Monday, June 28, 2004

experiential learning

It struck me afresh yesterday how empowering experiential learning is.

I had talked briefly in the evening church service to introduce a theme of “reflect the light.” I then explained three “stations”, three ways for people to engage with the theme. Each station involved people doing something. I put on a track of music and invite people to participate. People wandered around for a while; writing on mirrors, eating fresh bread, sticking stars on a drawn map of our city.

I then gathered people back together and opened it up for discussion, asking what people where struck by, or had learned.

A woman has been coming for the last 4 weeks. She has absolutely no church background. And as she chipped in a comment, I thought, “Wow, in most church settings you need to feel like you know a whole lot of Christian stuff before you can speak.”

Yet by creating an experience, everyone is on the same playing field, everyone can engage in doing something, and so contribute to the conversation.

It puts a whole new spin on seeker services – rather than passive listening posts, why not get people learning experientially? They are likely to learn more and be immediate contributors and shapers of the community of faith.

Posted by steve at 05:04 PM

2 Comments

  1. Good for you Steve. It is so very important and as you say, “by creating an experience, everyone is on the same playing field, everyone can engage in doing something, and so contribute to the conversation.” I’m so pleased that these evening services / experiments are proving to be so fruitful. Would love to experience them first hand…one thing I have wrestled with is the lack of stimulation for me in listening to typical Sunday sermons in my context, but it seems to me that opening the learning experience to multiple voices and input actually enables a great opportunity for people to grow, to be affirmed,to be challenged, and to be stretched to grow, stretched toward Christian praxis…

    Comment by Paul Fromont — June 28, 2004 @ 5:19 pm

  2. oh yes!

    Comment by anj — June 30, 2004 @ 2:40 pm

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