[{"id":7896,"order":0,"imagePath":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/860c4445-9d06-4a90-ac5a-ba9a03e3046b.png","type":"image","content":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/860c4445-9d06-4a90-ac5a-ba9a03e3046b.png"},{"id":7897,"order":1,"contentText":"Curious, by Jo Hood, is a monthly column. Jo is the Visionary/CEO of mainly Ministries. Most of the time, she loves walking into a room where she knows no one - curious to learn about others. But she finds there is a certain kind of buzz to recognise another and be recognised. She loves providing hospitality and honouring her late husbandu2019s legendary cooking (hers isnu2019t that legendary though!)
Iu2019m curious. Have you ever walked into a room, scanned it quickly, and realised you knowu2026no one?
For the evangelist, this is pure gold. So many people to talk to and find out where their faith is at. For the gregarious, who loves an audience or to be the life of the party, what a dream!
For most, that sense of feeling lost and unknown can be daunting. This requires additional emotional energy and sometimes takes the shine off the experience.
When whu0101nau/families are new to a location, they can often experience this u2018I know no oneu2019 feeling everywhere they go. When mu0101tua/parents are new to parenting, this can be a regular experience. How can we reduce the energy required to assimilate into this new space?
A mainly Ministries partner has a team member who is the welcomer. This person is alerted and takes the newcomer to meet others after registration. On the way, they explain what will happen during the morning, where the bathrooms are located, and they get to know whu0101nau/family members. By introducing matua/the parent to others, the newcomer u2018landsu2019 or at least can start to relax. Then during kai/food time, the welcomer also checks in again. During the week, whu0101nau/family is sent a TXT or email, reinforcing they are welcome and how the team are looking forward to their return.
As the weeks pass, newcomers assimilate into the group through introductions to others with similar interests or tamariki/children of the same age. The group theyu2019ve just joined becomes a friendly and engaging place with all of the team making it a priority to talk to whu0101nau/families, regardless of whether theyu2019re new or almost part of the furniture.
What else helps whu0101nau/families to be needed and known?
Knowing the names of the adults and tamariki/children is significant. As we arenu2019t all blessed with memories that link name and face, nametags can assist. Being satisfied to know a handful of people well is a great goal.
Noticing detail when whu0101nau/families arrive or while chatting becomes a way to make them feel known. While we know that loving on their tamaiti/child extends to loving on their matua/parent, itu2019s also important to acknowledge the adult in some way so they donu2019t feel like an u2018extrau2019.
When someone offers to bake (u201cIu2019d love to bring a plate of brownies next weeku201d), say YES! This indicates theyu2019ve reached a place of belonging.
During the week
Hospitality in your whare/home is like the gold star level of people feeling known. Inviting people home for kai/food, like soup and bread or toasted sandwiches, is all thatu2019s required. Itu2019s the sharing of time, the engagement around the table, and the rich conversation that follows; thatu2019s what people enjoy. Your whare/home doesnu2019t have to appear as a designer version, ready for sale u2013 its warmth will be in the invitation.
Photo: supplied by mainly Ministries, from iStock
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