Home Stage One: Recognition of God

Faith is discovering God

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Humbles us. This stage reminds us of the awesome power of God and the finiteness of our lives. Sometimes at this stage we mistake humility and a low sense of worth.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory (SLI):

Stage One is the highest mountain peak on the score sheet

Characteristics:

• A sense of awe
• A sense of need
• A natural awareness
• A quest for greater meaning in life
• A sense of innocence

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

Comfort, nurturing and clarity

Books, classes:

Bible studies, classes, books that help answer questions

Activities, groups, involvement:

Group support for comfort, nurturing, grieving, telling our stories, forgiveness,    conversion, and renewal. Healing and prayer ministries are helpful too,      especially if the person had a wounding experience within a religious setting.

Leaders, mentors:

Mentors, guides who can help us choose activities that will answer our questions.

Stephen’s Ministers who can help comfort and console. Referrals may be necessary (grief counseling,, treatment, healing ministries). It would be helpful for people in  this stage to start thinking about community and belonging, how that would look for them, and what it asks of them as well.

Travel:

Trips that allows us to affirm their faith; the Holy Land for instance.

Worship, music:

Worship that is clear, comforting, and unambiguous. For some the spoken word is most important, for others symbols, Eucharist, physical movement, confession, or devotional music. The transcendent (God is bigger than everything) is appreciated.

What to expect from parishioners:

Low expectation that a person at this stage will be able to give back or reach out at this time. The attention is to our own needs and God’s response

Stuckness:

Martyr behavior, enduing sense of failure, inadequacy, or ignorance.

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Home Stage Two: The Life of Discipleship

Faith is learning about God

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Grounds us. This stage represents the best of community, no matter what our circumstances. Community binds us together in love and care for one another.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory
(SLI):

Stage two is the highest mountain peak on the score sheet

Characteristics:

• Gets meaning from belonging
• Answers found in a leader, cause or belief system
• Wants sense of rightness and security in their faith

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

A sense of community; activities that foster belonging, close connections with people

Books, classes:

Bible studies, classes, books related to seeking, right living, belief systems, creeds, disciplines, living in community, sharing gifts, giving back, study of Bible in depth,      study of faith stages, integrating faith and work/life, study of social outreach/social justice issues.

Activity, groups, involvement:

Group support for study, or sharing our faith and life journey with others. Home retreats would be helpful as well as Koininia groups

Connecting faith with life and work; classes designed to connect faith and work issues, assessment, reflection. Then reaching out to try out experiences at work, in the community, in volunteer work, in social justice issues.

Involvement on church committees, urban plunges, mission trips, outreach to other organizations.

Leaders, mentors:

Strong leaders who share “the way” or our credo, for instance, being more like Jesus .

Mentors, guides who can help them sort out who they are in the faith, and how they can develop, using self-assessment and gifts identification; Myers Briggs, Spiritual LifeInventory, Search Institute Mature Faith Inventory, other faith inventories.

Stephen’s Ministers who can support and encourage them through difficult times.

Travel:

Trips to local, national and international places/activities that stretch our idea of what it means to be a person of faith in the world.

Worship, music:

Worship that encourages right living, following precepts, belonging to community, confession and forgiveness, living out one’s faith in the world. Symbols, scents, visual images all resonate with believers. Strong scripture base is trusted. Hymns that are familiar and give messages of inspiration are appreciated. Contemporary music with movement awakens the word for many. Prevalent message: God is with us and for us.

What to expect from parishioners:

This group seeks regular involvement in the church and seeks opportunities to give back or reach out to help others at this  time.  They give time and money, they seek out social activities, and they get their children involved.

Stuckness:

Legalistic, moralistic, faith by negation, we vs. they, fear.

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Stage Three: The Productive Life

Faith is working for God 

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Rewards us. This stage represents the best of our gifts and talents and allows us to use them with confidence, to do the work we love to do.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory
(SLI):

Stage Three is the highest peak on the score sheet

Characteristics:

• Values uniqueness in the community
• Responsibility
• Value placed on symbols of accomplishment, or a spiritual goal reached

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

Finding my unique gifts and contributions in order to be productive

Books, classes:

Bible studies, classes, books that help people connect with their gifts and how those can  be used in the church and the world. Finding MY unique contribution to church and the world and doing it, even leading others who are participating.

Activities, groups, involvement:

Leadership opportunities, goal oriented ministries, outreach to further God’s cause, leading or getting more deeply involved with mission trips or community programs, serving as leaders of church boards, hospitality activities, council, confirmation, book or Bible studies, Sunday school, social justice/outreach projects.

