Building the Relationship One on One
It is an honor to have been asked to be a sponsor for Confirmation. Now you are wondering not only "What are we going to talk about?" but more fundamentally, "How do I talk to my candidate?" Communication skills are foundational to any relationship. What follows are some simple guidelines and practical ideas, which of followed, will greatly assist you to develop effective communication and have meaningful and fun conversations.
Be committed to communicate with your candidateYour presence and your faith story are gifts you give. Your candidate offers you a gift as well, through his or her sharing with you.
- Establish a regular pattern of contact. This could be a once-a-week phone call or trip to the yogurt shop. First and foremost, your candidate needs to know that you care and that you want to be a part of his or her life. He or she also needs to know that you take your role as sponsor seriously. This means that you are willing to be present, that sometimes you will go out of your way to be where he or she is. You are willing to share your stories of life and faith, and to listen to him or her and help reveal God active in the day to day realities of being a teenager.