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Our Mission:
Supporting lifelong faith formation in the home and congregation.
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From the President's
Desk
The Christian Education Network of the ELCA is blessed with an amazing group of leaders who have an array of gifts, passions and experiences. This month you will meet Judy Twist, Social Media Coordinator. Not only does Judy manage our social media, she educates and challenges us to grow in our use of these tools.
Paul writes...
Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Romans 12:2 CEV
Too often we experience the worst of social media. But Judy reminds us that we can use these same tools to make disciples and grow the Kingdom. Please hold Judy in your prayers, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get to know her a little better.
Blessings,
Pastor Juli Lejman-Guy
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6 Questions and a Cup of Coffee with...Judy Twist
I'm the social media coordinator for the CENetwork. I'm also a parish deacon for my congregation, Grace Lutheran in LaGrange, IL. I assist with faith formation for 3 to 5-year olds, manage the church's Facebook page and assist in worship. People call me Deke.
My "day job" is Administrative Operations Director at Edelman, the largest privately-owned global public relations firm, headquartered in downtown Chicago. I manage a team of 22 administrative professionals and assist with other office-wide projects like emergency management planning and business continuity, as well as manage the Facebook at Work and Twitter feeds for these initiatives. People at Edelman call me Deke, too!
I'm a native of Lorain, Ohio, but I've called Illinois my home for over 30 years. I live in Brookfield with my husband Jim. We have a 7-year old grandson named Michael, with whom I share all kinds of adventures, as well as an 80-pound dog named Otis.
1. Can you describe your call to ministry?
I was raised in the Byzantine Catholic faith but eventually fell away from the church. About 10 years ago, I was overcome by the feeling that I needed to go back to church. It took me a few nudges from God before I landed "accidently" at a small Lutheran Church. In a small congregation, you need to help in all kinds of ways and, not being raised Lutheran, I felt a bit inadequate teaching Sunday School and leading Bible studies. So I entered the ELCA's diakonia program - a 2-year "seminary lite" program of theological study and discernment. I became involved in Faith Formation for all ages after that and eventually trained to be an assisting minister.
2. What is the best part of your ministry now?
I guess the best part is the feeling that I am equipped to minister in a number of ways. I'm trained to do hospital visits; I preach; I coach new members on stewardship and discipleship; I play in the band; I help with Sunday School programming. I like it that my pastors can call me and say, "Jude, I need your help" and I can jump in and help with some degree of confidence.
3. What is one fact about you that would surprise people?
I play a wicked bass. I played the electric bass for many years and now am tackling the U-Bass, a ukulele-sized acoustic bass. I also played volleyball through college and was known as one of the "Twin Towers of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference." This still makes me chuckle.
4. What are three things Christian educators need to keep their eye on?
- Social media is here to stay. It's evolving and expanding but it's a fact, along with the fact that churches need to establish social media embassies. 77% of people looking for a church or religious program don't use Google; they use Facebook.
- We used to employ the Attractional Model which is Come and See. But, with social media, we are actually using the Missional Model, which is Go and Be. As we live our lives on display on Social Media, we are showing our friends and followers what it means to "be" under the influence of the transformational power of Jesus. From a missional perspective, the potential for social media to be used as a tool through which people connect with those who don't yet know Jesus is significant.
- "Nothing has so touched entirely the soul of human existence, after God, as the Social Media Network." -- Dimka Philip. Social media is changing the way people practice their faith. There are all kinds of online technologies to make it easier for people to communicate ideas and worship. That technology is shaping us all and we are adapting our behavior. But, after all, Christians are good at adapting - Christianity has been reinventing itself for nearly 2,000 years. Social media is just the latest development to force a change.
5. What are some of your favorite resources?
I think my favorite resource is people. The people around you - in your congregation, your workplace, the line at the grocery store - have great stores of knowledge. We seem to not want to ask questions, or even initiate conversations, lest we reveal that there are things we don't know.
- Sarcastic Lutheran: If you want to check out the thoughts of someone well-versed in the Lutheran faith, and you want to add a dash of humor, consider this blog. You will get this blogger's thoughts on various issues, as well as information about the church's history.
- Claimed, gathered, and sent: This Lutheran blogger puts daily life into a religious context, educating readers while discussing everyday events.
- Pastor Keith Anderson: This pastor checks out social media for churches. Few other blogs combine the two subjects, so you could learn a lot from this one.
6. How can we pray for you?
Selfishly, I'll ask for prayer for continued good health and perhaps a break from the surgical suite - I've had four surgeries in four years. I'll also ask for prayers for discernment as I think about my own ministry in 2018. Mostly, I'll ask for prayers for the world. We live in such a broken and hurting world.
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Prayer Pause
Holy God,
You are the Great Creator. Make yourself known to us in our everyday lives. Help us to see you in the everyday things that we pass by. Help us to seek you out in our lives. Help us through each day, remembering that you are supporting us every step of the way.
Amen.
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Our next Facebook Party will be Tuesday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m. CT.
We'll talk about "A Moving Faith."
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Our Facebook group continues to grow with over
1,000 members!
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Christian Education Network of the ELCA
Vision Statement
Building a community which equips, encourages, and empowers those engaged in lifelong faith formation in a changing world by:
- Providing resources and educational opportunities
- Facilitating communication and conversation
- Offering networking, idea sharing, and mutual support
- Nurturing spiritual growth
Check out our website Faithfulteaching.org |
Contact Us
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CENetwork of the ELCA
P.O. Box 9304
Rochester, MN 55903
Phone messages may be left at
(507) 721-0057
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