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Personal Stories of Faith Workshop. Don Thompson & Cindy Miller-Perrin Pepperdine University Messiah College August 24, 2005. Workshop Schedule. 9:00-10:30 Summary of Vocation Survey Results Sharing of Stories – Part 1 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-11:45 Sharing of Stories – Part 2
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Personal Stories of FaithWorkshop Don Thompson & Cindy Miller-Perrin Pepperdine University Messiah College August 24, 2005
Workshop Schedule • 9:00-10:30 Summary of Vocation Survey Results Sharing of Stories – Part 1 • 10:30-10:45 Break • 10:45-11:45 Sharing of Stories – Part 2 • 11:45-12:15 Emerging Themes from Faculty Stories • 12:15-1:15 Lunch • 1:15-2:30 Vocation Definition • 2:30-2:45 Break • 2:45-4:00 Vocational Barriers • 4:00-4:15 Workshop Conclusion
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 one’s vocation
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
Definition and Scope of VocationFaculty Responses – Agree A Lot or Very Much • Vocation Refers To • Life purpose – 97% • God’s will for one’s life – 97% • Job/Career/Profession – 79% • Personal interests or skills – 64% • Formal ministry – 59% • Gender – 6%
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%
Personal Experiences of Vocation • I have a strong sense of my own personal vocation Somewhat 21% A lot 32% Very much 47%
Personal Experiences of Vocation • My vocation includes serving those in need Somewhat 2% A lot 35% Very much 62%
Personal Experiences of VocationFaculty Responses – Agree A lot or Very Much • Personal sense of vocation develops from: • My personal interests 94% • My sense of God’s will 94% • Significant life experiences 88% • The influence of others 74%
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%
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%)
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%)
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%)
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%)
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 • God’s will • The journey itself
Personal StoriesVocational Discernment – Process • Intersection of talents, skills, desires and deep need for mankind • Gut feelings - innermost convictions • God’s loud voice speaking through tragedies, disappointments, losses • Ask and be asked questions • Through experience, trial and error, surprises - learn by doing
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
Personal StoriesTurning & Growth Points • Death of family member or close friend • Life’s mistakes & wrong turns • Education • Accepting Jesus • Conflict, tension, growing pains • Helping someone in need • Parenting
Personal StoriesVocational Mentoring - Protégé • From Teachers, Professors & Colleagues • Through scripture & inspirational writing • Via spouse, parents, family members, church family & friends
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
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
Personal StoriesVocational Obstacles (continued) • Prejudice • Family conflict, divorce, remarriage • Manager/supervisor as discourager • Sacrifice in distance from family & friendships • Heartaches, darkness, despair • Church culture
Definition and Scope of Vocation • Secular View • Work, Career, Occupation • Christian View • “a holy calling” 2 Timothy 1:9 • Any human activity that gives meaning, purpose, and direction to life: lifework • Public and Private Dimensions • Work, ministry, community, relationships
Definition and Scope of Vocation • “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet” Buechner • Vocation involves loving and serving others • Vocation involves using the gifts God has bestowed upon us
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?
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
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
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 God’s call. b) Describe a good thing that has come from dealing with this barrier. 3. What barriers are your students facing?
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