing in faith is key to remaining connected to each… Read more
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Lutheran Faith Formation
Confirmation Ministry During a Pandemic: Please Share Ideas for Distance Learning Approach Lutheran Faith Formation is a family-oriented Confirmation process that is intended to help families grow together in faith. It begins at Baptism with the baptismal promises and helps parents keep these promises to their children starting at Baptism and continuing through 12th grade.… Read more
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Why Churches are Failing Children
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Overview of Confirmation Ministry Process: Eleventh Grade Intern-Mentor Sample Discussion Questions (cont.)
GUIDELINES FOR ELEVENTH GRADE INTERN-MENTOR INTEGRATING FAITH AND SOCIAL LIFE(cont.) 7. As a Disciple of Jesus, how is my concern for myself, and others, lived out in my physical relationship with the opposite sex? Or same sex? What limits have I set for myself? Why? 8. How do I handle confidential things a friend shares… Read more
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Overview of Confirmation Ministry Process: Eleventh Grade Intern-Mentor Sample Discussion Questions
GUIDELINES FOR ELEVENTH GRADE INTERN-MENTOR PROGRAM INTEGRATING FAITH AND SOCIAL LIFE How does my faith help me in relating to people I don’t really get along with? What negative and positive pressures do I experience from my peers? How does my faith help me in making choices when these pressures happen? What does being a… Read more
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Overview of Confirmation Ministry Process: Eleventh Grade Intern-Mentor Guidelines
ELEVENTH GRADE INTERN-MENTOR PLAN – 2018 FAITH FORMATION/CONFIRMATION PLAN MENTOR: Prayerfully selected: One mentor per intern (vice versa) selecting congregational member who, in the opinion of the Intern, is living out his/her Christian faith in an exemplary manner. Study Guide Areas: Integration of one’s Christian faith with: a. Job/vocation b. Family c. Congregation d. Social… Read more
