Adult Education

Adult Education GROWING YOUNG RETREAT RECAP

A gathering of 4 young adults and 10 adults to explore the possibilities of finding a significant role in a child’s, a youth’s and a young adult’s life was greatly received. It was the very first workshop of its kind which met April 1-3, 2022 here at FPCN. We are not alone on this endeavor; it is now a nationwide Fuller Youth Institute “Growing Young” movement in many churches. We, however, were the first to take the steps in creating a safe space for 3 days for self-awareness, deep soul searching, sharing of faith and listening, as confirmed by our coach from Fuller, Katie Sanders. Every detail was planned with a purpose for those who have chosen to step up to the fulfilling task of recognizing the significance in everyone especially our youth of all ages and those approaching adulthood. But to do such work, we first discovered that it was necessary to go inward into our own lives. How did we feel, and how did we deal with the various experiences we encountered in our lives? Our very reactions come from this deep place of recognizing that we all carry memories, joys, hurts and “shadows”. And many of us who participated were also able to name someone in our young lives that “WAS” that significant adult (this term coined by Fuller as an adult with a great impact in the life of a youth and their faith formation journey), who was “there”, and who walked with us through our journey of growing older. Part of the Growing Young initiative is “Empathizing with our Young People.” To better equip ourselves, we learned from our young adults in listening sessions to better understand and empathize with them. We asked them what they hope to get from our church family and what it is like to be growing up in today’s world. Their words were incredible as they shared their reality and the struggles they face every day - stories of the unprecedented multitude of chaos and disruptions, fears and losses, and, also stories of hope and beauty. The workshop was led by two professional facilitators, Rev. James Encinas and Grace McLaren, who brilliantly brought us through some difficult questions with grace, laughter and tears. We learned how to listen deeply, ask better questions, and just be present with our youth and young adults. And it was only the beginning. We are now planning the next steps which include another workshop in the fall, next meetings with youth, and the frameworks needed to slowly build a solid foundation for this ministry. It will be fluid and people will come and go with the seasons in their lives. But a true commitment to be visible to our children, youth and young adults will be evident. Imagine, being young, and walking into a room full of unknown adult faces. Anxiety sets in, and you are ready to run out. But then you see someone approaching you, and you realize you know their name. It was that person who sat with you those 3 days, who wasn’t afraid to show vulnerability and who listened to yours. It was that person who laughed with you and cried with you, who reassured you that you are loved, and who was STILL listening. Imagine how wonderful it could feel to no longer be invisible. Imagine. This is part of Growing Young. To learn more about and become a part of our Growing Young initiative, contact Nancy Van Fleet at nancyv@fpcnaples.org.