OUR STORY

The original twenty-eight week Companions in Christ foundational resource grew from a vision long-held by Stephen D. Bryant, editor and publisher of Upper Room Ministries. Stephen's vision was to see churches led differently - out of a spiritual formation paradigm. The hope was that as the church was led formationally, we would become the transformed community, the presence of Christ in the world. Being led formationally included spending time together in community, practicing daily habits of listening to God, and creating space to listen to God together that would move to action.

Marjorie J. Thompson, Director of Pathways in Congregational Spirituality with Upper Room Ministries and spiritual director to Companions in Christ® took Stephen's vision and gave it shape. A rhythm of reading a weekly article, engaging in daily exercises, and a weekly group meeting became the pattern of the Companions experience. Many people participated in the creation of this foundational resource - advisors, consultants, an ecumenical group of authors, editors and test churches. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to each person and congregation who participated in the creation of this resource.

The vision for Companions grew beyond our expectations. Groups who experienced the foundational resource asked for more. The Companions advisory group listened, and "The Way of..." series came into being. The Companions adult series now includes Exploring the Way, The Way of Grace, The Way of Blessedness, The Way of Forgiveness, The Way of Transforming Discipleship, The Way of Prayer, and The Way of Discernment. Compañerismo en Cristo offers the foundational 28 week experience for Spanish speakers.

Today, the Companions family includes resources for adults, children (The Way of the Child) and youth (The Way of Pilgrimage).

The Way of the Child came to life when a Companions small group member, Wynn McGregor, had a vision to engage children in spiritual practice. Wynn was a part of a Companions group, and the spiritual practices and community life she experienced there fostered in her a desire to offer a formational experience for children. The Way of the Child, designed for ages 6-11, calls children to recognize their own relationship with God and to create quiet space in which to listen. With 39 modules that can be used as a whole or in sections, The Way of the Child guides both small and large churches in helping children create habits of spiritual practice.

The Way of Pilgrimage, created by an ecumenical group of young writers, invites young people in high school and college freshman to daily spiritual practice. Sally Chambers, Kara Lassen Oliver, Jonothan Norman, Gavin Richardson, Jenny Youngman, Ciona Rouse, Kyle Dugan, and Craig Mitchell, all authors with a passion for youth and pilgrimage, met, worked together and wrote The Way of Pilgrimage.

The hope and prayer of the Companions team is that we would learn to listen to God together--that as small groups of children, youth, and adults meet to engage in spiritual practice together, that we would become the presence of Christ in the world. As we meet together and listen for God, we expect to be transformed!

The Author
Wynn McGregor, author of The Way of the Child, is a certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Educated at Winthrop University (B.A.) and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (M.A.), Wynn's vocational history includes vast experience with both children and leaders of children. Read More