Frequently Asked Questions - Path
Is this an adult RE curriculum?
Faith Forward is more than a curriculum. It is a program that bridges faith development and your membership process by offering an integrated path. The path guides people from being a visitor, to becoming a member, to serving in leadership in your church. Faith Forward combines relationship building, experiential learning, direct instruction, and practical guidance on how to get connected and involved. Unlike traditional curricula, Faith Forward focuses on building relationships among participants, and between participants and other members and leaders of the church, by introducing them to a variety of different presenters and facilitators.
What does a subscription include?
A subscription to the Faith Forward Path includes online access for one year to facilitator guides, videos, Inquirers name tag template, customizable promotional materials, customizable sign-in sheets and evaluation forms, Implementation Guides, and support from Faith Forward staff.
How does subscription payment work?
When you sign-up for Faith Forward, you have the option of paying the first-year fee up front or split over 12 months. You will receive an invoice toward the end of the year for the annual renewal fee, with a link to make your payment online.
How long is each session?
All CORE Path sessions are no longer than 1 hour, with the exception of Roots which is designed to be 90 minutes. ADVANCED Path sessions are 1 hour, 15 minutes long.
How are the sessions offered throughout the year?
The CORE Path includes enough material to fill an entire program or calendar year, depending on how you schedule it. The Inquirers Series is designed to be offered on an ongoing basis, with the 9 sessions repeating throughout the year. The other classes can be offered once or twice a year, depending on your numbers. The goal is to always have a “next step” available when someone completes the Inquirers Series or one of the other steps along the CORE Path. At any given time, you may be offering Inquirers Series, one CORE Path class, and one ADVANCED Path class.
What level of volunteer and professional staffing is needed to implement this?
The ideal model for Faith Forward is one in which church staff offer logistical support and the structure in which the classes take place, and lay volunteers are the speakers and facilitators. The largest investment of staff time will be up front, setting up the infrastructure, recruiting facilitators, and spreading awareness about Faith Forward throughout your church. Once this is in place, you fill find yourself falling into the rhythm of the year as the path continues and repeats itself. The Inquirers Series Implementation Guide and CORE Path Implementation Guide offer more guidance on facilitator recruitment.