Ignite the Spark of Faith
Ignite the Spark of Faith: StoryMakers at Home
I was in the children’s wing of the church recently when a mom of two elementary-age boys approached me, somewhat shamefully, and apologized that her boys had missed Sunday School so much recently. “I know I should try harder to get them here, but we are so busy with baseball, scouts, school, work, and everything else. We are totally exhausted and it’s all we can do to get them to the worship service a couple times a month. We just can’t figure out how to get them here for Sunday School, too.” She is not the first parent in my church ministry to say something similar––or to express guilt over it. Many parents I talk to are simply worn out.
For two decades, I've dedicated my life to nurturing the faith of children and youth through religious education in churches and schools. But let me tell you: it’s breathtaking how much the cultural landscape has shifted in that time. Today, parents, educators, and church leaders find themselves in a fierce battle for the attention of our young people. Congregation numbers are dwindling, involvement has become sporadic. The "old ways" of ministering to the next generation simply don't cut it anymore.
Forming kids in the faith has become a daunting, confounding task. Or so it seemed, until I discovered the incredible non-profit creative studio known as StoryMakers NYC.
StoryMakers is on a mission to spark curiosity, hope, and faith in the hearts of kids of all ages. Through their imaginative resources - zines, playbooks, shadow puppets, and more - they're drawing individuals into God's redemptive narrative, helping children and grown-ups alike deepen their Christian faith.
I first stumbled upon StoryMakers during the pandemic, when my usual in-person children's ministry came to a screeching halt. Their printed materials and digital lessons kept my kids engaged, connected, and actively participating in the rituals and stories of our faith. I was so impressed, we kept using StoryMakers even after reopening.
The more I dove into their work, the more I realized - this organization has the fresh perspective we need to tackle the future of faith formation. And now, thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, StoryMakers is launching an electrifying new initiative called Spark Faith At Home.
Spark Faith At Home is a three-year project that will equip parents and families with innovative faith-building resources, while also creating a supportive community network of leaders, educators, and ministry workers. Parents, church leaders, and others are invited to join specialized cohorts, where they'll receive new materials to pilot in their homes and communities, then provide invaluable feedback.
Recent research from trusted organizations like the Barna Group, Vibrant Faith, and the National Study of Youth and Religion has shown that parents and families wield tremendous influence over a child's spiritual development. But many parents crave the guidance to ignite faith in their homes in a way that resonates with this new era. Spark Faith At Home is poised to provide that guidance by sparking a revolution in the way we nurture the faith of the next generation.
StoryMakers has always been about more than just creative curricula - they're on a mission to weave our stories into God's Big Story. With their bold new Spark Faith At Home initiative, they're not just sparking the faith of children. They're igniting a movement that has the power to transform the future.
If you're ready to be part of that movement, I invite you to join us. The future of faith formation is here. Are you ready to fan the flame?
To find out more info or to sign up to participate, head to our website: www.storymakersnyc.org/lillycohort
Catherine Breed is the Director of Children and Youth Faith Formation at First Presbyterian Church in Marietta, GA. She has had the privilege of working with children, youth, and families at Decatur First United Methodist Church, The Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip, Saint Martin’s Episcopal School, and The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta, GA. Catherine lives in Decatur, GA with her husband Brennan and their two children (ages 12 and 14). She graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation. Catherine is the Parent Liaison for Spark Faith at Home with StoryMakersNYC, and would love to connect. Get in touch with any questions about the organization or the project.
