We are so excited to BLAST OFF with you into loving God and loving others!

Get ready for some cool ways that we can blast closer to God – that’s our mission training – and serve others – that’s our mini-missions!

There will be time to explore with your church, your family and on your own.  All the while, God will be at the center!

This month we will be focusing on solitude and silence.  This practice helps us to be more like Jesus by quieting ourselves and listening for His voice.

January Mission Training and Mini Missions

Each week throughout January on Instagram and on this Facebook Page we will post a Mission Training (on Mondays) and a Mini Mission (on Thursdays) Follow us for these posts and more family faith forming posts. Share with the families in your community and invite them to follow us too! Want to see the posts we will be sharing? Or are you or the families in your community not on Instagram of Facebook? You can see all of January’s posts here.

Family time capsule

During this exceptional year, wouldn’t it be interesting to create a record of what God is doing in your family as you grow together?

This is easy – with a few prompts, you can create a cool time capsule. You can do it in a journal or notebook.  (If your really keen, check out some ideas we have gathered on crafty time capsule ideas that we have compiled on this Pinterest board)

January Questions:

PRO-TIP: Date your pages!

Name 3 things that are going on in your family right now.

What is church like now? How has covid changed your church time? What do you miss about being back at church in person?

Take a picture of the whole family on a snowy day.

What do you like about having time alone with God?  What do you find challenging?

What has God been saying to you as you have been time alone with him?

What is one way you can share God’s love this month?

What is one thing you would like to pray for your family members this month?

Learning Space

Ministry leaders, are you looking for more resources and ideas for incorporating this month’s discipline into your ministry? Here are a few to consider:

For your own learning:

How to Practice Solitude has a helpful description of this discipline, why it is important and some practical tips.

Solitude and Silence is a helpful article for understanding these disciplines and ways to implement the practice.

Facing the Fear of Solitude is an interesting article to reflect upon.

Ideas for Families

Spiritual Disciplines for Real Families: 10 Simple Ways to Teach Solitude is a helpful article with lots of simple, practical ways to engage in this practice with kids.

Holy Habits for Kids has this discussion guide and resource for families to use.

This blog post from Kingdom Civics has some helpful tips from a family teaching their kids about solitude and silence.

Ideas for Teaching Kids

Intergenerational Worship Experience

Pastors – Blast off with your whole congregation with this intergenerational exercise.  It’s something everyone can do, regardless of age.  This is a practical option if your services are online, too.

Pastors, lead your whole congregation, kids included, in a guided moment of silence where everyone is listening to God.

As it ends, help everyone unpack the experience,

What was it like for them? Did that feel risky or new?

Was there anything that made it challenging? What are those challenges?

What did you hear from God?