ENGAGING SCRIPTURE AS AN IDENTITY FORMING PRACTICE (A Version of the Youth Hope-Builders Academy Curriculum Who Am I and Why Am I Here?

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1 ENGAGING SCRIPTURE AS AN IDENTITY FORMING PRACTICE (A Version of the Youth Hope-Builders Academy Curriculum Who Am I and Why Am I Here? ) Written by Anne E. Streaty Wimberly, Ph.D. and Richelle B. White, Ph.D. Introduction: A Special Note to the Leader Why Identity? Identity is a necessary central emphasis in Christian ministry with Black youth, especially because of painful and self-negating realities these youth face in daily life. A focus on identity seeks to heighten Black youths awareness and embrace of a positive sense of self or what Jacquelyn Grant calls a sense of somebodiness. 1 Doing so often means helping these youth to overcome negative selfdefinitions emerging from their experiences of violence, castigation, and hurtful labels, attitudes and action in wider society, immediate surroundings, schools, and homes. A key task of ministry with Black youth is to assist these youth in looking critically at who they perceive themselves to be as well as guiding their movement toward a sure view of their personhood as valuable creations of God and their lives as gifts. Engagement with Scripture: Assumptions and Process Scripture reveals the story of God s presence and actions in the lives of people. Through it, we discover God s intent for our lives through the way Jesus lived and through the journeys of his followers. The narrative structure of the Bible connects with the stories of people s lives today. In this way, the Bible is a living invitational document. It invites persons to see, reflect on, experience, and act on God s presence and intention for their present and unfolding life s story. For youth, this means engaging biblical materials to see, reflect on, and experience God s creation of them as valued human beings and to act on this reality of self in relationships with others. Engagement of youth with scripture involves linking them with biblical stories and texts that provide a mirror for them to reflect critically on their views of self, their struggle with who they are, and how those views connect with God s Story of human value. Specifically, the process of engagement with scripture pertains to inviting youth into an IDEA pedagogical process that aims to situate themselves in biblical stories and texts in order to: Inquire about what these materials mean; Discover that the materials are actually addressing them; Explore with critical reflexivity how the materials inform their thoughts and feelings about themselves and why as well as what the materials suggest about their views of others; and Act on what they have learned. The lesson that follows focuses specifically on one aspect of identity that is represented in one s name. The lesson is part of the Youth Hope-Builders Academy (YHBA) curriculum entitled Who Am I and Why Am I Here: Identity and Vocation Direction. Varied versions of it were carried out in the YHBA Summer Residential Programs and are now implemented in local congregations that are part of the YHBA Bridges Initiative. What s Your Name Introduction to the Inquiry, Discovery, Exploration, and Action (IDEA) Engagement Process 1 The term, somebodiness is cenral to the oyuth ministry framework proposed in: Jacquelyn Grant, A Theological Framework, in Charles R. Foster and Grant Shockley, eds., Working With Black Youth: Opportunities for Christian Ministry (Nashville: Abingdon, 1989). 1

2 Names are important. Names have meaning. Names give us an identity. Names are how we become known. The Bible lets us know the significance of naming someone. In fact, people or places are named nearly 2,000 times in the Bible. Today, an important act of parents, and sometimes others along with or on behalf of the parents is to name a newborn child. Each one of us was given a name during the early moments of our life. What goes into the name that is given to a child? Parents may choose a name based on someone who is important or favorite in the family or someone else who is admired. Parents may also be guided by family, friends, religion, popular culture, or simply by personal preference. Questions or conversations about youth s knowledge, attitudes and feelings associated with their names are helpful and evocative points of entry into linking their stories with the Bible and the Bible with the realities of their lives. 2 Key questions that invite this connection are: What s your name? Who named you? What meaning does your name have for you? Meaning to others? This session will engage youth in: Considering the questions; Discovering how they are known by God; Exploring critically, the significance of names and naming practices culturally and in the Bible; and Taking action by affirming their names as an important and positive aspect of their identity. On Point with Scripture Psalm 139:1-6, O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it I so high that I cannot attain it For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. Get Ready Instructions to the Session Leader(s) Take some time to reflect on your own name, how you were given your name, and what it means. Get acquainted with the names of your youth, look up on the web and write down on an index card the meaning of each youth s name. (Note: Searching for the meaning of some names may require accessing an African-American name site. For example the name Shaniqua means God is gracious as indicated on the website: You may also be helped by accessing: Behind the Name The Etymology and History of First Names on name.com Baby Names, Meanings and Origins on Ethnic African, Afrocentric and African Names on 2 Miller, in fact, affirms the importance of inquiry as part of making connections with biblical material by saying: Questions or conversations about today s feelings, desires, decisions, commitments, beliefs, values, and perceptions can be the entrance to genuine inquiry about the past biblical story. He refers to this linkage as the analogy of community or analogy between the original community s faith and the present community s faith. The analogous relationship reflects how a past community s faith becomes a present community s living faith. See: Donald E. Miller, Story and Context: An Introduction to Christian Education (Nashville: Abingdon, 1987), 109,

