Let’s get in SHAPE!
Hello Faith Family,
One of our Faith Family members, Kimberly Harrison, is facilitating SHAPE this year. You may be thinking, “who is Kimberly” and “what is SHAPE?” We interviewed Kimberly this week so you can know the answer to each of these questions. Please enjoy!
Question: Who are you & what is SHAPE?
Answer: My name is Kimberly Harrison and I have been attending Faith Covenant Church with my husband John since 2017 when we moved to Burnsville. We have been married for five years and just welcomed our little girl Nora into the world in June of this year! We also have a fur-baby who is a large, fluffy, Goldendoodle dog named Bella. She just turned one, so needless to say, our house is busy, but we have a ton of fun! In May, I graduated from St. Thomas/St. Kates where I earned my Master’s in Clinical Social Work and hope to jumpstart my career in Medical Social Work in 2020. It has been amazing to see the Lord at work in my life, and SHAPE has definitely contributed to the discovery and refinement of how I’ve been created and wired to serve- in and outside of the church walls.
SHAPE is a book and bible study written by Erik Rees. Additionally, it is an acronym for “Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences.” This SHAPE guidebook provides the tools to:
- Unlock your God-given potential
- Uncover your specific Kingdom Purpose
- Unfold a kingdom plan for your life
Question: How did you begin your journey with SHAPE?
Answer: I began my journey with SHAPE in the Fall of 2017, which was the launch of the course. Having always been someone interested in strengths finders, personality inventories, and personal growth activities and literature, my curiosity about SHAPE was peaked. Being new at church and in my community, I was hesitant to jump right into something. After all, I didn’t know anyone! I went back and forth several times, surely being prompted by God to “step in.” He had bigger plans for me that I was unaware of at the time. After my first run through the SHAPE class, I took it again. My passion for the material deepened as I continued to understand and dive further into exploring how I am wired by God, created to do kingdom work here on Earth.
Question: How does SHAPE help in personal growth?
Answer: SHAPE helps in the arena of personal growth by taking the individual on a journey to discovering different facets of how God designed each one of us. As Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” When we tap into God’s design, I believe true inspiration and potential hit the ground running. For me (and I’m sure some can relate), there have been times in my life where I’ve felt stagnant, unproductive, and like I should be making a change or pursuing something, yet am unsure as to what exactly it is or where I’m headed.
SHAPE uses each chapter to open up new doors of insight. Partnered with diligent prayer and discussion, I feel that it is an easy to use guide. It incorporates thought provoking questions, scripture references, and provide a profile to fill out along the way so that you have a place to inventory your spiritual gifts, passions, experiences, etc.
Question: How does SHAPE tie into GO(ing) and serving?
Answer: There is a section of the book titled “Unleashing your SHAPE for life.” This last section of the book reigns in and wraps up the whole journey. It empowers us to use our SHAPE profile to “get out there” and serve. Hopefully, by the end of the 7 weeks spent together, each individual will have a more concrete idea of how they are wired, and where God may be prompting them to GO. For me, SHAPE was a useful tool not only for my personal relationships and career, but more so for my kingdom purpose in serving. After we grasp how we are wired, it is easier to identify serving opportunities which may be a good fit. Whether it’s tutoring youth, speaking to and ministering to individuals in prison, or assisting to organize and pack gifts for families who need assistance during the holiday, there is a service opportunity out there waiting for each one of us to say “yes” to. SHAPE will concretely assist in breaking down each part of the acronym as we take inventory of who we are and what makes us “tick.” The Lord wants us to use ourselves as vessels, because he has created us uniquely to do his good works.
I like this little section from a concluding chapter in the SHAPE book:
“The greatest investment you will ever make with your life are those that have an eternal return. Francis of Assisi’s wise advice is worth remembering: ‘Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received… but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.’”
It took courage and sacrifice for me to step into the SHAPE classroom, but I’m ever full of praise that I did. I now get the opportunity to lead others on the journey.
Question: How do we get involved in SHAPE?
Answer: Anyone can get involved in SHAPE! The upcoming class starts on September 15 at 9am at Faith Covenant Church. You can register on Realm or in-person at Faith Covenant Church in the weeks to come. Books will be available for purchase during the first class.