DESIGNING A FAITH FORMATION NETWORK

V IS ION & PRACT ICE OF 21 S T CENTURY FA ITH FORMAT ION

EXAMPLESFAITH FORMATION NETWORKS

Children & Families

Adolescents & Families

Young Adults

Mid-Life Adults

Mature Adults

Older Adults

An Lifelong Faith Formation Network

Inte

rgen

erat

iona

l

Multi-

generational

CREATING A NETWORK

Congregations can create faith formation networks around 1. Ministries and activities such as Sunday

worship, service and mission projects, and programming (children’s faith formation, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School)

2. Age groups and generations: children, adolescents, emerging adults, young adults, midlife adults, Baby Boomers, older adults

3. Families and households across the life cycle.

EVENT OR PROGRAM NETWORK

Event or Program

Talk About It: Conversation

Questions Learn More:

Watch a Video, Listen to a Talk, Read an Article

Live:Action Project for

the MonthPray

Devotions, Bible Reading, Table

Prayer

Family & Parents Center: How-to

helps (video, audio, print); Family Faith

Practices

Share What Your Learning: Write a Blog Entry, Create & Share a

Video or Project

WORSHIP NETWORK

Share ItBlog/ForumAfter Mass

In ProgramsFamily Conversation Activity

Study ItTaking Faith Home Insert

Homily Video + Study Guide

Daily ReadingsScripture Commentaries Online Bible Study

Live ItLiving the Message DailyLiving Christian Practices

Service Ideas for the Week

Pray ItWeekly Table Prayer

Praying with the SaintsAM & PM Prayer

Sunday Worship

NETWORK FOR DIFFERENTIATING FAITH

FORMATION

Core Content &

Experiences

Option 1. Program (current model)

Option 2. Small Group

Program

Option 2. Online Small

Group Program using Skype or

Google+

Option 3. Mentored

Option 4. Online Program (print &

video) with Regular Check-in

Online Projects

(everyone)

Social Networking

Space for a Blog, Project Sharing

NETWORK FOR DIFFERENTIATING FAITH

FORMATION

Core Content &

Experiences for

Everyone

Content & Activities for

those of Vibrant Faith &

Engagement

Content & Activities for Occasionals

Content & Activities

for Spiritual but Not

Religious

EXAMPLE: CONFIRMATION

Scenario 1 (In-Depth Experience)1. In-depth faith formation in theology,

Bible, spirituality, and Christian practices offered in different formats, customized to the needs of the young people: small group program, online courses and resources, and mentors

2. Spiritual formation experience (retreat) on spiritual practices and disciplines

3. Whole group confirmation-specific content

EXAMPLE: CONFIRMATION

Scenario 4 (Foundations Experience)1. Foundational program in Christian life

essentials, integrating confirmation-specific content

2. Experience of Christian practices and spiritual disciplines

3. Active participation in the activities of church life and ministries; apprenticeships with ministries and leaders to experience church life as “insiders”

4. Mentors to guide growth and participation in church life

5. Whole group confirmation-specific content

EXAMPLE: CONFIRMATION

Scenarios 2 and 3 (Exploration Experience)1. Exploration experience to investigate the

claims of the Christian faith in an informal, no pressure, non-judgmental, and friendly environment: Who is God? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? Who is the Holy Spirit? How can we have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible?

2. Introductory experiences of Christian life through participating in Christian practices, service, worship, and so on.

NEWLY MARRIED COUPLES NETWORK

Faith Formation

Before Marriage

Preparation for and

Celebration of Marriage

Faith Formation

After Celebration of Marriage

Discernment

Faith Formation Faith Growth Plan

Marriage Preparation

Online and/or Program

Mentors

Support Groups

Online Marriage

Resources

Couples before MarriageNetwork

Marriage

Mentors

Faith PracticesPrayer, Rituals, Bible

Reading, Service, Faith Conversations

Faith Enrichment Theology, Scripture, Spirituality

Married Life Tasks & Issues

Courses, Workshops, Online Resources

Support Groups Social Media, Small Groups

Quarterly Couple Gatherings

Newly Married CouplesNetwork

YOUNG FAMILIES NETWORK

Faith Formation Before Baptism

Preparation for

and Celebrati

on of Baptism

Faith Formation with Youn

g Children

BAPTISM

MENTORS

FAITH PRACTICES @ HOME

Prayer, Rituals, Bible, Family Conversation, Service

PARENT FAITH ENRICHMENT

Workshops, Courses, Online & Digital Resources

PARENTING SKILLS

Workshops, CoursesOnline ResourcesSupport Groups

MILESTONES

Baptism Anniversary, First Prayers, Start of School

FAMILY EXPERIENCES

Church GatheringsSmall GroupsWorkshops

Young Families Network

Intergenerational

Experiences

- Worship- Learning- Service

- Community Life

A Children’s Faith Formation Network

DESIGN PROCESS: NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

1. Select a Target Group

2. Research Target Group

3. Define the Group’s Point of View

4. Identify Primary Needs or Themes for

the Network5. Develop Settings,

Methods, and Resources for each

Theme

6. Create a Network Prototype

7. Test the Network Prototype

8. Evaluate, Improve, & Expand

Network Design Process

INNOVATION DESIGN PROCESSSTANFORD SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Empathize Define Ideate Prototype Test

