Interview families about faith

Interviewing families about their background, family and faith traditions and hopes for their children provides faith formation leaders with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the life and faith journeys of the families they serve. It gives church leaders a venue for sharing their philosophy on lifelong faith, what it means to be the church, and how households can live their faith everyday, everywhere, with everyone.  Listed below are a few ideas to consider before meeting with faith members.

1 | Learn about the family.
1. Tell me about your family (Members? Grow up here?).
2. What are some things that you do together as a family?
3. What are some things you consider important to your family?
4. What are some of the challenges you currently face as a family?

2 | Ask questions about their spiritual life and faith journey.

• How long have you been a member of this congregation?
• What are your hopes regarding ______ involvement in our ministries?
• In what ways would you like to see _______ grow in his/her faith between now and the time he/she graduates from high school?
• Are there specific things you hope ____ learns or experiences as a result of being involved in our congregation’s youth ministry program?
• As parents, what are your plans for continuing to grow in faith this year?
• What role do grandparents, sponsors, friends and relatives play in helping you grow as a Christian? What role would you like them to play?
• How do you currently practice faith at home throughout the week (prayers, devotions, etc.)?
• What do you need from me/our congregation to continue to grow as followers of Christ?

3 | Share your understanding of how faith is formed on a daily basis.

•  “At ____, we view parents as one of the key faith shapers in the lives of their children and we’re here to support households in that process.”
•  “Research shows, that if faith is to grow, then it must be practiced daily. We encourage all families to find ways to pray, learn, serve and celebrate on a daily basis.”
•  “We offer a variety of programs/activities to support youth and their parents in their faith journey (describe some of these items). Are there any specific programs/ministries you could envision your family participating in?”
• “Research shows the importance of worshipping as a family, and we hope that you will worship regularly (3 or more times a month) as a family. Is that a realistic expectation for you?”
• “We believe that everyone has a story to tell and a gift to share. What are some ways you’d like to use your gifts to love and serve others?”
• "Our ministry to young people would not exist if parents didn’t provide ongoing support. What are some ways you could see yourself supporting young people here?"

4 | Suggest a few “next steps” for growing in faith beyond the church.

• Invite student/parents to register for upcoming events, classes, trips and retreats.
• Collect Student Profile form and obtain parent contact information.

As you wrap up the conversation, thank family members for their time. Give the family a few faith-forming resources to "try on" if they're willing to do so. Offer a closing prayer.