Community. As I sit in differently planning meetings with churches and non-profit groups the buzz word is community and how it can be fostered or created. I guess my thought is, why not just allow it to happen?
When we first moved to North Carolina a leader at our church asked my wife & I to serve as weekly hosts for 20somethings. Realizing we were new to town with no one in this group really knowing us, I told the church we'd be glad to help only if we could do so in an informal manner.
The leader, who knew us from our previous jobs, said , "I know who you are and I trust you. Just do what you do." The leader was referring to our success in building community among 20somethings.
So we did "what we do" and invited 20somethings from around the city to join us and watch "the office" on Thursday nights. Our strategy was to be intentionally unintentional. By this I mean we had no agenda other than to provide a venue where community could naturally occur around "something". The church already had a number of Bible studies and prayer groups but no one was really creating natural community.
Within 6 months it happened. Community was happening in our house. Each week the living room of our craftsman home was filled with the buzz of laughter and conversation.
Before long my wife suggested that maybe we needed to provide something in addition to "the office". Being the "hostest with the mostest" she suggested we offer a home cooked meal once or twice a month. I remember the first meal was chili. I sent a text to everyone to bring their favorite chili topping/side and their own drink. (Note: Whenever you send out a message to 20somethings mentioning free food...prepare to have double the crowd you intended.)
As a former event planner I began stressing over seating once I realized how many people had shown up. Our small dining room comfortably sat 4-6 people and at this point there were 20! My thought was maybe everyone would spread into the living room and kitchen but much to my surprise the group packed into the dining room around the dining room table and along the walls. That's when I realized just how much we were all longing to be connected. Something about that table wouldn't allow them to split up...they didn't want to miss out on anything in the room!
The image of those 20somethings standing in that small dining room stuck with us. I began to think of how everyone needs one of those tables in their lives. A table where conversations occur...you can be you...new friendships are made...dreams are shared...where life happens.
Do you have a table where you can pull up a chair and just be you? Where...you're accepted "as is"? you can connect? it's safe to ask questions or disagree with the norm? If so what does what does it look like?
When we first moved to North Carolina a leader at our church asked my wife & I to serve as weekly hosts for 20somethings. Realizing we were new to town with no one in this group really knowing us, I told the church we'd be glad to help only if we could do so in an informal manner.
The leader, who knew us from our previous jobs, said , "I know who you are and I trust you. Just do what you do." The leader was referring to our success in building community among 20somethings.
So we did "what we do" and invited 20somethings from around the city to join us and watch "the office" on Thursday nights. Our strategy was to be intentionally unintentional. By this I mean we had no agenda other than to provide a venue where community could naturally occur around "something". The church already had a number of Bible studies and prayer groups but no one was really creating natural community.
Within 6 months it happened. Community was happening in our house. Each week the living room of our craftsman home was filled with the buzz of laughter and conversation.
Before long my wife suggested that maybe we needed to provide something in addition to "the office". Being the "hostest with the mostest" she suggested we offer a home cooked meal once or twice a month. I remember the first meal was chili. I sent a text to everyone to bring their favorite chili topping/side and their own drink. (Note: Whenever you send out a message to 20somethings mentioning free food...prepare to have double the crowd you intended.)
As a former event planner I began stressing over seating once I realized how many people had shown up. Our small dining room comfortably sat 4-6 people and at this point there were 20! My thought was maybe everyone would spread into the living room and kitchen but much to my surprise the group packed into the dining room around the dining room table and along the walls. That's when I realized just how much we were all longing to be connected. Something about that table wouldn't allow them to split up...they didn't want to miss out on anything in the room!
The image of those 20somethings standing in that small dining room stuck with us. I began to think of how everyone needs one of those tables in their lives. A table where conversations occur...you can be you...new friendships are made...dreams are shared...where life happens.
Do you have a table where you can pull up a chair and just be you? Where...you're accepted "as is"? you can connect? it's safe to ask questions or disagree with the norm? If so what does what does it look like?
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