What is re:form?
Reform means to change to a better state. And re:form confirmation is what we consider to be a confirmation curriculum in a better state. About a year ago, we at sparkhouse decided to take a look at the confirmation programs available for youth ministries. After checking everything out, we realized that they definitely needed reform.
We wanted to create something that was engaging for teenagers, but not cheesy. (We love cheese…on crackers, not so much in our churches.) We know that youth today are fully capable of grappling with issues of faith and theology, so we wanted our curriculum to give them room for a good wrestling match. And, of course, we want to help youth leaders any way we can. That’s why we developed a curriculum that lets you lead an interactive confirmation class without a ton of extra work on your end. (You’re welcome!)
So what exactly is re:form confirmation? In three simple words, it’s a way for teens to:
- Encounter.
- Engage.
- Respond.
In more words, that are slightly less simple: re:form is a curriculum comprised of three main components:
- Two DVDs with 40 hilarious animated short films that allow kids to encounter concepts from the historic Christian faith. These videos are designed not only to make kids think, but also to make them laugh. (Yes, we encourage laughter…especially in confirmation class!) You can watch some of our preview videos for re:form confirmation here and here. Be warned: you might laugh, too.
- The Anti-Workbook, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s not a fill-in-the-blank, there’s-only-one-answer kind of workbook. In fact, it’s the opposite of that. It’s a place where kids can do activities that get them interacting with each other, and it’s a kind of journal to help them explore tough theological questions in creative ways. Whether they’re drawing, cutting and pasting, writing, or just thinking, the Anti-Workbook inspires kids to go a little deeper with their faith and theology. Check out some samples for a sneak peek inside the Anti-Workbook.
- The Leader Guide, which will make you look like a superstar by providing the tools you need to help kids respond. You’ll help facilitate conversations—genuine conversations about what they think…not what you want them to think. Instead of giving them answers (which, let’s face it, a lot of us don’t really have nailed down anyway!), they’ll explore their faith and come to understand what they believe for themselves. Take a look inside the Leader Guide, too!
So there you have it. A brief (sort of) look at re:form confirmation. Stay tuned for more insight on how it works, how you can get it for your ministry, and other tips and tools for leading your youth group.
Be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter. There’s always something interesting going on there. (Well, we definitely think it’s interesting…we hope you do, too…)
Thank you. This may be the first confirmation curriculum that has a hope of being good. I am still checking you all out- but what I have seen so far is MILES better that other things.
What ages is this geared for?
Finally! Something to get my heart, mind and soul around to teach for confirmation!! Looks great!!
I was certainly intrigued by your efforts in this new perspective offered in confirmation material. But I have two questions and one concern so far from the sample material that has been available to preview. My first question is about the material itself once ordered. Can it be sent back for a refund should we decide that it really does meet our needs and that we would rather not use it? My second question is to ask what age group is this material geared for? Is it only “teenagers” or could it also be used for some “pre-teen” years. For instance, I am currently teaching 7th and 8th graders who are just at that point when they are becoming teenagers. And lastly, my personal comment on the two sample short films offered for preview. I am intrigued by the fresh approach and the element of laughter that is totally engaging even for me, but I am awfully concerned about how the clergy are treated or should I say portrayed in each of them. Clergy are by no means perfect, but I do think that these short films offer an almost negative feel that I am concerned about. Hopefully that perspective does not persist into the other short films.
Thanks for the note, Perry! To answer your questions, the materials are returnable. re:form is geared toward confirmation-aged kids, so your 7th and 8th graders are the target audience (though the activities and discussion topics used throughout the program could be for high schoolers as well). Thanks also for your feedback about the humor and engagement of the videos, as well as your interest in different characters’ portrayals. Keep checking back to re:form’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/reformconfirmation) to see more videos and Anti-Workbook spreads. Let us know if you have any more questions!
Hi Brenda, great question! re:form’s target audience is 7th and 8th grade confirmation students, though the activities, videos, and discussion topics used throughout the program could be used in high school youth groups. To see the list of units and lesson, head to re:form’s Facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/2fxzwwh. Hope this helps!
