Blog Posts

  Recent doctoral graduate, Harvey Kwiyani, talks about his dissertation research which involved working with three multicultural congregations in the Twin Cities area.

As we explore confirmation, here is a resource to move the dialogue into action. Your ministry is a game worth playing in this life, and we want to help you set yourself up to win. There’s a great deal at stake! The goal-setting process below is to help you take what you’ve learned and design…

By Dr. Nancy Going, Director of the CYF Distributed Learning Program at Luther Seminary   And that would be in people. Not in things running more smoothly. Not in a calendar. Not do they like the curriculum better. Why not, for one year, focus your goals for ministry on observing Holy Spirit led change in your…

See this video of Pastor Nancy Lee Gauche and Coach Tom Langemo take us through the game plan process at Monkey Business: A First Third Dialogue on the Confirmation Process.

By Dr. Nancy Going, Director of the CYF Distributed Learning Program at Luther Seminary   We at the Center for FirstThird Ministry at Luther Seminary are committed to walking alongside you and your church as you tackle the huge challenge of re-creating a rite deeply embedded in the fiber of the Lutheran church. Confirmation, at…

Bet you’ve got your head down now!  We know you are working hard on getting all kinds of things ready for “Back to School.”  Including Confirmation.  At FirstThird.org, we’re going to use this month to keep pushing what you might be thinking about how you are going to approach this critical ministry with your youth….

By Ashlea Denton, MA CYF graduate from Luther Seminary When asked to come up with an example of learning from children, nearly every adult can quickly give a response.  Whether it be from their own child, a distant relation or a chance encounter, adults have been, often unconsciously, learning from children for generations.  Matthew 18:2-5…

The Story of Stuff   From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of…

By Keith Long, MDIV CYF graduate of Luther Seminary Something is amiss in how we engage and educate young people in their lives of faith. It is disheartening to witness the disappearance of youth and families from the church. Decreased attendance leads to less risk-taking, which in my opinion, leads to apathy and boredom. As…

  Terri Elton offers a compelling argument for how to practice discipleship with youth in a missional context.

By Rachel Schwenke, Children, Youth and Family Program Assistant How can the language of faith be communicated in a relevant way for gamers? Can the truth of the Bible intersect with the gaming language many use on a daily basis? Here’s a few ideas of how to use this lingo IRL (that’s “in real life”…

By Nora Romness, MA CYF graduate of Luther Seminary If I said something was “uber l33t,” would you know what I meant?  What if I said I partied in a pug and we got wiped by the boss because the tank couldn’t hold aggro and the healer oom’ed during the fight?  Chances are that many…

Interview of Karen Gieseke, CYF MA graduate and CYF Prize Winner 2012 Read Karen’s full paper: A Future I Trust In: Identity and Vocation as the Parent-Leader See Karen’s Blog Post Here