- Listen
- We can’t solve all their problems in 30 minutes but we can listen to their struggles and challenges. I love what Eugene Peterson once said at a conference I attended. “Our role is not to get something done but to pay attention to what is going on.”
- Ask Questions
- Ask questions like “What do you think you should do?” or “What are you looking for?” A lot of times, they need someone to share what their next step should be.
- Ask them questions about their spiritual walk and if they are connected to a church body. The truth is, we need God and we need each other through the challenges in our lives.
- Provide Resources
- Oftentimes, people do not know about all the resources that are available in our community. We can provide these resources and contacts so that they can get the support that they need. Otherwise, we may be giving a short-term fix rather than empowering the people in need.
- Pray
- Close the meetings in prayer. This is really the most vital thing we can do for the people we meet. Prayer is the fuel that moves the heart of God and as we pray in faith, we can trust that God will respond. I love what Martin Luther once said. “We are all mere beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.”
