We have developed a number of videos over the years to help you understand and implement the principles of the Life of Faith Initiative. Feel free to share the links to these videos with others. You can download the videos as well for use in your congregation.* Make sure to click the Full-Screen icon for best viewing.
Our Introductory Video
A Two-minute Trailer for the Introductory Video
An Animated Council Meeting on Zoom
Exploring how a congregation’s life might change when we seek to empower all of us for ministry in our everyday lives.
Use this video as a conversation starter: What are the operating assumptions at work in the video? What was the ah-ha moment? How might living up to the purpose of the initiative (making the service by the baptized in the arenas of daily life the central focus of the church’s mission) revitalize your congregation?
Two-minute Conversation Starter
Use this short video as a conversation starter for groups. (What did the pastor actually say? What did the people hear? What was the ah-ha moment?)
This alternative version of the above video can be used in situations (e.g., as part of a sermon) where you are not following the video with small group discussion; it adds an 8-second wrap-up about our various vocations.
How Does the Life of Faith Initiative Change Members’ Lives?
This recording of a panel discussion between Pastor Jason Van Hunnik and five members of Westwood Lutheran Church explores how their understanding of being called to serve our neighbors in the everyday activities of our lives has changed over the course of the congregation’s multi-year emphasis on call and vocation.
If you don’t have time to watch the full video, check out this 10 minute excerpt version of the members of Westwood speaking.
Another option: You’ve heard Life of Faith leaders talk about the promise of the initiative. Now hear people involved in Round 1 of the Holy Innovations project speak to the value of the movement in this “highlights reel” from the mid-term gathering of people involved.
Podcast
Craig Nessan interviews Drew Tucker, University Pastor, Director of the Center for Faith and Learning, and part-time faculty at Capital University about his book 4D Formation: Exploring Vocation in Community in this 37-minute podcast.
Introductory Workshops
For a deeper orientation to the initiative, watch the recording of this webinar. (If you’ve already seen the introductory video, above, you can skip from the 18:45 minute mark to 38:08.)
For in-depth help with the principles of the initiative and how to incorporate them in your context, watch the recording of this online workshop.
Video Discussion Guide for The Scattering
The South Carolina Synod developed a three-part video series to guide an initial discussion of The Scattering: Imagining a Church that Connects Faith and Life. Each five-minute video is accompanied by a handout for discussion. (See the handout links, below, as the links on YouTube are incorrect.) This discussion guide could be used to stimulate interest in reading the book. (There is a full discussion guide for use when reading the book as a group, found on our Resources > Books page.)
Part 1 video — handout
Part 2 video — handout
Part 3 video — handout
Interview Sermons
Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park, MN, is using occasional interview sermons to empower members to speak to how their faith connects with their life in the world. You can watch some of them here:
Our Callings at Work
Our Vocations with Aging Parents
Our Callings with Family and Friends
For the Holy Innovations Project
In this 6-minute video, Pastor Myron Hertzberg describes the communal discernment process his congregation uses to make space for the Spirit when key decisions need to be made. The two supporting documents for leaders who wish to use this process are a leader’s guide and a handout.
Helpful Illustrations
The confirmands at Peace, New Braunfels, TX, were asked to create presentations on “What does my faith in Jesus mean to me?” They were given free rein to interpret and present based on their own beliefs, experiences, gifts, and personality. Parker comes from a family of educators and also very clearly from a family of faith. His presentation is an amazing testimony to his understanding of what a life of faith looks like for a young person. Parker and his parents have given their permission for this video to be shared and used for the ELCA’s Life of Faith initiative.
Greg Kaufmann, member of the Life of Faith Leadership team, tells the story of Hal, living out his baptismal vocation, by caring for his wife in hospice.
Dwight DuBois, an ELCA pastor, explores his vocation as a woodworker. In a helpful follow-up video, Dwight explores the inescapable questions When Vocations Go Sour.
Resurrection Lutheran Church in Channahon, Illinois, is engaging in the practice of testimony during worship. In this wonderful audio clip (with captioning) Heather discusses her ministry as a hairdresser.
This thirty second illustration makes a powerful case for the ability of the scattered church to reach people better and more easily than the gathered church.
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (licc.org.uk) has produced two music videos that are both good teaching tools and worship resources. Check out We Seek Your Kingdom (a marvelous reimagining of Abide With Me) and Not Made for the Harbor.
CBS News tells the story of a boy who loses both parents, and seeks healing by making people smile.
The Fisherman’s Daughter, a song by Christopher Grundy, beautifully reinterprets the post-resurrection story of John 21:9–17, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”
This video short was made to sell cars, but it does a better job of selling neighbor-love. Use is as the basis for a sermon! (You might want to edit out the “Happy Holidays” at the end if you using it outside of Advent/Christmas.)
The Coffinmaker, an incredibly well-done video, is a great conversation starter for vocation.
The Unsung Hero, a commercial by a Thai insurance company, is another great conversation starter about being called to serve our neighbors in everyday life.
GE made ads that can serve as conversation starters. One focuses on aviation and the other on healthcare. If GE can make videos that lift up the meaning their employees find in their work, the church could do the same for our members!
* To download the embedded videos, right-click on the video while it is playing. For linked videos, right-click on the link to download the video.)