LISTENING

Last Sunday, Jubilee had a booth at Faith Fest, an annual IU event where different faith groups on campus set up tables and new students stop by to see which group they might like to be a part of.  There are probably 20 booths arranged in a large circle and students just sort of wander around, stopping by some booths but not others…avoiding eye contact at some booths…tentatively picking up a pamphlet or a piece of candy at a different booth…

You can see the hesitation and unease on these young faces as they walk from booth to booth…will these people like me?  Will we have something in common?  Is this that scary kind of Christian group (whatever that means!)?
          
We want to feel safe.  To feel accepted.

To know that we are loved.
          
Our Jubilee student interns (Kaylee, Laura, and Sarah), were absolute pros at making people feel safe, and accepted.  They didn’t start with a pitch, or a mission statement, or by shoving pamphlets at students...just a simple, "Hi, my name’s Kaylee…what’s yours?"

"Where are you from?"

"How do you like IU so far?"

"What are you majoring in?"

And then…they would listen.

Really listen.

The students would open up, let down their walls, and just have a conversation.  Eventually, when asked, our interns would tell them that Jubilee was an authentic and inclusive Christ-centered community in the United Methodist tradition.  They’d let the student know that we meet every Wednesday night at 7:30 at the Bloomington Sandwich Company for a free meal and then a discussion, worship, and hanging out.  When asked what we’re all about, the interns would reply, "We’re about community…and connections.  We do a lot of things, but, really, it’s about being a community of faith."

After watching Laura (one of our interns) have her first conversation, I was in awe.  It was so genuine, and she was able to make a real connection! People can spot a salesman from a mile away…but people can also spot someone who takes the time to listen, and who genuinely cares.

"Wow!  How did you do that?  That was awesome!" I asked her.

Without dropping a beat, in the most sarcastic tone she replies, "Do what?  Listen to someone? It’s what we do, Travis."

Wise words.  May we be a community that listens and that listens well, to God and to each other.

The next two weeks, please wear your Jubilee t-shirts in worship on Sunday.  If you see a college student or young adult, say hello, introduce yourself, and then listen.  Finally, if you meet or know of someone who might be interested in Jubilee, let us know…we would love to contact them.

I don’t think a single student has ever contacted us when someone gave them our information, but when we reach out ourselves, they’re usually really happy to get together and grab a cup of coffee.  So, it’s much more hospitable if we can reach out to them rather than asking them to email some tall guy they’ve never met before!

Love wins,

T & D

PS – We’ve got a new website! www.jubileebloomington.org