Our Mission
To help congregations and ministries in our synod live in their baptismal covenants as they are Lutheran churches together for the sake of the world.
“Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.”
Our Goals
Under Construction
Our Team
Pastor Amy Eisenmann, St. Matthews Lutheran, Thompson
Deacon Jamie Travers (website administrator), St. Olaf Lutheran, Devils Lake
Pastor Barb Koenig, Michigan, UCC Lakota, Sarnia United at Whitman
Rachel Puttbrese, Central Valley Parish, Buxton & Reynolds
Rebecah Kjelland, Park River Bible Camp
Shar Gumke, Associate with the Bishop shar@eandsynod.org
Pastor Andrew Schlecht, Kindred Lutheran, Kindred
Chad Christianson, Faith Lutheran, West Fargo
Kathy Fick, Christus Rex, Grand Forks
Rick Frederick, Red Willow Bible Camp
What is Faith Formation?
Faith is a gift from God, a gift which informs, forms and transforms. Faith is a given and an unfolding mystery, a foundation and something to be nurtured, about salvation and life in this world, is personal and communal. We are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ, not by our actions (Ephesians 2:8). But because of Jesus Christ we can live in faith and respond to God’s gift of love through the practices of faith.
Faith formation is about the Holy Spirit giving birth to Christ in our lives. Through faith formation by the Holy Spirit we move from promise to practice in how we live out our faith in the church family and in our own families. Ever since the day we were baptized we have been walking wet in the baptismal promises made by God, our parents and sponsors, the church and ourselves in the affirmation of baptism. Faith formation is behavioral. It is about the faith activities and practices we engage in. Faith Formation is constantly evolving and changing throughout life. It is not something that ends at a certain age or when you complete confirmation. It is fluid and multi-faceted.
Faith formation are the practices and opportunities—such as living among God’s people, praying, worshiping, hearing God’s word, sharing in the Lord’s Supper, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, serving others and striving for justice and peace–that engage an entire community in lifelong Christian formation and ongoing spiritual growth. As churches, ministries and individuals we open people to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and teach them about God’s baptismal promises and how to respond in the faith practices.
Faith Formation 101 by David Lose
Rethinking Faith Formation: Christian Identity and Practice in a Pluralistic World July 23-25, 2014 Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.