1. SELECT A TARGET GROUP

Congregations can create faith formation networks around 1. Ministries and activities such as Sunday

worship, service and mission projects, and programming (children’s faith formation, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School)

2. Age groups and generations: children, adolescents, emerging adults, young adults, midlife adults, Baby Boomers, older adults

3. Families and households across the life cycle.

1. SELECT A PROGRAM OR MINISTRY Sunday worship Church year season or feast Service projects and mission trips Family program Intergenerational program Children’s program Vacation Bible School Youth program Retreat experience

1. SELECT A TARGET GROUP

Children & Families Teens & Families Emerging Adults: 20s Young Adults: 30s-40s Mid-Life Adults: 40s-

50s Mature Adults: 60s-70s

(Baby Boomers) Older Adults: 80+

1. Life Tasks2. Life Issues3. Milestones

and Life Transitions

4. Spiritual & Religious Needs

5. Ethnic-Cultural Needs

2. RESEARCH (EMPATHIZE)

Empathy is the foundation of a human-centered design process. To empathize, we:• Observe. View users and their

behavior in the context of their lives.

• Engage. Interact with and interview users through both scheduled and short ‘intercept’ encounters.

• Immerse. Experience what your user experiences.

RELIGIOUS-SPIRITUAL PROFILE

Scenario 4 Uncommitte

d & Participatin

g

Scenario 1 Vibrant Faith & Active

Engagement

Scenario 3 Unaffiliated

& Unintereste

d

Scenario 2 Spiritual but

Not Religious

RESEARCH - FOCUS GROUPS6-12 people in your target group

reflecting a diversity of people1. How would you describe your age group in key

words or phrases? 2. What are some of the key life tasks that your age

group is experiencing? 3. What are some of the important life issues that

your age group is experiencing today? 4. What are the most meaningful experiences you

have in life? What makes these experiences meaningful to you?

5. How important is your relationship with God? Why?

RESEARCH - FOCUS GROUPS

6. Where do you experience God most?7. What are the significant spiritual issues that

your age group is experiencing today? 8. What is most important to you about being a

Christian (or a member of a particular denomination or faith tradition) today?

9. How do you live your Christian faith? Name some of the ways you put your faith into practice.

10.How can the church help you to continue growing as a Christian? Be specific. Name some of the things you would like to see your church offer for your age group?

RESEARCH - EMPATHY MAP

SAYWhat do you hear your target group

saying?

DOWhat actions and behaviors do you

notice in your target group?

THINKWhat might your target group be thinking? What

does this tell you about their

beliefs/convictions?

FEELWhat emotions

might your target group be feeling?

RESEARCH -EMPATHY MAP

Define Needs (verbs not nouns) Identify Insights – to better respond

to a design challenge

EMPATHY – IDENTIFY NEEDS

Identify needs and interests for your target audience that you want to address through your faith formation network1. Life Tasks2. Life Issues3. Milestones and Life Transitions4. Spiritual & Religious Needs5. Ethnic-Cultural Needs

3. DEFINE – POINT OF VIEW (POV)The define mode is when you unpack and synthesize your empathy findings into compelling needs and insights, and scope a specific and meaningful challenge. It is a mode of “focus” rather than “flaring.”

Task: to come up with an actionable problem statement: your point of view.

DEFINE - POV

Your point of view should be a guiding statement that focuses on specific users, and insights and needs that you uncovered during the empathize mode.

A point of view (POV) is your reframing of a design challenge into an actionable problem statement that will launch you into a generative ideation.

DEFINE - POVA good point of view (POV) is one that:1. Provides focus and frames the problem2. Inspires your team3. Provides a reference for evaluating competing

ideas4. Fuels brainstorms by suggesting “how might we”

statements5. Captures the hearts and minds of people you

meet6. Saves you from the impossible task of developing

concepts that are all things to all people7. Is something you revisit and reformulate as you

learn by doing8. Guides your innovation efforts

DEFINE - POV WANT AD

A POV Want Ad can be a good way to express your distilled findings in an intriguing format. The want ad format tends to accentuate a specific user, and her important character traits. Embed your user, his or her need, and your insights within the format of a want ad.

DEFINE - POV WANT AD

Format

Descriptive characterization of a user. . . . .

followed by “seeks” an ambiguous method to meet an implied need . . . .

plus additional flavor to capture your findings. . . .

DEFINE - POV WANT AD

Family ExampleTime crunched, stressed and

pressured families seek connections, support and guidance to develop a

strong, healthy, value-centered family life where faith can be applied to daily needs.  Must deal with contradiction that we want to feel welcome and

involved, but don't bug me or take my time.

