Personal%20Stories%20of%20Faith%20Workshop

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Personal Stories of FaithWorkshop

• Don Thompson Cindy Miller-Perrin
• Pepperdine University
• Messiah College
• August 24, 2005

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Workshop Schedule

• 900-1030 Summary of Vocation Survey Results
• Sharing of Stories Part 1
• 1030-1045 Break
• 1045-1145 Sharing of Stories Part 2
• 1145-1215 Emerging Themes from Faculty Stories
• 1215-115 Lunch
• 115-230 Vocation Definition
• 230-245 Break
• 245-400 Vocational Barriers
• 400-415 Workshop Conclusion

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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 ones
  vocation

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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

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Definition and Scope of VocationFaculty
Responses Agree A Lot or Very Much

• Vocation Refers To
• Life purpose 97
• Gods will for ones life 97
• Job/Career/Profession 79
• Personal interests or skills 64
• Formal ministry 59
• Gender 6

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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

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Personal Experiences of Vocation

• I have a strong sense of my own personal vocation
• Somewhat 21
• A lot 32
• Very much 47

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Personal Experiences of Vocation

• My vocation includes serving those in need
• Somewhat 2
• A lot 35
• Very much 62

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Personal Experiences of VocationFaculty
Responses Agree A lot or Very Much

• Personal sense of vocation develops from
• My personal interests 94
• My sense of Gods will 94
• Significant life experiences 88
• The influence of others 74

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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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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
• Gods will
• The journey itself

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Personal StoriesVocational Discernment Process

• Intersection of talents, skills, desires and deep
  need for mankind
• Gut feelings - innermost convictions
• Gods loud voice speaking through tragedies,
  disappointments, losses
• Ask and be asked questions
• Through experience, trial and error, surprises -
  learn by doing

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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

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Personal StoriesTurning Growth Points

• Death of family member or close friend
• Lifes mistakes wrong turns
• Education
• Accepting Jesus
• Conflict, tension, growing pains
• Helping someone in need
• Parenting

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Personal StoriesVocational Mentoring - Protégé

• From Teachers, Professors Colleagues
• Through scripture inspirational writing
• Via spouse, parents, family members, church
  family friends

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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

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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

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Personal StoriesVocational Obstacles (continued)

• Prejudice
• Family conflict, divorce, remarriage
• Manager/supervisor as discourager
• Sacrifice in distance from family friendships
• Heartaches, darkness, despair
• Church culture

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Definition and Scope of Vocation

• Secular View
• Work, Career, Occupation
• Christian View
• a holy calling 2 Timothy 19
• Any human activity that gives meaning, purpose,
  and direction to life lifework
• Public and Private Dimensions
• Work, ministry, community, relationships

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Definition and Scope of Vocation

• The place God calls you to is the place where
  your deep gladness and the worlds deep hunger
  meet Buechner
• Vocation involves loving and serving others
• Vocation involves using the gifts God has
  bestowed upon us

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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?

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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

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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

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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 Gods call.
• b) Describe a good thing that has come from
  dealing with this barrier.
• 3. What barriers are your students facing?

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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