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Personal Stories of Faith Workshop

Personal Stories of Faith Workshop. Don Thompson & Cindy Miller-Perrin Pepperdine University Messiah College August 24, 2005. Workshop Schedule. 9:00-10:30 Summary of Vocation Survey Results Sharing of Stories – Part 1 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-11:45 Sharing of Stories – Part 2

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Personal Stories of Faith Workshop

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  1. Personal Stories of FaithWorkshop Don Thompson & Cindy Miller-Perrin Pepperdine University Messiah College August 24, 2005

  2. Workshop Schedule • 9:00-10:30 Summary of Vocation Survey Results Sharing of Stories – Part 1 • 10:30-10:45 Break • 10:45-11:45 Sharing of Stories – Part 2 • 11:45-12:15 Emerging Themes from Faculty Stories • 12:15-1:15 Lunch • 1:15-2:30 Vocation Definition • 2:30-2:45 Break • 2:45-4:00 Vocational Barriers • 4:00-4:15 Workshop Conclusion

  3. Faculty Survey on Vocation • The assessment included a 75-item survey • Definitions of vocation • Personal experiences of vocation • Barriers to vocational discernment and action • Sacrifices associated with living out one’s vocation

  4. The Faculty Sample • 34 faculty members completed the survey (100% response rate) • Mean age of participants: 48 years • Gender • 41% female; 59% male • Race • The majority of faculty participants are Caucasian • Religious Identification • The majority of faculty participants are Protestant

  5. Definition and Scope of VocationFaculty Responses – Agree A Lot or Very Much • Vocation Refers To • Life purpose – 97% • God’s will for one’s life – 97% • Job/Career/Profession – 79% • Personal interests or skills – 64% • Formal ministry – 59% • Gender – 6%

  6. Definition and Scope of VocationFaculty Responses – Agree A Lot or Very Much • Lifework Aspects of Vocation • Service toward others – 77% • Occupation/Career – 74% • Community – 74% • Church – 71% • Marriage – 68% • Parenthood – 65% • Friendship – 53%

  7. Personal Experiences of Vocation • I have a strong sense of my own personal vocation Somewhat 21% A lot 32% Very much 47%

  8. Personal Experiences of Vocation • My vocation includes serving those in need Somewhat 2% A lot 35% Very much 62%

  9. Personal Experiences of VocationFaculty Responses – Agree A lot or Very Much • Personal sense of vocation develops from: • My personal interests 94% • My sense of God’s will 94% • Significant life experiences 88% • The influence of others 74%

  10. Barriers to Vocational ActionFaculty Responses – Not At All • Demographic – 56%-82% • Personal Attitudes or Emotions – 38%-62% • Interpersonal Relationships – 44%-85% • Personal and Social Circumstances – 35%-85% • Personal Sacrifices – 18%-88%

  11. Personal Attitudes and Emotions as Barriers Faculty reported the presence of: (Faculty Responses – Ranging from Somewhat to Very Much) • Need for personal control (44%) • Fear (39%) • Selfishness (39%) • Desire for certainty (36%) • Being uncertain of own vocation (33%)

  12. Interpersonal Relationships as Barriers Faculty identified the following individuals: (Faculty Responses – Ranging from Somewhat to Very Much) • Parent or other family member (24%) • Supervisor/Boss (24%) • Spouse (18%) • Colleague (15%) • Teacher or professor (12%) • Mentor (12%)

  13. Personal and Social Circumstances as Barriers Faculty endorsed the following: (Faculty Responses – Ranging from Somewhat to Very Much) • Raising children (45%) • Concerns about supporting standard of living (36%) • Job-related responsibilities (36%) • Lack of financial resources (33%) • Other family responsibilities (27%)

  14. Vocational SacrificesFaculty Responses – Agree A lot or Very Much • Desired geographical location (42%) • Salary (39%) • Time with children (39%) • Time with spouse (39%) • Time with other family members (39%) • Time with friends (24%)

  15. Personal StoriesVocational Definition • Our commission from God to identity, lifestyle, ministry, and service • Every decision, every relationship, every work • Discipleship in obedience to Jesus, becoming like Him • God’s will • The journey itself

  16. Personal StoriesVocational Discernment – Process • Intersection of talents, skills, desires and deep need for mankind • Gut feelings - innermost convictions • God’s loud voice speaking through tragedies, disappointments, losses • Ask and be asked questions • Through experience, trial and error, surprises - learn by doing

  17. Personal StoriesVocational Discernment – Evidence • When nothing else matters • Spiritual growth occurs • Deep sense of joy, satisfaction, contentment, peace, excitement, renewed energy • Positive feedback from others • Answered prayer

  18. Personal StoriesTurning & Growth Points • Death of family member or close friend • Life’s mistakes & wrong turns • Education • Accepting Jesus • Conflict, tension, growing pains • Helping someone in need • Parenting

  19. Personal StoriesVocational Mentoring - Protégé • From Teachers, Professors & Colleagues • Through scripture & inspirational writing • Via spouse, parents, family members, church family & friends

  20. Personal StoriesVocational Mentoring - Mentor • Encourage, serve, support, lead, nudge, excite, energize, hear, listen, share inner lives • Understand vocation as journey • Find where deep gladness meets deep hunger • Learn about self, giftedness, passions, life purpose

  21. Personal StoriesVocational Obstacles • Pride & Self-Centeredness • Lack of faith • Lack of self-confidence • Struggle with traditional gender roles • Balance between home and profession • Health setbacks

  22. Personal StoriesVocational Obstacles (continued) • Prejudice • Family conflict, divorce, remarriage • Manager/supervisor as discourager • Sacrifice in distance from family & friendships • Heartaches, darkness, despair • Church culture

  23. Definition and Scope of Vocation • Secular View • Work, Career, Occupation • Christian View • “a holy calling” 2 Timothy 1:9 • Any human activity that gives meaning, purpose, and direction to life: lifework • Public and Private Dimensions • Work, ministry, community, relationships

  24. Definition and Scope of Vocation • “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet” Buechner • Vocation involves loving and serving others • Vocation involves using the gifts God has bestowed upon us

  25. Vocational Definition Discussion Questions 1. a) How do you conceptualize “vocation”? b) In particular, how is vocation “not so much a call to ‘do’ as to ‘be’”? 2. How does your own faith tradition define calling? 3. How does your calling tie to your work with students?

  26. Vocational Barriers • Various barriers or obstacles may interfere with our ability to discern or act upon our vocational callings • Barriers serve as challenges that either • create struggles that we must overcome • create an impasse that redirects our journey

  27. Vocational Barriers • Personal Values, Beliefs, and Emotions • Secular views of vocation, fear • Cultural Values • Material success, competition, productivity • Personal and Psychological Needs • Security, control, certainty, power • Social and Interpersonal Circumstances • Finances, family responsibilities, stereotypes

  28. Vocational BarriersDiscussion Questions 1. How do you conceptualize the notion of a “vocational barrier”? In what way is it a struggle to overcome vs. an impasse redirecting your journey? 2. a) Describe a barrier you have faced in pursuing God’s call. b) Describe a good thing that has come from dealing with this barrier. 3. What barriers are your students facing?

  29. Concluding Remarks • Comments about workshop experience • What was of most value to you? • What next steps will you pursue along your vocational journey? • Our insights from the workshop

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