WCF’S FAITHLAUNCH PROGRAM

Paul Elliot & Mark Drabenstott

WCF completed FaithLaunch 2 in May 2022—the second year for this initiative. FaithLaunch is a personal faith development program for young adults ages 18-35 embarking on independent life. The goal is to equip them to grow faith across life. Embarkation could involve, for example, entering university, beginning a career, or starting a family. FaithLaunch has reached more than 150 young adults from around the world during its two years. It has also engaged more than 50 brothers and sisters who agreed to be Faith Mentors for the participants. The program was implemented through the loving work of a team of 25 brothers and sisters from around the world. The program has spawned many blessings for all involved.

What is FaithLaunch? It is a program with one critical goal: Prepare young disciples for a faith-filled life as they launch into the unknown. It is designed to inspire and nurture growth in faith—and to prepare and support participants as they navigate through life’s inevitable faith challenges on a college campus, in the workplace, in a family, and/or in ecclesial life.

In designing the program, we drew inspiration from the Apollo space program. Preparation, training, and the right tools were essential for a long journey into space. Astronauts had everything they needed to be successful in their journey. In similar fashion, FaithLaunch shares with today’s young adults what we (more seasoned adults) wish we had known about faith and life when we were their age.

The program focuses on a whole faith—one of head, heart, and hands. It outfits a faith journey by providing basic tools, training, and an understanding of faith issues. It focuses on tools that enable faith-based decisions, big and small. It helps participants find their inner gifts while challenging them to use them in service to others. It combines all this in a personalized faith plan that can guide a person into the future.

FaithLaunch recognizes that none of us takes our faith journey alone. The program shares with participants valuable lessons from those who have gone before them. It connects young adults with networks of peers and faithful mentors. Above all, it helps them develop a strong relationship with our Lord.

How did the program operate? We originally designed FaithLaunch as an in-person retreat—but then the pandemic intervened. As a result, FaithLaunch started as a virtual program in Fall 2020 and ran for 26 weeks. More than a hundred young persons from around the world met every Sunday afternoon for 90 minutes of faith-building content, faith lessons from mentors, and peer discussions. The virtual format turned into a blessing since it afforded an opportunity for many more young adults, mentors, and program leaders to meet each week. FaithLaunch 2 started in the fall of 2021, continuing the virtual format for another 26 weeks. The 90-plus participants included some from FaithLaunch 1.

A critical part of the program was the content designed to equip lifelong faith journeys. Nine critical topics were addressed over the two half-year programs:

The goal was to show how each tool helps faith grow—and make them so familiar that participants instinctively reach for them along their future journey.

A vital element was the Faith Mentor program. We recruited more than 50 brothers and sisters to share some of their life lessons and also to be a faithful guide and friend to the participants. The faith life summaries that they shared provided many high points in the program—creating a powerful bond that spanned generations. Many participants are now connected with mentors who care for their journey and are eager to help along the way.

Another important program element was creating Faith Development Groups. Each participant joined six or seven peers in a group designed to encourage one another in faith development. We hope many of these relationships will endure long after the FaithLaunch has ended.

What are the benefits? Participants viewed the program as unique and beneficial. Decision tools were quickly put to good use. The focus on lifelong faith offered a compass many said they needed. Some made commitments to serve after learning more about how they use their gift to give back. A strong benefit from the program was the enthusiastic engagement of the mentors. They found the content to be very helpful—and learned about themselves through preparing their own faith life lines. The FaithLaunch team discovered a shared sense of purpose that strengthened their own faith. For all these reasons, FaithLaunch 3 will begin, God willing, in Fall 2022.

If you'd like to be part of FaithLaunch as a participant, section leader, or Faith Mentor, please contact Bro. Seth Wubbels for more information: swubbels@wcfoundation.org

– Paul Elliot & Mark Drabenstott