I’ve spent years watching my children compete in various athletic endeavors. I’ve also enjoyed witnessing the development of their other talents, beyond the field-of-play. Such as their artistic and musical talents, to name only two.
They are, all three of them, extremely talented individuals!
As I reflect on all of these experiences, there is one – more recently at least – that stands out above the others. It stands out because it relates directly to what I do as a pastor and the vision/mission of the church I serve.
You might say that, as a pastor, I am involved in development. More precisely, the development of people. The word I use to characterize this focus is formation. Many images, no doubt, pop into your head when you hear that word.
Let me define the term as I am using it here: