Thoughts from Paul Hill

Where in the church do we help children and youth learn from their failures? You may think this is a strange question until you listen to Paul Tough. He is the author of a fine book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character.  I heard Mr. Tough speak at the American Camping Association national conference and was impressed.

Mr. Tough demonstrates that learning from adversity and failure are the key to succeeding in life.  They help children and youth develop “grit and curiosity” which are foundational for the formation of character.  It’s a myth, says Mr. Tough, that grades are the key to success.  The obsession to test our children on academic matters, while neglecting creating opportunities for them to explore, fail, discover, problem-solve and deal with adversity harms our children.  Our children may be learning how to pass a test, they aren’t learning how to live, endure, hope, persevere and thrive.

Mr. Tough also points out that we have an “adversity gap” in our culture.  Some of our kids are experiencing too much adversity due to poverty, prejudice, broken homes, and more.  While others are not experiencing enough because they are sheltered, over-protected, and insulated. It’s best if adversity comes in manageable bites.

I think Paul Tough is right.  Which brings me back to my question, “Where in the church do we help children and youth learn from their failures?” I doubt this question is seen as core to any curriculum, program or ministry design.  I suspect most congregations are asking, “How do we get our kids to come to church?”  It’s not a bad question, but there is no guarantee that better church attendance will address the issues of human transformation and faith formation.  We must address the question of learning from failure.  Faith is always hammered on the anvil of suffering.  There is no other way.  We must lose our lives to gain them.  We must become the least in order to be a follower.

Well, there is one place in the church where experiencing and learning from adversity and failure is core.  Church camps!  Camps are essentially living laboratories of exploration, discovery, trial and error, failure and accomplishment.  And they’ve been doing this kind of work for more than 60 years.  Camps help our kids learn how to develop grit, curiosity, hope and character…grounded in trust in God.

We are entering the season when youth and congregational leaders are considering where to go this summer with their children and youth.  I am suggesting that they pick a place where the opportunity to learn from failure is likely.  Avoid the “Six Flags Over Jesus” summer youth trip that features thrills and entertainment and go for the grit.  Go to a camp with your kids.  And learn from your failures.

I believe in camps so strongly that we’ve developed a new product to help the experience of camp continue throughout the whole year.  It’s called VibrantFaith@Camp and will be available to camps beginning April 1.  VFM supports the good work that happens at our church camps.