How to start an SU Group - Scripture Union Scotland

Team Leaders’ Manual – School SU GroupsSection 5Children and Young people developing faithThe aims of this section are: To explore how children and young people develop in understanding the Christian faith To explore what triggers faith to grow and how a Christian group in schools canencourage this growth.5.1 How do you see the state of children before God?In the Bible there are many different ways in which people come into a believing faith. Over theyears as people have tried to evangelise children and young people, different – and sometimesopposing – points of view and models have been used. Consider some of these positions listedbelow: All children start life outside the kingdom The presence of a Christian parent establishes right standing before God The presence of a Christian parent creates privilege not status All children belong to God All children will begin with God but will drift from that position unless effectiveevangelism/ teaching occurs in their livesWhat we think about the state of the child before God will determine the methods we use inevangelism. Considering these positions opens up the issue of how to work with integrity withchildren and young people.5.2 Considering models of faith developmentThere are many ideas about how faith develops in a person. Here are two for you to consider withregard to your group.John H Westerhoff: (Will our Children have Faith?, Harrisburg, Morehouse, 2000) suggests that faithgrows in us rather like a tree going through stages and adding rings rather than a progression or ajourney.Experienced faith is the faith of the young child or the new Christian. It is an experience ofGod and of the people of God. Almost subconsciously people know about God but couldn’tarticulate this. Pre-school/ Early primaryAccepted faith is the faith of childhood where things are accepted and believed. A strongsense of acceptance and belonging mark this stage.Searching faith is a stage where people are experimenting and testing out a number ofoptions. Questioning and doubting would be hallmarks of this stage.(This would be the stageof ‘belief’ most affirmed by our society at present where everyone is free to work out theirown thing)Integrated faith is the stage where belief is ‘mine’ not from my family of peer group. Anintegrated belief which integrates lifestyle, mind heart. Adult.Westerhoff is adamant that people must go through the stages before adult, mature faith can beexperienced, but you might find it more helpful to look at it presented in the following way:January 2012