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Classroom Model
By classroom model, we mean a structure of Christian education that primarily employs an adult being paired with a group of children or youth. Sometimes referred to as a traditional model, the classroom model for Rio is akin to a small group model because of the relational nature of the curriculum.
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Formational
Formational education is an approach to learning that integrates biblical knowledge with knowing God from personal encounters with Him and His living Word. The goal of formational learning is transformation—effecting change in the person, not just the person’s behavior.
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Global
A global perspective is having eyes to see beyond the myopic condition of one’s single life. This perspective is not only knowledgeable about the greater world that exists outside of one’s personal experience, but it also seeks to participate in and resource the world in strategic ways that will maximize impact.
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God-Centered
Our curriculum and products center on God and not the self. Much curriculum available is child-centered and views God from the lens of self or another person. The God-centered approach informs us about what we are trying to learn about God—not David, Solomon, Esther, or any other Bible figure.
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God's Grand Story
Rio presents the stories of the Bible in the larger framework of a metanarrative that emphasizes God’s self-revelation in His Word and helps form a worldview that is congruent with God’s truth.
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Informational
Informational education is an approach to learning that focuses on the facts and the content from an analytical and linear point of view. Informational learning encompasses mastery of the whole, memorization, and identification as a goal.
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Intentional
Being intentional means that everything we do—from leader and family training to lesson activities—has been crafted to be God-focused, build Bible study skills, and help kids understand each Bible story in the context of God’s grand plan.
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Leader
To lead means to go before and show the way. Rio leaders are typically volunteers who guide children through weekly lessons; they are in relationship with students and families and can be described as shepherds, mentors, and friends.
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Lesson Flow
Rio’s lessons aren’t done step-by-step, but rather have a flexible flow—allowing leaders to spend time in the places where they feel the Spirit moving, as well as giving the kids time to respond to God in their own way.
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Moral Formation
Moral formation is the personal and social transformation of one’s actions. Developmentalist Lawrence Kohlberg outlined six stages of moral thinking and behavior. The early stages focus on moral formation merely being the outward obedience to an authority dictating how to behave, while the latter stages offer a critical thought process and heart change to see the values on self and others for living morally. While moral formation is important, we often don’t teach toward higher moral development and create a culture of "doing" without the heart and mind behind it.
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Overflow
God has promised that He will fill our cups to overflowing, and we believe that leaders should be sharing from the overflow of their own lives rather than just going through a list of lesson points. We want the leaders to be just as engaged and touched by the Holy Spirit as the children they serve.
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Practitioners
In the church, there are paid and unpaid contributors to God’s kingdom and His agenda for each generation. The word "practitioner" includes both paid and unpaid members of the ministry who are working together for the common goal of making Christ known.
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Relational
God created each person with a deep desire to be in meaningful relationships. So when we say we are relational, we mean that everything we do is designed to nurture and enable relationships that people have with each other and with God.
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Scope and Sequence
Simply put, a plan that articulates what material will be covered and in what order.
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Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines are biblically-based actions that can be engaged in individually and corporately. They cultivate a right attitude toward God and are useful to building a stronger relationship with Him. Spiritual disciplines include actions such as studying Scripture, fasting, prayer, serving others, contemplation, and so on.
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Spiritual Formation
The phrase "spiritual formation" comes from Galatians 4:19, where Paul writes to the churches that he longs for the time that "Christ is formed in you." We believe "spiritual formation," "sanctification," and "discipleship" are equivalent terms with the same aim as that of Paul in Colossians 1:28–29: "that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."
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Spiritual Parenting
A philosophy of parenting in keeping with the biblical mandate that parents are primarily responsible for the spiritual nurturing of their children. Also, a resource that will help equip parents and extended family in their biblical role. The primary distinction is that of creating space for the Holy Spirit, the best teacher of faith, to work so that true transformation takes place in each child.
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Tough Topics
Inevitably, topics come up that may feel embarrassing or hard to answer. These could be about sex, abuse, or questions about God’s character. Tough Topics is a Rio resource designed to help both the leaders and parents prepare themselves to talk to their kids about these issues.
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Unifying Theme
A unifying theme shows how one idea ties many different stories and topics together into one larger story. Rio’s Scope and Sequence is developed along God-centered, unified themes, enabling families with children of different ages to engage in faith discussions.
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