Leaders, mentors:

Mentors, guides to assist in self-assessment; leadership assessment, training, Spiritual Life Inventory, other faith assessments, gift assessment. May begin    mentoring others.  Introducing the concept of a quiet spirit through centering      activities  or ritual is important at this time. Opportunities that allow for a balance of action and of reflection. Introduce the concept of solitude in a non-threatening way.

Stehen’s Ministers who can help support them through difficult times

Travel:

Trips that allow us to use our gifts and live out our leadership in faith; we might co-lead a mission trip, start an outreach group, bring supplies to others who are on a special mission.

Worship. music:

Worship that equips people to serve, allows them to feel good about their contribution, encourages them, gives the feeling of God’s power. Symbols, rituals that reinforce our right relationship, like commissioning services, are appreciated. Music that gives us messages of energy and power, power to do something with our lives; to serve, to lead. Theatrical and musical productions that involve us and use our gifts fully.

What to expect from parishioners:

High expectation that a person at this stage will be active, give back or reach out at this time. The attention is to our own and other’s need and God’s response

Stuckness:

Weary in well-doing, indispensable, competition, playing God.

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Home Stage Four: The Journey Inward

Faith is rediscovering God

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Unsettles us. This stage represents the times when we are called to a new awareness and a time of questioning; questioning faith, God, church, our experience of the Holy, or our confidence.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory
(SLI):

Stage Four is highest peak, although there may be several stages that appear to be similar, which is a sign of confusion.

Characteristics:

• Life or faith crisis
• Loss of certainties in life and faith
• A search for direction, not answers
• Pursuit of personal integrity in relation to God
• Releasing God from the box
• Apparent loss of faith

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

The questions and uncertainties instead of the answers

Books, classes:

Bible studies, classes, books that raise questions, are holistic, encourage a search for faith, life, church, meaning. No ready answers. But a willingness to consider  a “Calling,”  a vocation in life/work. May require time to be inward and not outward.

Activities, groups, involvement:

Reflection opportunities: retreats, quiet rooms, personal/musing newsletters, inner journey classes, dance, solitude, labyrinth, icons, poetry, body work, lives of saints, journaling, nature, art, music, clay, fairy tales, stories (especially our own story); all with an  intent of deepening the journey or addressing one’s calling or unanswered questions.

Leaders, mentors:

Spiritual direction or pastoral counseling; safe places to explore faith as a process, prayer and discernment as central to transformation. Self-assessment that allows for deeper meaning; Enneagram, SLI with counseling.

May serve as mentors, guides to others by being trained in the inner journey. May wish to be trained as a spiritual director. Lead self-assessment; leadership assessment, gifts training, (with a quiet spirit using centering activities or ritual). Make a goal to have a balance of action and reflection. Supervision is vital and necessary for anyone who is walking with another on their spiritual journey.

Travel:

Pilgrimages to holy places, reflective spaces, retreat centers, international healing sites.

Worship, music:

Worship as an absorption of mystery, love, hope. Words or music that deepen, ask probing questions, quiet us down, ask us to ponder. Chanting is one example. One word or a line of music is worship. Relates to God as personal, imminent. Personal ritual is especially meaningful at this stage.

What to expect from parishioners

Expectation that this person will be less active, although they will give back       in their own unique way. They are guided by inner reflection and seeking out their vocation or their calling.

Stuckness:

Unable to reach out or in, continue questioning, revert to safe place, drop out

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The WALL

Our will faces God’s will

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Unmasks us. This stage represents the deep journey of healing our darkness and uncovering God’s will in our lives. Stage One sometimes feels like a Wall and it is usually a precursor to this deeper uncovering.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory
(SLI):

The WALL is highest peak

Characteristics:

• Knowing it is time to face the truth
• Letting God’s will be your will
• Uncovering your deepest secrets, fears, wounds
• Considering unconditional love
• Feeling like you are in the muck

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

The inner journey through the darkness

Books, classes:

Biblical references to help face deepest fears, the dark night of the soul, transformation. Hearing other people’s stories of moving through the darkness, guides for discernment. An ongoing willingness to hear a “Calling” coming from this darkness, although almost impossible at times. Issues that usually need addressing are God images, childhood wounds, painful unhealed experiences, violence, abuse, unresolved loss and grief.

Activities, groups, involvement:

Reflection opportunities: retreats, quiet rooms, personal/musing, newsletters. All other activities may need to be curtailed or designed carefully by the individual and the people who are guiding this journey, all with an intent of healing the person or addressing deeper issues or unanswered questions.

Rituals are most effective in the healing process; burying old hurts, forgiveness rituals, divorce services, letters of amends, grieving losses etc.

