High Impact Residency Program Teaches How to Do One-to-One Conversations

The High Impact Residency Program webinar series continued our conversations about how to live into our theology of “guesting.” In the August and September sessions, participants discussed the process of starting from the posture of a guest; that begins by making a commitment to really listen to people.

The webinar covered developing a listening strategy and discussed the progression of listening from indirect/non-participant listening to direct/non-participant listening and finally ending with direct/participant listening. Then, the webinar addressed forming critical connected relationships. To form connected relationships, leaders must first focus on finding social mosaics or third spaces, where they can interact with people and develop relationships. The webinar discussed building relationships by interacting at social gatherings, reasons for doing so, and practical ideas for how to do this.

In October, the webinar series will continue the theme of forming connected relationships by looking at how to do one-to-one conversations. When some people hear “one-to-ones,” they think the phrase means simply having a conversation with someone. But when we talk about “one-to-ones,” we are referring to a specific type of conversation used primarily in community organizing to connect with people and get a deeper sense of what makes them tick. In the work of non-colonial planting, one-to-ones are an essential practice. For the October webinar, participants will learn the practical steps of leading a “one-to-one,” including scheduling the conversation, having the conversation, and following up after the conversation.

Jesus does something similar in John 4 when he meets the woman at the community well. In this story, Jesus connects with the woman in conversation. By the end of the story, the woman is telling everyone in town about this guy she met who is unlike anyone she has ever talked to before. It was not simply an ordinary encounter that took place between Jesus and the woman. Rather, it was a life-changing and transformative conversation because it created trust that opened an opportunity for participation in the mission of God.

We hope you can join us on October 12, 2021. For more information, contact Bener Agtarap at [email protected].

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