How to Engage with Newly Blessed Couples

Why are we talking about this? We see that young adults often become less active over time. Those that are active will seemingly fade away after they have received the Blessing. Many may feel unsure of how to re-engage these young adults and Newly Blessed Couples.

Welcome them into your Community 1 Welcome them into your Community Hold a celebration for them after their Blessing Ceremony

What this looks like: Blessing Ceremony Local Celebration Connection

Why a Second Ceremony? Couples receiving the Blessing in Korea will not feel connected locally. Couples receiving the Blessing locally will still need to be welcomed as a Blessed Couple afterwards. This is a great way to help all couples begin their relationship and support system with the other local couples.

Other benefits of a Community Ceremony Opportunity to engage couples Blessed within the last few years by asking them to help coordinate this celebration. May be an opportune time to bequeath Holy Items to each couple. Personally help them feel loved by giving a Blessing gift - a marriage enrichment book, a date night restaurant coupon, and something spicy.

What can this Ceremony Look Like? Food, music and fun. Each couple is personally introduced. Testimonies from couples Blessed within the last few years. A time is made during which each couple is personally invited to four dinners; such as from the pastor, the local BFM Coordinator’s family and two other couples.

What NOT to say! What to say Don’t focus on Taking Focus on Giving If you need help with _____, please call me! Please come over for dinner! Have you met (another young Blessed couple)? Let me introduce you! Did you start your family?! Can you talk to my son/daughter about getting Blessed? Can you be our Young Adult Minister? Don’t focus on Taking Focus on Giving

Knowing and respecting how they experience God 2 Knowing and respecting how they experience God Understanding the different spiritual styles

What Spiritual Styles Come to mind? Sunday Service Prayer HDH Indemnity Conditions

9 Spiritual Styles Naturalist Sensor Traditionalist Ascetic Activist Naturalists experience God through the outdoors. Their hearts open and are able to communicate to God when in nature and by experience the beauty of creation. Sensor Sensors feel Heavenly Parent through the senses, through beautiful structures in which to worship, heavenly scents and beautiful music that touches your soul. Traditionalist Traditionalists feel God and take comfort through generations-old core beliefs, rituals and symbols. It is through these sacred practices that they feel God’s love. Ascetic Ascetic experience God in simplicity - through solitude, meditation, fasting, discipline and sacrifice. It is through this deep, personal investment that they experience God’s love. Activist Activist feel the tug of God through the conscience, and feel moved by a sense of God’s aching heart over the suffering of people of the world, and feel compelled to fight for a cause. Caregiver Caregivers experience God by helping those in need. Their compassionate hearts bursts with concern and energy to heal and encourage those in need, representing God’s heart. Enthusiast Enthusiasts experience God through expressive and active devotion, and like to worship God with bodily enthusiasm, celebration, song, preaching and sharing. Contemplative Contemplatives experience God and form new expressions of faith through processing their insights and using their creativity to express them. Intellectual Intellectuals experience God when he or she gains knowledge and understanding. They discover God through scripture, theology, science, and history.

As a community, we want to spiritually nourish each person in their unique way.

We Often Focus on the Traditionalist Spiritual Style

How can we support the Naturalist?

The Sensor

The Caregiver

Help Connect them by Knowing Them 3 Help Connect them by Knowing Them How to inspire them to contribute in their own unique way

Focus on Giving Discover who they are, without expectation of what they can do for you.

Don’t focus on Taking Focus on Giving Don’t jump to what your needs are Giving sermons... MC at service... Babysitter… Ushers... Discover what their needs and passions are Empower them to start a small group based off of their own passion. Connect them with other couples.

When couples receive from their community, then will naturally want to give back

So Remember... Welcome them into your community. Understand and respect how they uniquely experience God. Help them connect by knowing them - focus on embracing and supporting them.

Thank you!

Q & A