2012 Children, Youth and Family Ministry Survey Results

Baptismal Promises! Our Foundation for CYF Ministry:

Who Makes Baptismal Promises? Who makes promises on behalf of a child at baptism? Who makes promises on behalf of a child at baptism?  Parents  Sponsors  Congregation/Community  God in Jesus Christ These promises are the basis of all faith formation These promises are the basis of all faith formation

Baptismal Promises To live with them among God’s Faithful People To live with them among God’s Faithful People To hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper To hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper Proclaim the good news of Christ in word and deed Proclaim the good news of Christ in word and deed Serve all people following the example of Jesus Serve all people following the example of Jesus Strive for justice and peace in all the Earth Strive for justice and peace in all the Earth

The Power of Overlapping Spheres of Influence Congregation Faith Maturity Faith Maturity Pastoral Leadership Pastoral Leadership Congregational Quality Congregational Quality Youth Involvement Youth Involvement Children & Youth Ministry Children/Youth Minister Strength Children/Youth Minister Strength Children/Youth & Adult Leadership Children/Youth & Adult Leadership Children/Youth Ministry Effectiveness Children/Youth Ministry EffectivenessHome Strong Parental Faith Strong Parental Faith Family Faith Practices Family Faith Practices Family Harmony Family Harmony Parent-Child/Youth Relationships Parent-Child/Youth Relationships CONGREGATION YOUTH MINISTRY HOME

2009 Overall Patterns: Gifts Effectiveness of focusing on Jesus Christ Effectiveness of focusing on Jesus Christ Programs are strong Programs are strong (Joy school, SS, Confirmation, etc…) Developing of Relationships Developing of Relationships Service components Service components

2009 Overall Patterns: Opportunities Equipping & Empowering families and other adults in relationships with young people (teachers, mentors, guides, etc…) Equipping & Empowering families and other adults in relationships with young people (teachers, mentors, guides, etc…) Need for stronger communication and organization Need for stronger communication and organization  Overall direction  Program details Hospitality in both Congregational & Ministry areas Hospitality in both Congregational & Ministry areas Further evaluation Further evaluation

What have we done as a result of the 2009 survey?

Congregation-Wide/CYF CYF Advisory Team Created, meets monthly CYF Advisory Team Created, meets monthly Bi-Monthly Newsletters sent out Bi-Monthly Newsletters sent out Updated Website with access to information and registration forms Updated Website with access to information and registration forms Increased participation in worship: pigs as offering, youth readers, leaders, kids doing skits and telling the story Increased participation in worship: pigs as offering, youth readers, leaders, kids doing skits and telling the story Wednesday night community & schedule Wednesday night community & schedule Position created to oversee all of CYF, connect communications, calendaring and language Position created to oversee all of CYF, connect communications, calendaring and language

Early Childhood Birth to 5 Director Position created, Theological training Wednesday night school was born for young families, Baptism classes re-defined to include a meal Visiting young families Welcoming space in the narthex, Rainbow bag volunteer team created Creative stewardship projects launched/maintained (Heifer, Aids, etc) Milestones for ages 1-5 more clearly defined and celebrated. Partnering with fourth grade in an intergenerational milestone Overall a more relational and inviting ministry evolved that pairs up groups of people to engage their faith lives Monthly mailings to birth to 3 re-launched Collaboration with the WECC to include: open gym time, family chapels, teacher share for Milestone trainings

Elementary Hired on the bases of Exemplary Study, theologically trained Hired on the bases of Exemplary Study, theologically trained Tried a couple different models for education to engage more families & encourage worship: two on Sunday, adding Wednesday night Tried a couple different models for education to engage more families & encourage worship: two on Sunday, adding Wednesday night Continued with 456 Events monthly & added 1-3 rd quarterly, encouraging families to join. Many more participating families! Continued with 456 Events monthly & added 1-3 rd quarterly, encouraging families to join. Many more participating families! Held parent faith formation classes Held parent faith formation classes Brought the Christmas program into worship Brought the Christmas program into worship Connection with Choir and music ministry – Collaboration on musical Jonah Connection with Choir and music ministry – Collaboration on musical Jonah Creating a mentoring program for children & elders Creating a mentoring program for children & elders Deepened Milestone Ministry, connecting it to worship where possible Deepened Milestone Ministry, connecting it to worship where possible Began bringing leaders to National training, Extravaganza Began bringing leaders to National training, Extravaganza Re-imagining training & equipping for teachers and volunteers for future years Re-imagining training & equipping for teachers and volunteers for future years

Jr High Elder wisdom mentoring with confrimands and elders was started Elder wisdom mentoring with confrimands and elders was started Parent-Student learning in 9 th grade has taken off and is a huge asset to our confirmation program, to be extended to 7 th & 8 th grades in the coming year Parent-Student learning in 9 th grade has taken off and is a huge asset to our confirmation program, to be extended to 7 th & 8 th grades in the coming year Milestones have been extended for 7,8 and 9 th and 12 th grades. Additional 11 th grade milestone is under construction Milestones have been extended for 7,8 and 9 th and 12 th grades. Additional 11 th grade milestone is under construction Sermon conversations have morphed to a discussion in the family unit, encouraging faithful conversations at home. Sermon conversations have morphed to a discussion in the family unit, encouraging faithful conversations at home. 9 th grade has had the addition of a Lenten booklet to concentrate on the full Lenten Journey (versus Sermon Notes) 9 th grade has had the addition of a Lenten booklet to concentrate on the full Lenten Journey (versus Sermon Notes) Service Opportunities & Sermon note/conversations are being regularly recorded and reported to families Service Opportunities & Sermon note/conversations are being regularly recorded and reported to families Parent credit for service opportunities has been added to encourage family engagement in faith formation Parent credit for service opportunities has been added to encourage family engagement in faith formation

