NADCE (National Association of Directors of Christian Education)

 Welcome to the  Lent / Easter podcast series from the National Association of Directors of Christian Education. This year we have invited our Board of Directors and other DCEs from around the United States to share with you their thoughts on the Psalms of Lent and Easter.  Today's devotion is shared by Korey Wysocki from Mount Olive Lutheran in Rockford, IL.  Throughout this season we ask you to consider the message of our suffering Savior and his road to Calvary.  As we journey toward the cross and empty tomb, we pray that you are blessed by these devotions.

 Welcome to the  Lent / Easter podcast series from the National Association of Directors of Christian Education. This year we have invited our Board of Directors and other DCEs from around the United States to share with you their thoughts on the Psalms of Lent and Easter.  Today's devotion is shared by Steven Whitney from St. John Lutheran in Battle Creek, NE. Throughout this season we ask you to consider the message of our suffering Savior and his road to Calvary.  As we journey toward the cross and empty tomb, we pray that you are blessed by these devotions.

 Welcome to the  Lent / Easter podcast series from the National Association of Directors of Christian Education. This year we have invited our Board of Directors and other DCEs from around the United States to share with you their thoughts on the Psalms of Lent and Easter.  Today's devotion is shared by Maria Devenport from  Redeemer Lutheran in Fort Collins, CO.   Throughout this season we ask you to consider the message of our suffering Savior and his road to Calvary.  As we journey toward the cross and empty tomb, we pray that you are blessed by these devotions. 

This month’s episode, hosted by Shelli Haynes, features a discussion with DCE Heidi Koelher (St. Andrew’s Lutheran in Cape Girardeau, MO) about Confirmation instruction and her church’s perspective that Confirmation instruction is a valuable aspect of discipleship and faith at home. Heidi’s program is six years along and includes instruction of parents in both the Bible and Catechism.  The instructional time for parents provides kids a time to hang out with other kids during a youth group time. Because of this set up, even though normally sixth and seventh grade students’ families are part of the program, no one out of coordinators knows the actual students enrolled. This opens the confirmation process up to older and younger children participating, without feeling out of place, since parents are in class learning and students are deepening their personal connects to each other. Each instruction time is followed up with time for parents and their children to talk about what has been learned so that parents aren’t just talking about a TV show or soccer game anymore. Instead, they train and equip parents to take every opportunity to pass along faith to their children and regain a Biblical lens in their family’s conversations.  There is also a monthly accountability check-in with mentors who may be family members of those already Confirmed or other members of the congregation.  The goal is to open the entire Confirmation process to the whole congregation so that as many people as can be involved in a process of transferring head to heart knowledge are.  Not without struggles, Heidi shares a few challenges in her congregation including there begins to be  a large chasm between those kids whose families buy into the impact of the program, and those who do not.  Overall, Heidi is thankful the shift in instruction has moved them from consumerism to a partnership with families and conversations about growing in the faith are now more abundant.  So, enjoy this beginning conversation in our series about how churches are using more impactful Confirmation strategies to learn and keep the faith. 

In this episode, hosted by Shelli Haynes, DCEs Charessa Koontz, Jolene Siebarth, and Cori Woltman discuss regional and non-regional Clusters and how they can be used to support our colleagues in ministry.  In the discussion we find that there are a variety of ways Clusters are set up.  Some groups are very close geographically and meet at a rotating group of churches while other DCEs travel quite a distance to be involved in this support network.  The discussion includes how some groups meet with or include Pastors and others who are involved in Christian education.  No matter how the group looks, the panelists noted they always feel like the time invested in traveling and being with this network was beneficial to them personally and professionally.  They mention that regular attendance is important for their health as a church worker. When they leave the meetings they feel professionally filled up and encouraged.  The outside thoughts and ideas from colleagues helps them to be held accountable, and yet encouraged in knowing that everyone has been through the joys, challenges, frustrations, and successes of ministry. They encouraged others to start groups where they don't already exist. Sometimes these groups could be started with college friends who are in similar places in ministry, those you admire and look up to, or those in the community who are ministering to similar age groups and ranges.  No matter your situation we would encourage you to be part of a Cluster to find colleagues who will become friends and supporters of your ministry every step of the way. 