DEFINE - POV WANT AD

Young Adult ExamplesA single energetic young adult seeks a social

network. Desires a connection with others to get together and serve our community, hang out & have fun. Passionate about making a difference

and doesn't want to be left on the sidelines.--------

Highly motivated single young adults seek engaging faith-based social network that will

help them navigate fast paced living in a hook-up town.

4. IDENTIFY PRIMARY NEEDS OR THEMES FOR THE NETWORKWhat will be the primary needs or themes that you will design your network around.

1. Life Tasks2. Life Issues3. Milestones and Life Transitions4. Spiritual & Religious Needs5. Ethnic-Cultural Needs

A NETWORK AROUND THE PEOPLE IN AN EVENT OR

PROGRAM

IDENTIFY THEMES OR CONTENT AREAS

A Network Around the PeopleAdult Content Areas

Identify Themes or Content Areas

5. DEVELOP SETTINGS, METHODS, & RESOURCES FOR EACH THEME1. Settings: on your own, mentored, at

home, small group, large group, church community, community & world

2. Virtual or Physical 3. Methods4. Resources: print, audio, video, digital,

onlineIncorporate all of your existing programming in the network

FAITH FORMATION SETTINGS

Faith Formation Network Methods

Events & Programs

Courses & Workshops

Small Groups

Online Courses & Activities

Books & Print Resources

Audio & Video Programs

Action Projects

Retreats Extended Programs Trips

Mentors

Blogs & Social Media

Apps

User-Generated Content

Video Confer-encing

WORSHIP METHODS & RESOURCES

Share It

Blog/Forum

After Mass

In Programs

Family Conversation Activity

Live It

Living the Message Daily

Living Christian Practices

Service Ideas for the Week

Sunday Worship

Spiritual Growth for Baby BoomersSunday Worship

Online Courses

Apps & E-newsletters

Online Prayer & Spirituality Resources

Small Group Bible Study

Trip to the Holy Land (with Road Scholar)

Retreats

Day at the Monastery

Spiritual Book of the Month Club

Monthly Spiritual Practices Series

Spiritual Seeker Program

Third Place Spiritual Conversations

Adult Faith Formation Methods & Resources

6. CREATE A NETWORK PROTOTYPE

Prototyping is getting ideas and explorations out of your head and into the physical world.

In early explorations keep your prototypes rough and rapid to allow yourself to learn quickly and investigate a lot of different possibilities.

Prototypes are most successful when people (the design team, the user, and others) can experience and interact with them. What you learn from those interactions can help drive deeper empathy, as well as shape successful solutions.

PROTOTYPE

We prototype to: Learn: If a picture is worth a thousand words, a

prototype is worth a thousand pictures. Solve disagreements: Can eliminate ambiguity,

assist in ideation, and reduce miscommunication. Start a conversation: Can be a great way to

have a different kind of conversation with users. Fail quickly and cheaply: Allows you to test a

number of ideas without investing a lot of time and money up front.

Manage the solution-building process: Encourages you to break a large problem down into smaller, testable chunks.

7. TEST THE PROTOTYPE NETWORKTesting is the chance to refine our solutions and make them better. Prototype as if you know you’re right, but test as if you know you’re wrong. Refine our prototypes and solutions. Learn more about our user. Testing is another

opportunity to build empathy through observation and engagement—it often yields unexpected insights.

Test and refine our POV. Sometimes testing reveals that not only did we not get the solution right, but also that we have failed to frame the problem correctly.

1. Select a Target Group

2. Research Target Group

3. Define the Group’s Point of View

4. Identify Primary Needs or Themes for

the Network5. Develop Settings,

Methods, and Resources for each

Theme

6. Create a Network Prototype

7. Test the Network Prototype

8. Evaluate, Improve, & Expand

Network Design Process

CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE

DESCRIBING & CONNECTING& PROMOTING YOUR NETWORK

Be sure to pay careful attention to the titles and descriptions so that they capture people’s interests. Develop descriptions that are positive in tone, indicate clearly the content or focus of an activity. 1. Describe how your offerings respond to something

within the lives of people. Highlight the relationship between the content and the particular spiritual or religious needs, interests, passions, concerns, or life issues of people.

2. Describe the 2-3 benefits of participating or engaging in faith formation.

3. Explain to people how to use the Network and how to access the activities and resources.

CONNECTING STRATEGIES

1. Connect to (or extend from) a gathered event, program, ministry.

2. Use personalized invitations. 3. Establish a Facebook page for faith formation for

Network announcements, updates, stories and photos from people engaged in faith formation, etc.

4. Use Twitter to announce updates, events, and invite reflections from people on their experiences in the Network.

5. Send email or regular e-newsletters to targeted groups (use a service like Constant Contact).

6. Provide ways to share experiences using blogs, Twitter, Facebook: videos, reports, photos, etc.

CONNECTING TO SOCIAL NETWORKS

Our social network is made up of all the people we’re connected to, all the people they are connected to, all the people they are connected to, and so on.

You

Your Friends

Your Friends’ Friends

Your Friends’ Friend’s Friends

Your Friends