Senior High Hired on the bases of Exemplary Study, theologically trained Hired on the bases of Exemplary Study, theologically trained Senior high small groups were created, this year we have 65 kids and adults involved twice a month engaging in bible study, fun/fellowship and service Senior high small groups were created, this year we have 65 kids and adults involved twice a month engaging in bible study, fun/fellowship and service A new format/regularly patterned schedule has been put in place for Senior High Students A new format/regularly patterned schedule has been put in place for Senior High Students A regular service opportunity night is included in the schedule. A regular service opportunity night is included in the schedule. Youth participated in Tanzania trip last year Youth participated in Tanzania trip last year More youth serving in several capacities than in previous years by: singing in worship band, serving in nursery, ushering, greeting, and helping with community meals. They had a leadership role in AMP worship, and continue to teach Sunday school, and serve as peer ministers in confirmation More youth serving in several capacities than in previous years by: singing in worship band, serving in nursery, ushering, greeting, and helping with community meals. They had a leadership role in AMP worship, and continue to teach Sunday school, and serve as peer ministers in confirmation Increased numbers in regular commitment to Wednesday nights, trips and service Increased numbers in regular commitment to Wednesday nights, trips and service

Survey Analysis 2012 Two Goals: Two Goals:  Evaluation Study on the basis of the Exemplary Youth ministry study from Luther Seminary  Comparison of CYF ministries from the last three years How We Read It How We Read It  Combined the percentage of people who circled 4 and 5 & compared those scores  N/A was added as an option this year, Percentages were calculated without those who answered N/A.

2012 Gender

2012 Age Spread

2012 Years Attending Westwood

Congregational Strengths 2009: STRENGTHS Pastoral Leadership: Supports Youth Ministry Pastoral Leadership: Supports Youth Ministry Congregational Qualities: Promotes Service Congregational Qualities: Promotes Service Congregational Qualities: Promotes Worship Congregational Qualities: Promotes Worship Theological Character: God’s Living Presence Theological Character: God’s Living Presence 2012 STRENGTHS Pastoral Leadership: Spiritual Influence Pastoral Leadership: Spiritual Influence Pastoral Leadership: Interpersonal Competence Pastoral Leadership: Interpersonal Competence Congregational Qualities: Promotes Service Congregational Qualities: Promotes Service Congregational Qualities: Promotes Worship Congregational Qualities: Promotes Worship

Congregational Opportunities 2012 OPPORTUNITIES Youth Involvement: Assume Ministry Leadership Youth Involvement: Assume Ministry Leadership Youth Involvement: Participates in the Congregation Youth Involvement: Participates in the Congregation Congregational Qualities: Encourages Thinking Congregational Qualities: Encourages Thinking Theological Character: Emphasizes Scripture Theological Character: Emphasizes Scripture 2009 OPPORTUNITIES Youth Involvement: Assume Ministry Leadership Youth Involvement: Assume Ministry Leadership Youth Involvement: Participates in the Congregation Youth Involvement: Participates in the Congregation Congregational Qualities: Demonstrates Hospitality Congregational Qualities: Demonstrates Hospitality Theological Character: Centrality of Mission Theological Character: Centrality of Mission

Children/Youth Opportunities 2009 OPPORTUNITIES Children, Youth, and Adult Leadership: Participate in Training Children, Youth, and Adult Leadership: Participate in Training Family Involvement: Fosters Parent-Child Relationships Family Involvement: Fosters Parent-Child Relationships Family Involvement: Equips Parents Family Involvement: Equips Parents Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Organization Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Organization 2012 OPPORTUNITIES Children, Youth & Adult Leadership: Involvement Children, Youth & Adult Leadership: Involvement Youth/Children’s Ministry Effectiveness: Organized Well Youth/Children’s Ministry Effectiveness: Organized Well Family Involvement: Equips Parents Family Involvement: Equips Parents

Children/Youth Strengths 2012 STRENGTHS Youth & Children Ministers: Models Faith Youth & Children Ministers: Models Faith Youth & Children Ministers: Establishes Effective Relationships Youth & Children Ministers: Establishes Effective Relationships Youth & Children Ministers: Knows Children Youth & Children Ministers: Knows Children 2009 STRENGTHS Children &Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Focus on Jesus Christ Children &Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Focus on Jesus Christ Children & Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Establishes a Caring Environment Children & Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Establishes a Caring Environment Children’s Ministry Effectiveness: Uses Many Approaches Children’s Ministry Effectiveness: Uses Many Approaches Youth Leadership: Equip for Ministry Youth Leadership: Equip for Ministry

The Plan! Equipping - Hiring Priority Equipping - Hiring Priority Communication/ Organization Communication/ Organization  CYF Administrative Assistant  E-News  Emphasis in all ministries Hospitality Hospitality  Intern job description  Focus for the Congregation Connecting Ministries – CYF Lay Advisory Team Connecting Ministries – CYF Lay Advisory Team Continued Evaluation – Based on Exemplary Study, after all events & programs Continued Evaluation – Based on Exemplary Study, after all events & programs

The Plan! Keep Doing What We Are Doing! Keep Doing What We Are Doing! Equipping Congregation Equipping Congregation Involvement of Children/Youth in Worship Involvement of Children/Youth in Worship Communication/Organization Communication/Organization Hospitality Hospitality Connecting Ministry Areas Connecting Ministry Areas Continued Evaluation Continued Evaluation  EYM Study & Baptismal Promises  Lay Advisory Teams

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Your time to listen & learn shows your commitment to our children and youth and their faith development!