Frequently Asked Questions

 How can this be free?
Creating resources like FaithElement isn't without cost. Traditionally, these costs were paid by churches as they purchases resources and services. FaithElement is following an approach similar to the one used by radio stations and magazine publishers... with some of our costs covered through advertising. In our case, we are careful about accepting sponsorships only from appropriate vendors. Over time, FaithElement will also offer special studies and other resources for sale. However, we also rely on donations from our users. Just use the donate box in the sidebar to support FaithElement.

Where is your statement of belief?
We're big on "actions speak louder than words." How we live and relate to God and others is vastly more important than agreeing with a list of statements. However, if we had to point to a statement of belief, we can't imagine doing any better than the one that's stood the test of time, the Apostle's Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

We don't have Internet access where our group meets. How do we show the Bible background videos?
Most groups will find that the easiest way to show the video segments will be with a laptop (just ask for a volunteer to bring theirs to group meetings). You can download our Bible Background Video from Vimeo.com (you'll need to setup a free Vimeo account first). Just start the Bible Background Video playing, then right-click on the video to get a pop-up menu. Choose "Watch on Vimeo" to be taken to that video's page. If you have logged in as a Vimeo user (it's free to signup), you'll see a "Download" button where you can get the video file. 

We often link to other video services, such as YouTube or Wingclips. These services provide video clips of movie clips, music, or other visual content. These services may or may not allow downloading of clips... but will allow you to freely play them online. Wingclips allows downloading of clips for a fee. Faithelement is not affiliated with Wingclips or any other third-party video clip service. We simply recommend their videos as appropriate illustrative material for certain sessions.

The easiest way to use video content with your group is by having a broadband Internet connection available in the space where you meet, either through wifi or ethernet. 

Why are there multiple session pages for each week?
There are many ways to learn about God and grow in faith. We want persons to follow the approach that works best for them. Feel free to use the session page that works best for your group, or mix them up, using "Mental" one week, "Mystic" another, and so forth. Or, select portions from across the pages. It's your group, and all groups are unique -  which is why we offer so much flexibility.

How are Scriptures chosen for study?
We usually draw from the Revised Common Lectionary for text selection. See upcoming studies here.

I want to know when new sessions are posted. How can I be notified?
Follow us on Twitter or Like Faithelement on Facebook (links are in the sidebar). We post notifications in both of those places each time a new session is posted.

How can I help support FaithElement?
You can support FaithElement by purchasing special FaithElement resources and by making direct financial gifts (see our "donate" button in the sidebar). Faithlab (the firm that provides Faithelement) offers creative services for churches (website development, photography, logo design, etc). Hiring Faithlab for a project also helps support Faithelement. 

If your business or organization would like to sponsor a month or more of FaithElement, give us a call. We also appreciate your comments and prayers!

What is planned for FaithElement in the future?
We plan to release new features and adjust our approach as we hear from our users. Let us know what you need!

How many angels can stand on the head of a pin?
42. Now, can we move on to more meaningful issues?