I began my video by talking briefly about brain science. How our “grey matter” works is really important as we consider faith formation. In order to increase our effectiveness, we need to understand at least the basics if we want the people we lead to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Imagine you are on a long walk with a friend and the two of
you are catching up as you walk.
Suddenly, a little Yorkie-poo dog starts barking and runs at you from
behind a bush. Your friend screams and
starts climbing the nearest tree. You
think, “what a cute little dog,” and bend over to pet it.
What just happened in that moment? You and your friend processed the same
“inputs” into your brains, but you reacted very differently. This example perfectly exhibits an important
point about the brain. Inputs associated
to emotion travel faster than other inputs.
Perhaps your friend was attacked by a dog as a child and the Yorkie-poo
triggered the emotion of fear. Before
his or her brain could rationally process the idea that the dog weighed about
five pounds and was not a real threat, the emotional processes in the brain
“outran” the rational processes. Have
you ever heard of “crimes of passion”?
This is the same idea…the faster “emotional processing” of the brain
causes people to do things the person would otherwise never think of.
This is why sharing stories and storytelling are so
important in faith formation. A great
story usually connects with several emotions within the listeners. This in turn helps make the story…and the
lesson…memorable. Conversely, “lecture”
style lessons that consist of a “stream of data” are usually the least
effective and least memorable. Think back to your most memorable faith formation experiences. Maybe they include retreats or confirmation or a Disciple Bible Study. How did storytelling contribute to making those memorable experiences? What emotions did those stories trigger within you? How do you use or encourage stories when you facilitate? Do you make intentional time to find emotional connections you have to your “content” (your topic or scripture)?
Rev. Chris Barbieri
Minister of Service and Administration
Rome First UMC
