Community Listening

The strategy for community listening being implemented by All Nations Church is to start literally in their back yard. Saunders Elementary School’s property abuts the church property. Although they have had a cordial relationship over the years the majority of interaction has been through the church giving school supplies each year. This year their intention is to go deeper and to build transformational relationships.

This is being done through a team led by Tricia Goeller from All Nations Church and Carol Hall from Huntington Mennonite Church which is located near the school as well.

Both churches are encouraging the involvement of their members is this work. I am coaching this team in the steps of ABCD but they are truly leading the effort.
We have established relationships with the school’s parent involvement coordinator and its principal as well as several teachers. We have conducted one listening event with the teachers and parents at their PTA meeting recently and have plans for several more listening events. Tricia and Carol are excited about this process. As Carol said this week, “I knew that something was missing. Now we know what it is. I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next.”

I conducted a “What is ABCD?” meeting at Huntington Mennonite Church with Carol’s Community Outreach Team which includes their pastor. We are also planning for other listening efforts.