Faith Listens
Welcome to Faith Listens, a podcast brought to you by the Formation Co-Op. The Formation Co-Op is a Lilly funded initiative of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network, in partnership with the ELCA, that partners with congregations to explore innovative youth ministry practices to root young people in a lifelong, transformative faith in Jesus Christ. This podcast will help you learn from the first cohort of congregations in the Formation Co-Op. They’ll share their experiences, lessons learned, and stories of growth from their time in the Co-Op. Their journeys offer practical insights and inspiration for anyone passionate about faith formation with children, youth and families. To learn more about the Formation Co-Op visit www.FormationCoOp.org. Faith Listens is hosted by Rozella Haydée White and produced by the Rev. Jason Chestnut from ANKOSfilms.
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
The Formation Co-Op invites congregations into an intentional listening process that is grounded in emergent strategy and the Co-Op Core Commitments. In this episode, members of the Formation Co-Op’s Design Team and Program Team discuss the development of the Formation Co-Op process, and how this initiative fosters a collaborative community of co-creators and co-learners.
Episode Guests:
Rev. Dr. Colleen Wyndham-Hughes, Design Team: Associate Vice President for Mission and Identity, California Lutheran University
Deacon Jessica Lyles, Design Team: Director for Youth Ministry and the ELCA Youth Gathering, ELCA
Rev. Billie Jo Wicks, Program Team: Pastor, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Meriden, MN and Zion Lutheran Church, Ellendale, MN.
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
The landscape of youth ministry has changed significantly, yet many congregations and leaders struggle to adapt their ministries in ways that are relevant to their youth and context. Through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment “Strengthening Congregational Ministry with Youth Initiative”, the ELCA Youth Ministry Network is partnering with congregations to explore innovative youth ministry practices in order to root young people in a lifelong, transformative faith in Jesus Christ.
In this first episode, Rozella introduces you to the heart and mission of the Formation Co-Op. You’ll hear from Todd Buegler, Executive Director of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network, and Catherine Anderson, Director of the Formation Co-Op, as they share how the Formation Co-Op came to be and their hopes for the impact this initiative will have on the church and young people.