2012 Children, Youth and Family Ministry Survey Results

1. 2012 Children, Youth and Family Ministry Survey Results

2. Our Foundation for CYF Ministry: Baptismal Promises!

3. Who Makes Baptismal Promises? • 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

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

5. The Power of Overlapping Spheres of Influence Congregation • Faith Maturity • Pastoral Leadership • Congregational Quality • Youth Involvement Children & Youth Ministry • Children/Youth Minister Strength • Children/Youth & Adult Leadership • Children/Youth Ministry Effectiveness Home • Strong Parental Faith • Family Faith Practices • Family Harmony • Parent-Child/Youth Relationships

6. 2009 Overall Patterns: Gifts • Effectiveness of focusing on Jesus Christ • Programs are strong (Joy school, SS, Confirmation, etc…) • Developing of Relationships • Service components

7. 2009 Overall Patterns: Opportunities • Equipping & Empowering families and other adults in relationships with young people (teachers, mentors, guides, etc…) • Need for stronger communication and organization • Overall direction • Program details • Hospitality in both Congregational & Ministry areas • Further evaluation

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

9. Congregation-Wide/CYF • CYF Advisory Team Created, meets monthly • Bi-Monthly Email Newsletters sent out • 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 • Wednesday night community & schedule • Position created to oversee all of CYF, connect communications, calendaring and language

10. 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

11. Elementary • 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 • Continued with 456 Events monthly & added 1-3rd quarterly, encouraging families to join. Many more participating families! • Held parent faith formation classes • Brought the Christmas program into worship • Connection with Choir and music ministry – Collaboration on musical Jonah • Creating a mentoring program for children & elders • Deepened Milestone Ministry, connecting it to worship where possible • Began bringing leaders to National training, Extravaganza • Re-imagining training & equipping for teachers and volunteers for future years

12. Jr High • Elder wisdom mentoring with confrimands and elders was started • Parent-Student learning in 9th grade has taken off and is a huge asset to our confirmation program, to be extended to 7th & 8th grades in the coming year • Milestones have been extended for 7,8 and 9th and 12th grades. Additional 11th grade milestone is under construction • Sermon conversations have morphed to a discussion in the family unit, encouraging faithful conversations at home. • 9thgrade 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 • Parent credit for service opportunities has been added to encourage family engagement in faith formation

13. Senior High • Hired on the bases of Exemplary Study, theologically trained • Senior high small groups were created, this year we have 65 kids and 12-15 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 regular service opportunity night is included in the schedule. • 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 • Increased numbers in regular commitment to Wednesday nights, trips and service

14. Survey Analysis 2012 • 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 • 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.

15. 2012 Gender

16. 2012 Age Spread

17. 2012 Years Attending Westwood

18. 2009: STRENGTHS Pastoral Leadership: Supports Youth Ministry Congregational Qualities: Promotes Service Congregational Qualities: Promotes Worship Theological Character: God’s Living Presence Congregational Strengths 2012 STRENGTHS • Pastoral Leadership: Spiritual Influence • Pastoral Leadership: Interpersonal Competence • Congregational Qualities: Promotes Service • Congregational Qualities: Promotes Worship

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

20. 2009 OPPORTUNITIES Children, Youth, and Adult Leadership: Participate in Training Family Involvement: Fosters Parent-Child Relationships Family Involvement: Equips Parents Youth Ministry Effectiveness: Organization Children/Youth Opportunities 2012 OPPORTUNITIES • Children, Youth & Adult Leadership: Involvement • Youth/Children’s Ministry Effectiveness: Organized Well • Family Involvement: Equips Parents

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

22. 2009 - The Plan! • Equipping - Hiring Priority • Communication/ Organization • CYF Administrative Assistant • E-News • Emphasis in all ministries • Hospitality • Intern job description • Focus for the Congregation • Connecting Ministries – CYF Lay Advisory Team • Continued Evaluation – Based on Exemplary Study, after all events & programs

23. 2012 - The Plan! • Keep Doing What We Are Doing!  • Equipping Congregation • Involvement of Children/Youth in Worship • Communication/Organization • Hospitality • Connecting Ministry Areas • Continued Evaluation • EYM Study & Baptismal Promises • Lay Advisory Teams

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