You sent our church a sample. I love it!! My question is we are Baptist and I know this is geared for more of a confirmation class. Not being able to see it in whole, will this work for our denomination?
It’s me again. I bought re:form and just got it in the mail. I was up to 1:00 checking it out. So I got to answer my own question. Just let me say I will not be returning it.
First I would like to explain how we will be using it. We are starting a youth service and it will be held only once a month. This curriculum is everything I was looking for. I have searched long and hard for something that is fun and engaging, but most important meaty with biblical truths. It answers questions our youth are confronted with. Now they will have the knowledge to give the answer that THEY KNOW, not the one their parents or others have taught them to say. I have found by working with youth they each learn through different mediums. This is good for those who are verbal, visual and anything in between.
The anti work book is awesome. It is very colorful. It even has stickers and pop outs to do the activities . It has individual,and group activities which give them hands on applications of the topic discussed. It’s not the same old worn out activity or game. JOB WELL DONE!
With it having 40 topics, it is most cost effective. The only problem is I would love to teach it every week instead of once a month.
The Denominational question is nonexistent. If there is something that a particular denomination feels does not fit them, they can just skip that topic. I can say there will be no or very few topics that will be skipped.
Thank You for daring to be different and getting it right for young people. God bless.
We have just purchased re:form to be used in our confirmation classes, but are deciding to use the short videos (which are VERY fun) for adults with questions as well. The topics are great and the questions perfect for those who have been in the church for a long time, but have forgotten all they “learned” in confirmation, and for those who are new to the church.
I firmly believe that, though this is geared for youth, it is very appropriate for adults. Adults often have many questions, but are afraid to ask because they don’t want any one to know they are not Biblically literate. In a fun and lighthearted setting I believe the beginning ground work can be established for those who are wondering . . .besides, I am loving the videos and have been a pastor for over 26 years!
I am already wondering, Do we have more to look forward to next year?
Thanks for giving us something that will break down barriers!!!!! Blessings on your journey.
Hi Barb – thanks for writing. It’s great to hear that you’re already enjoying re:form. It’s also great to hear that you think the material has such a wide range of uses – we love feedback like that! Our development team is furiously working on new ideas for products, and we will update you as soon as we know more. Let us know if you have any further questions!
Started this two weeks ago and we are loving it! It is helping our pre-teens to think on their own – they will be able to defend their beliefs!
Hello, we have just received our copy of the re:form curriculum to use at our church. I wanted to put something into our newsletter about the curriculum so I did the famous Google search and found this blog. I really like the way it describes the program and would like to use it in our newsletter if possible so that the entire congregation can see what the youth are up to. I of course would include the link to the site and source it back to you. Can I do this? I would not want to get into trouble for doing so. I will check back here to see if I get a reply before going further. It has taken 2 years to finally find a curriculum that everyone involved liked. I also got the Anglican Diocese youth rep to buy a reference set to so that others can use it. Janet Eileen Connor – Good Shepherd Barrhaven’s Anglican Lutheran Ministries
Hi Janet, thanks for writing! You are more than welcome to use this description to help your congregation better understand re:form. We’re glad we can help! Let us know if you have any further questions. And keep us posted on how your program is going!
Thanks Sparkhouse! I will let you know. The kids are ed to get started they ahve all been looking through the work book as we have been organizing a pagent, and they keep asking when we will start.
Good stuff here. We’ve been using it for 3 months and are almost through the Bible pieces. What’s missing? Church history — that may be on purpose. such dry stuff and so denominationally specific. I wish I had the skills to do a Monty-Pythonesque take on the Marburg Colloquy. Now that would be really funny.
The session on why there are so many different translations of the bible…. Instead of using the suggested passage to compare through different translations (there was only one word that was different), I did a google search on the Codex Vaticanus and found the image of John chapter one. I had the kids find John 1:1-2 in their various bibles and write the various versions on the white board. Then I passed out the Codex and a Greek alphabet (all caps) and wrote that the word for the word “word” was LOGOS (the sigma is actually a C in the codex rather than the modern capital letter). I asked them to find the word made up of Lambda, Omicron, Gamma, Omicron and Sigma. They found three instances. But only one translation used the word “Word” three times.
