Bragging on Confirmation Graduates

Hard to argue with a real-live, normal, good-looking, articulate, and funny person who has a God-testimony, isn't it?

That is what our current confirmands discovered on Sunday in our last class of this year. Sure they put their heads down when us teachers, Andrew and I, talked about faith. Their eyes wandered and drooped. They doodled in their notebooks when we spoke the Christian faith is a lifestyle. They 'tuned us out' as best they could when talked about the spiritual disciplines a person needs to participate in in order for their faith to stay vibrant, engaged and alive.

But, all that stopped when four guests started talking. They looked up. The confirmands made eye contact. They paid attention when graduates of previous confirmation classes from 1998 to 2007 were in attendance in our class.

Who cares whether they heard me explain the importance of Bible study, but when a high school junior talks about how she reads the Bible and how it helps her in school- they paid attention.

Who cares whether they heard Andrew describe the four essential parts of corporate worship and how and why those aspects are important, but when a 20-something guy talks about his Bible study and why he sings in the Praise Choir because he wants a relationship with God and doesn't want to be alone- our confirmands were the sponges as the words were the water!

They heard four young people talk about how before Confirmation they hated coming to church and didn't see the point, but that their confirmation class/experience taught them and helped them realize that now they WANT to be in church and be involved. I got glory bumps it was so amazing!

I thank God that Calvary UMC has so many amazing graduates of Confirmation who every day live their lives for Christ... so that they can be transparent examples of the faith and do the 'teaching' that Andrew and I cannot do. Our current confirmation students will remember what our four guests said in 10 minutes, but forget what we taught during the other 50 minutes.

And- that is okay by me. I'll plant a seed and find joy in the person(s) who comes along and waters as long as God gets the glory!