3 Familiarize yourself with the audio and written materials. Gather all supplies and materials in preparation for the session. Paper, pens and pencils Newsprint or Chart paper and markers Meaning/origin of your youths first names on index cards Bibles and handout of the passage from Psalm 139 Handout of words to Hello, MY Name Is and access to the YouTube presentation of the song by Matthew West on: What s Your Name? Bible Naming handout The Presence of God YouTube at Get Set The environment you create for youth is important! Arrange the room ahead of time. If possible, arrange chairs in a circle, so that you and the youth can see one another face-to-face. Be ready to move the chairs for small group interactions. Go! Activity 1: Connect With One Another and With God (10 minutes) The session leader(s) should introduce or re-introduce themselves by sharing their name, where you were born, how you were named, what your name means, and one or two additional facts about yourself. Invite the youth to briefly introduce themselves by sharing their name and where they were born (At this point, do not ask them for further information about their names). Invite the group to close their eyes and listen to the scripture from Psalm 139:1-6, Follow the reading by saying, As we enter into this time of considering who we are by the names we ve been given, let us hold in our hearts the words about the knowledge and bigness of God and God s knowledge of who we are that appear in the Bible. End by asking each youth to call out his/her name and after each name is called, ask the group to respond, Thank you God for Name Activity 2: Getting in Touch With Our Names: Moments of Initial Inquiry (15 minutes) The intent of this activity is for youth to share more about their names and the origin and meaning of their names. Be ready to share what you discovered and placed on index cards about the meaning of their names Give each youth a sheet of paper and pen or pencil and invite them to write or print their entire name at the top of it. Invite the youths responses to the questions: Who named you? Why do you believe you were given the name you have? What does your name mean? Ask them to consider whether their name is an ethnic name and if anyone s family has traced their cultural roots. Invite the youth to share what they have written. The leader should follow the youths sharing with what you discovered and placed on index cards about the meaning of the youths first names. Continue by inviting responses to the following: What is a nickname that was given to you by a family member? How did you get your nickname? Recall all of the names your family members call you. By what name(s) do you like to be called? Don t like to be called? Why? 3

4 Finally, invite youth to share 2 key reasons they would give for why their name is important. Activity 3: (15 minutes) Critical Reflection on Self-Naming and Name-Calling: From Inquiry to Self-Discovery Divide into small groups and give each group a sheet of newsprint. Ask the group members to respond and place on the newsprint their answers to the questions: What names other than your birth name have you called yourself? What names have others called you other than your birth name, including being called out of your name? Ask them to include names they have been called that may be considered racial slurs and where it happened. Follow the above discussion by inviting the youth to view the YouTube video of Matthew West s Hello, My Name Is. You may give them the Handout to follow the video or to read aloud as an alternative to the video, noting the reference to Child of God. Then invite the youth either to read silently the words or a different youth to read each of the verses. After viewing the video and/or reading the poem, invite each group to discuss the following: What did the video trigger in you about how you see or call yourself? What thoughts and feelings would you share about your name and who you perceive yourself to be as the result of your name? If you could share one message from the video or poem with your peers, what would it be? Allow feed-back from the small groups on their answers. Invite the youth to read silently the opening scripture, Psalm 139:1-6, Activity 4: Exploring Scripture: Linking the Bible and Life (35 minutes) In this activity, ask the youth to remain in their small groups. Give each group member the handout entitled What s Your Name? Bible Naming. Indicate that names were purposely given to people in the Bible. Share that on the handout, you will find the names of a number of people who appear in stories in the Bible. You are being invited to get in touch with these names and explore meanings of the names. Invite them to do the following: Explore the contents of the handout and find how many categories of names appear. Note the names and meanings of the names in each of the categories. Make note of anyone you know whose name is the same as any of the names appearing on the list. Invite the small groups to explore the following two persons in the Bible: Jacob in Genesis 25:19-28 and Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:1-10. Ask them to explore why Jacob s name meant Holder of the Heel? Also explore the question: What connections are there between their names and the names of their siblings or other members of their families? Then ask them to explore God s role in Jeremiah s life and what effect it had on Jeremiah. Ask them to explore the questions: What does anyone in or beyond your family expect of you? How might your first or given name and your family name connect with what you are expected to be or do in your life? How does verse 5 in the reading from Jeremiah compare with the reading from Psalm 139? Consider what God may have in store for your life. Indicate to the youth that the Bible is a storehouse of information about names, their meanings, the lives of people, their connection with God, and messages to us about who we are. Encourage youth to explore the Bible on their own for more insights on the other names on the list. Invite responses to this time of exploration. 4

