bless.

We use the phrase ‘missional formation’ rather than simply ‘training’ because of the particular approach we take. This is a combination of three learning elements:

• action / experience – through serving others in the context of front-line mission
• spiritual formation – through prayer, guided reading, teaching and accountability
• skills development – through training and supervised learning

Over many years of leading young people in mission, we have come to see the value of balancing these three elements. To borrow language from early-yearsd education, we give attention to head, hands and heart. We believe that this balanced approach maximises the  ’conversion-rate’ of short-term missional experience into lifelong learning. Missional Formation is a key not only to making the experience of mission more effective, but to growing towards a mature, service-oriuented adult faith.

Some examples of how missional formation features in our work are:

• year2bless participants spend one day per week in guided study, working with an on-line tutor to develop their understanding of mission and grow in their faith. Texts include Richard Foster’s ‘Celebration of discipline’ and John Ortberg’s ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted’
• go2bless missions include elements of service and action, but also of prayer and worship, recognising the spiritual nature of mission and developing individuals in their faith and gifts.
• Bethanie is centred on a prayer room in which we pursue a daily rhythm of prayer and undertake prayer weekends and, during training times, 24/7 projects.
• participants in mission are asked regularly to reflect on the placements they are in and to ask themselves how can I pray for this place and these people? and what can I do to show God’s love here?
• We regularly meet with mission participants to reflect on their own growth and maturity and encourage them to pursue depth and maturity in faith.

More than anything else, we want the legacy of bless to be a generation formed in spirituality and mission.