This year’s Forma Annual Conference took place January 27–30, 2025. Our theme, "Come Away Together (Retirémonos Juntos)," came …
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Keeping Watch: Suicide Prevention and Youth Ministry
Content warning: This article discusses the topic of suicide. It’s been 21 years since my first youth ministry job and three …
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When an Image of God Is Not Safe: The Impact of Trauma on Spirituality
Content warning: The following article mentions abuse as well as specifically sexual abuse. “I’m evil. My mom said I shouldn’t …
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A Free Tool for Formation Planning: The Ministry Planning Calendar
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (Eccl 3:1, NIV). A time for worship, study, …
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Courageous Companions: Reimagining Discernment about Mentors for Youth
I have been privileged to lead training events about the best practices in youth ministry for years. A topic always addressed is …
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“Come Away Together (Retirémonos Juntos)”: The Radically Hybrid 2025 Forma Conference
The 2025 Forma Conference is sponsored by Episcopal Relief & Development as well as over two dozen other organizations and …
Reimagining Henri Nouwen’s “The Spirituality of Fundraising” for Churches Today
In 1992, Henri Nouwen—a beloved spiritual thinker, pastor, and author—gave a talk on fundraising that would later become the …
Prayers for Christian Formation Leaders
As the start of a new formation program year draws near for many Christian communities, we at Building Faith want to offer some …
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Coming to an Inclusive Table: A Reflection on UMC General Conference 2024
On the eve of April 23, 2024, the long-awaited beginning of the General Conference that had been postponed from 2020, United …
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5 Questions to Ask Yourself in Ministry
I believe that those of us in ministry positions should constantly check in with ourselves. This questioning is not necessarily to …
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