How to start an SU Group - Scripture Union Scotland

Team Leaders’ Manual – School SU Groups
Unlike the linear looking original, this
diagram suggests that, rather than faith
growing in us along a linear path, it moves
around these stages. Although we should
realise that these stages are not bound to a
certain age group and that we all probably
have different “aspects” of our faith in a few
of these stages at any given time, we may
recognise some of our groups being
predominantly at one stage. For example,
Searching is very common in late Primary
school, whereas before that they may be
more accepting of what a trusted relative or
youth worker says.
Dr James Engel, director of the Billy Graham graduate programme in communications at the
Wheaton College Graduate School, has observed a model of the spiritual decision-making process,
(see for example What’s Gone Wrong With The Harvest, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Press, 1975) The
following diagram adapted from Engel shows some broad steps that a person can go through on
their path of spiritual development. It also helpfully reminds us of the role of God in all this and
where we can fit in too.
Role of God
Role of
Christians
Note:
This diagram is descriptive not prescriptive, and a young person may indeed return to previous point
in the “scale.” The conversion line in this Engle scale has been deliberately blurred to represent that
it is possible for this to happen over a period of time.
January 2012