Leaders, mentors:

Spiritual direction or pastoral counseling and therapy are helpful for safe transformation; safe places to explore faith as a process, prayer as central to transformation. Self- assessment that allows for deeper meaning; Enneagram, psychological tests.

As they move through the healing process they make good mentors, guides to others , or trained spiritual directors. May do some leading of assessment activities. Supervision is vital and necessary for anyone leading another in a spiritually  deepening experience.

Travel:

Pilgrimages to holy places or reflective spaces may facilitate a breakthrough.  Involving a ritual is exceptionally helpful.

Worship, music:

Worship may not hold much meaning during a WALL experience. They may have to ask others to pray because they may be unable to at this time. Music that has special healing properties or brings solace is helpful. Touch may be the most important sense to use—a shawl around one’s shoulders, someone washing our feet.

What to expect from parishioners

Not much involvement, but if there is, it is at a level of healing activity, mentoring or spiritual direction.

Stuckness:

Denial, revert to safety, abandon faith.

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Stage Five: The Journey Outward

Faith is surrendering to God

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Transforms us. This stage represents the working out of our calling, the calling that first became clear in the Wall. We are so moved by love and by the freedom of healing and forgiveness that we find ways to live that out with others.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory
(SLI):

Stage Five is highest peak

Characteristics:

• A renewed sense of God’s acceptance
• A new sense of the horizontal life
• Sense of calling, vocation or ministry
• Concern and focus on other’s best interests
• A deep calm or stillness

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

The horizontal life of following our calling/vocation

Books, classes:

Individualized: They have learned what keeps them connected to God and they have developed disciplines that are part of their lives, those that promote inner calm and clarity. They focus on God’s love and on ministry in everyday life. They live out of their Center and are natural healers. Prayer is their way of life. Forgiveness and reconciliation are their bywords. They are clear about their calling. And they have let go of their anger and grief over past wounds.

Activities, groups, involvement:

Any spiritual formation center needs to find, support and utilize these people as much as possible. They will be the grounded base for the ongoing development of the center’s activities and the leadership training component, which is crucial. Spiritual direction and supervision are vital and necessary for people who live at this stage especially if they are to be involved in any leadership positions.

Leaders, mentors:

Mentoring: They would be good at training other mentors, acting as spiritual directors or supervisors of others. They also work well behind the scenes, like one-to-one work, or projects that support others to do their work.

They are good at gently challenging others if needed, acting as healers, as master healers, training others to be spiritual healers, or co-journeying with leaders as part of a support system. They may enjoy planning rituals of healing.

Travel:

They would make excellent leaders or participants of any travel experience

Worship, music:

Worship takes on meaning that is unique to each individual. Intimacy is more   crucial than communal worship and community is appreciated.  One’s life begins to be a means of worship. One line of music may be sung/played over and over as a way to connect to the Holy. God is intimate.

What to expect from parishioners

Involvement in the deeper life of faith in ways that are individual and supportive of the ongoing calling of the person

Stuckness:

Appears to be impractical or not caring about important things.

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Stage Six: The Life of Love

Faith is reflecting God

Role of this stage in the life of faith:

Transcends us. This stage represents not our work, our calling, our life, but the life we live in God. It is all about the transcendent life we live beyond ourselves but rooted in God.

Correlation with the Spiritual Life Inventory
(SLI):

Stage Six is highest peak: They probably will be uninterested in taking this or   any other test, not because they are not self reflective, but because they know   themselves well now and are not interested in being validated or recognized.

Characteristics:

• Christ-like living in total obedience to God
• Wisdom gained from life’s struggles
• Compassionate living for others
• Life lived from underneath or on top
• Life abandoned

Spiritual formation activities:

Focus:

Obedience and wisdom

Books, classes:

Use them in the spiritual formation activities as wisdom figures. They have their own disciplines developed so they usually do not depend on programs for that, but they need to be allowed to connect, tell their stories, give, teach, or just “be.”

Activities, groups involvement:

They model intimacy with God and compassion in various manifestations. They work  well behind the scenes and in informal relationships.

Encourage others to be involved with them in their ministries and in their lives. Let them be role models just by the way they are with people and with faith. All of their lives are ministry; this can be absorbed when you are around them.

Leaders, mentors:

They are role models for loving detachment and letting go. Since they are un-  afraid of death, their egos are not involved and others can learn a lot from them.

They would be good as informal or formal trainers, supervisors and supporters of others who do the front-line work.

Travel:

Use them in any way possible with people who are journeying into uncharted territory

Worship, music:

Their lives are examples of worship and intimate connection. Music is the language of  their soul. Intimacy with God is the most important issue for them.

What to expect from parishioners

Modeling intimacy with God.

Stuckness:

Appears to give up critical things, waste life, or neglect oneself.

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