purpose in community

5 Ways to Find Community

COMMUNITY. It’s been the topic of our Instagram all week long. We’ve blogged about it (see Becca’s post from last week here), posted about it and then we threw out an Instagram poll. 

We LOVE your vulnerability and raw responses, but we noticed something MAJOR. 

Most of our poll takers said they don’t have a SOLID community. 

We believe that there is such purpose in community and that a solid community can help build and encourage us in our purposes, so Becca and I (for any new friends, I’m Meg) collaborated on some of our thoughts on steps to to bring about and foster community. 

 

  1. Meet community where community meets. 

It sounds like a funny thing to say, but if you place yourself in situations and places that give you the opportunity to meet the type of people you’re looking to meet, that’s a stepping stone to increasing your community. 

Based off of our own personal experience, Becca and I met at church. We’re Christians, and we find that the people who we relate to most and often times speak to the same life goals we have, are found in Christian communities. So, for example, investing myself into SOLID (not just any) church groups and Bible study groups was the way to go. For us, many people in the church are people we find that love us hardest and best, when we’re at our worst and best stages of life. It’s important to plug in places where you find people who can do that for you.  

  1. Invest

When you find those people, really pour out. Found your group? Join subgroups. Talk with people, listen to them, be open to being heard. 

  1. Intentionality

Community is a wonderful thing that MUST be intentional. Maybe you can’t be intentional with 100 people, but when you find people you want to connect with, make time to really connect. Go out for brunch, coffee friend-dates, find times to text and check up on those new friends. And although it doesn’t happen always, we find that when we’re intentional with others, others are intentional with us in return: community.  

  1. Find that small group. 

Jesus had lots of followers, 12 disciples but only three who went with Him in the hardest of situations. 

  1. Two-Way Street

In the words of Live Original’s latest post, “Community always comes at a cost.” It goes on to say, “Be vulnerable, embrace conflict, don’t make it about you.”

Community is not just being poured into, it’s a 2 way street. It’s an encouraging, empowering give and take.

While it’s not always a flawless exchange – sometimes we or others forget to reach out or we’re waiting for the other person to act first (I know I’ve been in both situations) – it’s a worthwhile one.

 

Something Extra – Finding Community in SLP

 

  1. Messages

Feel free to message us! We’re here for YOU. Whether it’s through email, on Facebook or on Instagram, we promise to not only to respond but to pray. let’s be actual friends – purposeful, intentional friends. 

  1. Comments

Be seen and heard. our comments are a place that don’t just benefit our Instagram engagement. It’s a place to be seen and heard, encouraged and encourage. Share your thoughts. Raise your hands for things you agree with. Tag friends you want more community with. 

  1. Connecting

Finding like-minded people can even be found here on Instagram. SLP has followers who generally have one major thing in common: a desire for purpose and even a purposeful community. THESE can be your people.

  1. Have another suggestion? Let us know! Hit us up in our DMs, we’d LOVE to hear from you (seriously). 

 

XO,

 

Meg & Becc