5 Wrap It Up! Taking Action (15 Minutes) Return to Psalm 139:1-6, Invite the youth to read it aloud as a litany. You may assign each group a specific verse to read based on the following: First Readers: Second Readers: Third Readers: Fourth Readers: Fifth Readers: Sixth Readers: Seventh Readers: ALL: O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it... For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. Share with the youth that a way of reading Scripture and gaining insights and personal meaning from it is through an artistic expression called The Word Made Flesh. This expression is an acting out or pantomime of the biblical passage. Ask the youth in each group to take a few moments to decide on how they as a group will act out the passage from Psalm 139 in readiness to share it with the entire group. Invite each group to share their artistic expression of the passage from Psalm 139. You may use as background a YouTube video of music with visual background (e.g., See: The Presence of God YouTube at Close the session by bringing everyone into a circle. Invite each youth to say aloud her/his name. After each name is shared, ask the whole group to respond, You are fearfully and wonderfully made. A closing prayer may be offered by the leader. 5

6 Hello, my name is regret I m pretty sure we have met Every single day of your life I m the whisper inside Won t let you forget Hello, my name is defeat I know you recognize me Just when you think you can win I ll drag you right back down again Til you ve lost all belief These are the voices, These are the lies And I have believed them, For the very last time Hello, My Name Is By Matthew West Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. Data from LyricFind I ve been saved, I ve been changed, and I have been set free Amazing grace is the song I sing I am no longer defined By all the wreckage behind The one who makes all things new Has proven it s true Just take a look at my life I ve been saved, I ve been changed, and I have been set free Amazing grace is the song I sing What a love God has lavished upon us That we should be called children of God I ve been saved, I ve been changed, and I have been set free Amazing grace is the song I sing I am a child of God. 6

7 What s Your Name? Bible Naming The Bible contains proper names of ancient Israel. During bible times, parents were very intentional in naming their children. The names reflected an individual s character, function, destiny, or the parents recognition of divine assistance 3 Name Meaning Scripture Abraham Likely meant Father of Many Genesis 17:15-16 Daniel God is my Judge The Book of Daniel David Possibly meant Beloved I Samuel 13:13-14; 16, 17, 20, 26 Elijah My God is Yahweh 1 Kings 17, 19, 21, 22; 2 Kings 1, 2 Esther May mean Star The Book of Esther Ezekiel May God Strengthen The Book of Ezekiel Ezra Help The Book of Ezra Gideon Father or Hewer Judges 6, 7, 8 Isaac He Laughs Genesis 18:11-15; 22:1-19 Jacob Holder of the Heel Genesis 25:19-28 Jeremiah Yahweh has Uplifted Jeremiah 1:4-10 Naomi Pleasantness Book of Ruth Names were also based on animal or plant names or the circumstances of a child s birth a shown in the following: Name Meaning Deborah Bee Judges 4:1; 6 Jonah Dove The Book of Jonah Tamar Palm Tree 2 Samuel 13:1-22 Haggai Born on a Festival Day The Book of Haggai New Testament names sometimes, but not always, reflected Greek and Roman influence. The meaning of Gospel writers names are as follows: 4 Name Meaning Matthew From the Hebrew mattihyah meaning Gift of God Mark From the Latin meaning Warlike Luke From Lucanus, a region of southern Italy John From the Hebrew yehohanan meaning God is Gracious 3 See: Paul J. Achtemeier, General Editor, Harper s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, Pubishers, 1985), 682; and 4 For further information, see: Achtemeier, ; and 7