New Energy Toward Deposits
Good Shepherd is a high-activity and high-energy church, but despite all the good work, they still felt like they were struggling with their messaging. They put out a LOT of content, all focused on events, requests, and volunteer needs. Becca, their youth director was feeling a tug. During her first Anchor training, she spent a lot of time taking notes and nodding. Then I gave the assignment.
“Now that you know how to find, interview for, and write Anchor stories, I want you to go find 1-3 stories.” This is where the nerves usually set it.
Two weeks later, with three stories attached, I get an email from Becca. It was short but powerful - and so were her stories!
“Thank you for your seminar a few weeks ago; it's actually been a big refresh in my perspective in what we're doing overall and has given me some new energy toward deposits.”
Music to my ears! It happens every time. People feel discouraged, burned out, and well, hopeless that they alone can change the energy levels in the congregation. Then, as they sit across from other congregation members and listen to their stories, they begin to see for themselves, once again, the power and promise of the ministry they offer to their community. Powerful and meaningful worship, belonging, acceptance, pastoral care, and for a group of youth - some good old-fashioned fun every now that again.
Here is one of Becca’s awesome Anchor Stories:
The Human Part of the Equation
Amanda (Them/They/Their)
When Amanda’s family moved to the Madison area, they found Good Shepherd. At the time, what stood out most to young Amanda was the donuts. Can you blame them? Sometimes it is the fun toys in the nursery or the donuts that are the first language of welcome to a child in a church. But welcome and acclimation takes a bit more than just donuts as time goes on.
While Amanda’s time in confirmation was not negative, it wasn’t their most memorable step in faith and connection. As a sophomore, an upperclassman asked Amanda during school if they were going on the high school fall retreat. It was that simple question that got Amanda to the Sugar Creek Retreat and it was that simple retreat that got Amanda diving deeper into faith.
“I remember being asked that first night what connected me to God. I responded ‘trees.’ Sarah smiled and said something like ‘tomorrow morning, look out the window and God will be shouting from the mountaintops to you with love.’”
It was that weekend when Amanda’s faith in God was affirmed and when they began to try to hear God’s voice more, specifically in the “languages” their faith speaks – like trees, justice work, or thoughtful conversations.
Since Amanda’s first fall retreat, they’ve grown a ton and have seen themself become a more integrated spiritual person. Amanda is one of the youths who voiced passion for starting the GSA. “For me, it was two different worlds – the queer world and the Christian world. I couldn’t talk about being Christian in the queer community because many are rightfully wary because the church has been an oppressor over the centuries. And I didn’t always feel I could talk about being queer in the Christian community mostly because I never felt there was a place for it. With the GSA, we can grieve about what hardships the community experiences, but we can also have uplifting conversations as well.”
“At this point, I don’t question my relationship with God or God’s character, but as I’ve grown, I’ve been asking the big questions about the institution of the church – the human part of the equation…” Amanda now describes how they appreciate how at Good Shepherd “it’s about a personal relationship with God rather than these are the rules you must follow,” which is what Amanda hopes to carry on into college life and adulthood.