Originally dropped June 2022

 Steps to help when dealing with conflict :

• Bring it to God in prayer. Try speaking aloud a prayer to God when you are alone in the car. You might appreciate hearing the situation as your speak your prayer without breaking the 8th Commandment by sharing with others.
• Seek out a trusted wise friend or your pastor to gain clarity and process your issues. If possible, find a person to talk with who is outside of the situation so they won’t know the people involved. 
• Clarify the conflict – understand why you are upset. Try writing it down, create a timeline. Try to engage in active listening to hear and be heard. Try practicing “when you do ______, I feel ______.” 
• Seek to forgive easily and ask for forgiveness readily. Be specific about how the conflict can be resolved. 

Originally dropped in May 2022
This month's podcast is the first in a two part series focusing on younger DCEs and how we build each other up as we serve in the body of Christ. We are pleased to welcome DCEs Alex Brice from St Mark Lutheran Church in St. Charles, IL and Harrison Grimes from King of Glory Lutheran in Williamsburg, Virginia. These younger DCEs are asking our more seasoned DCEs about relationships and boundaries...and how they have established both in their ministry careers. We are excited to have DCEs Steve Schedler, Grant Carey, and Brenda Segovia share their insights into they have learned over their years of ministry and are still learning regarding the role of DCEs and the importance of relationships, and addressing boundaries with the congregational members we serve, and time, email, and pastors. Join us again next month as we continue this topic focusing on conflict and failure. 

The National Association of Directors of Christian Education (NADCE) is pleased to offer this Advent podcast devotion for your encouragement as we prepare for the birth of our Savior at Christmas.  Today's devotion is given by Katy Crawford from KINDLE. We are thankful you have chosen to make this devotion part of your Advent journey.  

NADCE regularly offers podcasts that focus on topics in ministry as practical resources for those serving in the Lutheran church as DCEs. Our hope is that our podcasts will encourage those listening in their calling and equip and strengthen them in their ministry area. 

To learn more about NADCE we invite you to go to nadce.com to see the benefits of membership which include joining us at the Tent of Meeting and Emmanus Table online community groups, receiving our Quarterly publication, and getting a discount to our Conference that happens every other year.

The National Association of Directors of Christian Education (NADCE) is pleased to offer this Advent podcast devotion for your encouragement as we prepare for the birth of our Savior at Christmas.  Today's devotion is given by Rebekah Freed from Concordia University Nebraska. We are thankful you have chosen to make this devotion part of your Advent journey.  

NADCE regularly offers podcasts that focus on topics in ministry as practical resources for those serving in the Lutheran church as DCEs. Our hope is that our podcasts will encourage those listening in their calling and equip and strengthen them in their ministry area. 

To learn more about NADCE we invite you to go to nadce.com to see the benefits of membership which include joining us at the Tent of Meeting and Emmanus Table online community groups, receiving our Quarterly publication, and getting a discount to our Conference that happens every other year.

The National Association of Directors of Christian Education (NADCE) is pleased to offer this Advent podcast devotion for your encouragement as we prepare for the birth of our Savior at Christmas.  Today's devotion is given by Dave Timmerman from Lutheran Hour Ministries. We are thankful you have chosen to make this devotion part of your Advent journey.  

NADCE regularly offers podcasts that focus on topics in ministry as practical resources for those serving in the Lutheran church as DCEs. Our hope is that our podcasts will encourage those listening in their calling and equip and strengthen them in their ministry area. 

To learn more about NADCE we invite you to go to nadce.com to see the benefits of membership which include joining us at the Tent of Meeting and Emmanus Table online community groups, receiving our Quarterly publication, and getting a discount to our Conference that happens every other year.