The Art of Connecting
£10.00 (Approx)
2.8Get the resource >
Overview
What does it say on the tin?
‘How can we share our faith with those around us? As with most great revelations, the answer is simple. It starts with us telling our own stories, sharing our hopes, dreams and desires: simple stories of everyday, ordinary lives, shared between friends.
Here we discover an inter-connecting link of three stories that reveals:
- something of ourselves to each other (my story)
- something of learning and listening to each other (your story)
- something of God’s story and our relationship with him (God’s story)
As we explore this, we realise there is no manipulation, no ramming it down each other’s throat, we don’t demand a set of responses – it is comfortable, cringe-free, and something that makes our lives bear witness to the connection God offers.
Every person who has done this course has felt released and excited – because it works. They were challenged and changed. They began to understand that life is a series of connections, and in every connection God can do something through you.’
What do you get?
The Art of Connecting is a 7 week course. The leader’s guide provides all the session material you need to run three different streams: 11-14s, 15-18s and a student peer-to-peer stream.
The guide comes with two DVDS: ‘Art of Connecting’ DVD contains 13 filmed illustrations for the course and the ‘Talking Heads’ DVD presents the core teaching components for each session.
There are also 8 commitment cards for ‘commissioning’ your young people at the end of the course.
Available from YFC.
Who is it for?
11-18 year old Christian young people who want to learn how to share their faith more naturally.
Review
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What is the overall quality of material presentation?
Very good. The different elements of each of the sessions are clearly explained and easy to follow.
How clear are its aims and outcomes?
Each session has a page explaining its purpose and how it fits into the course.
How accessible are the leader's notes?
They are easy to follow although the timings are a bit off the mark in the 11-14s stream (there are no suggested times for the other streams). They recommend that the 11-14s and 15-18s stream are sessions lasting 90 minutes each. The student stream is designed to be run in a school at lunchtime and last 35 minutes.
Who could lead it?
Anyone who wants to help young people grow in sharing their faith, including young people themselves with the student stream.
How helpful are the participants' resources?
Although the book refers to ‘The Art of Connecting' journals, I did not have a copy of this and they don't seem to be readily available any longer. There are a few photocopiable handouts in the book which are of suitable quality, although it would have been helpful if these had been included on one of the DVDS to make printing copies easier.
How good is any digital material?
The DVDs work well and are well presented. However, to run some sessions you may find yourself having to swap DVDs over as there will be material on both discs that you want to show. This is frustrating as you cannot have all the clips ready to play quickly.
How much prep will I have to do?
The leader will need to understand the different elements and maybe find a film clip or two, if desired. You will also have to check that the multimedia is set up and working.
Is there website support? Links?
The book does suggest two different websites for support but neither seems to be working any longer.
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How well does it encourage interaction with the group?
The course is designed to run as a group and includes discussion, activities and mutual support.
How well does it cater for a variety of both learning and delivery styles?
The pace of the sessions is fast and flows well, enabling different learning and delivery styles to be adapted.
How adaptable is it to my situation?
This should work in most church youth settings and school CUs.
How well does it encourage people to work together in applying the material?
This is expected throughout.
-
How well does it encourage interaction with the group?
The course is designed to run as a group and includes discussion, activities and mutual support.
How well does it cater for a variety of both learning and delivery styles?
The pace of the sessions is fast and flows well, enabling different learning and delivery styles to be adapted.
How adaptable is it to my situation?
This should work in most church youth settings and school CUs.
How well does it encourage people to work together in applying the material?
This is expected throughout.
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How well does it inspire people towards whole-life discipleship?
Session 3 focuses specifically on staying connected to God and explores how we can only share our faith if we have a living faith ourselves.
How well does it encourage and enable people to grow in their faith?
It offers ideas throughout for growing in faith.
How well does it stretch faith and vision of God and his purposes?
The material helps participants to see how God can and will work through them and love their friends.
How well does it connect with real life issues?
It is very good at pointing out the difficulties young people discover as they try to share their faith and how to overcome them.
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How well does it encourage personal evangelism?
This is the sole purpose of the course and is well delivered.
How well does it encourage local or network-based community involvement?
Participants are encouraged to build support networks and accountability so that they can reach their friends together.
How well does it connect with global issues?
This is not explored.
How well does it encourage global mission?
This is not explicitly explored in this course.
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