We talked about why that was. I thought very fruitful.
Anyway, good stuff.
Hi Jim, thanks for the post! Your lesson on translations of the Bible sounds like it was a huge success. Thank you for sharing it with us. Great to hear that you’re enjoying re:form!
I was wondering the age range of the curriculum and how many weeks the curriculum is intended for use.
Marcia
Hi Marcia, great questions! re:form is designed for junior high-aged students (6th – 8th grade), but but we’re hearing from customers who use the videos with their high schoolers and even adults. There are 40 lessons total, which congregations are adopting for for 1, 2, or 3 year programs. Each re:form lesson can stand alone (giving you 40 weeks of material) and you do not need to follow a specific order. Hope that helps! Let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi, I would like to look at your material for South Africa for use in the Methodist Church, how can I go about ordering a set/
Hi Hayley, it’s great to hear that you’re interested in re:form! We work a distributor, Christian Book Discounters, in South Africa who you can contact to find out more about ordering information. Their email is: peter@christianbooks.co.za. Hope that helps!
Can you tell me – We are a United Church of Christ – which would we use – Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed – for confirmation?
Hi Betty, you may want to consider using the original re:form curriculum for confirmation. It includes 40 sessions and its flexible content makes it perfect for 1, 2, or 3 year programs. re:form Traditions Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed are separate supplemental sessions. They are designed to be used alongside the core re:form curriculum, or your current curriculum, in settings where additional denominational-specific material is preferred or required. To view samples from re:form, visit: http://www.wearesparkhouse.org/reform/samples/. Let us know if you have any further questions!
I was wondering about New Testament material. We are in the NT for this year of confirmation. It would be great to have something for that.
Hi Pastor Mark, great to hear you’re interested in re:form Ancestors! Our Old Testament curriculum released in August, and the New Testament curriculum is coming out in May. To see the full list of ancestors included in the NT materials, visit: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=206518736052983.
We currently have samples from the Old Testament curriculum on our website, which you can check out here: http://www.wearesparkhouse.org/reform/samples/. We will be adding NT samples soon and can update you as soon as they’re available. Hope this helps!
We are wondering does the duck who sets off the canon have a name? We keep trying to come up with one.
I’m a brand new high school youth Sunday School teacher with responsibility for rebuilding our program. I am excited by the response I got to the sample lesson on Moses and ordered the Ancestors series for our use this year. Then, I read that one of the re:form contributors is a pastor at Mars Hill, and I got very concerned. I had rejected an option to use NOOMA due to reasons extremely well documented here http://www.alliancenet.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526_CHID598014_CIID2396222,00.html and elsewhere. What’s more, the contributor’s favorite “theologian” quote is from a Buddhist, who, I’m guessing (not judging) had beliefs -not- rooted in the Nicene Creed. My question is, what can you do to allay my concerns over the influence of so-called emergent church theology in the re:form curriculum, and are you able to detail the specific contributions of Mr. Kast-Keat? Thank you,
Hi Janet – the duck doesn’t have a name, but we’d love to hear what you and your youth come up with!
Hi Jonathan – It’s great to hear that your youth enjoyed the Moses session, and we’d love to know what you think of the full curriculum once you’ve completed the 15 sessions. Regarding your questions, the contributor you mentioned helped develop activities/content for the Anti-Workbook. Another writer developed the Leader Guide material based on the activities, and all of it was edited by internal and external editorial staff. For every single session, there was anywhere from 7-15 people who helped brainstorm and develop the content. This includes things like video scripts, Anti-Workbook activities, Leader Guide material, and editorial voice. Jim’s voice was one of a team of many chosen to shape the sessions. Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any further questions.
Hello Sparkhouse,
My youth group has finally found and agreeded upon a name for our friend the duck. Skeet, we think it is fitting based on the meaning of the name. What do you think?
Skeet \s-keet\ as a boy’s name is of Old Norse origin, and the meaning of Skeet is “to shoot”. Skeet shooting is a sport about shooting a a clay “pigeon” or tossed target with a rifle.
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Skeet
We love it! Thanks for sharing, Janet!