New Leaders for “Loft 315”
For our Northside members who don’t know, Will and Grace Duncan have recently taken on a leadership role serving our 5th and 6th grade students in the “Loft” class. In the past few months, they have implemented a new curriculum, and started small groups for our 5th and 6th grade students, and they are doing a great job! If you have a chance to head over to the loft room, I highly encourage doing so. Will and Grace have also fully redecorated the room and it looks fantastic! Will and Grace have recently shared their mission with me, and I wanted to make sure every member had a chance to read it and get as excited as I am about the future of this program. Below are just a few of the great things happening in Loft 315
From Grace Duncan…
Our goal stepping into a leadership role with Loft 315 is to foster spiritual independence – focusing on being able to confidently answer the question “why do you follow Jesus?”. We changed the name to Loft 315 to represent our theme verse which we feel best reflects our goals. I Peter 3:15 “Always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you.”
Part of this goal is intentional education. We are carefully curating a 2-year lesson plan which will prepare our students for their time in the youth group by introducing them to foundational faith principles and biblical themes, while encouraging personal faith applications and methods for independent study.
At the foundation of our participation with the Loft age class is a love for each student, and a deep desire to see their faith grow and flourish. Simultaneously encouraging them to love people as Jesus does, ask questions, and foster spiritual relationships with their peers, adult mentors, and Jesus.
Our curriculum plan is based on a two-year rotation covering foundational bible themes and topics. We are focusing specifically on ideas and themes more than stories as a way to encourage students to see the bible as applicable to them and learn to draw connections about the nature of God book to book and story to story.
We have also introduced weekly small groups – split boys and girls. Our intention with these groups is to provide a safe space for students to work out thoughts and ask questions while promoting spiritual intimacy with their peers.
Another one of our main goals for Loft 315 was to teach hands on study methods and skills for independent learning. To begin this process, we have provided each student with a journal that includes guided notes and journal prompts so students can learn how to take notes, identify themes and dissect scripture. – Grace Duncan
Will and Grace are doing an excellent job! If you see them around, make sure to tell them!