Could simply blessing people accomplish Jesus' mission?

 

••••

"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." 

—GENESIS 12:2-3 (NIV)

••••

 

The Blessing Strategy

Dave Ferguson, author of 5 Ways to B.L.E.S.S. Your Neighbors, created the simple blessing strategy:

  • Begin with prayer
  • Listen
  • Eat
  • Serve
  • Story

He recommends that you choose one of these five strategies to do every single day.

 

 

Putting the Blessing Strategy into Practice: Caring for Apartment Staff

 

 

Build an authentic, caring relationship with no strings attached.

Take the initiative.

Whether you live in an apartment community, want to invest in members of an apartment community, or live in a neighborhood, it's important to build relationships. People are smart - they can smell an agenda from a mile away. But they'll respond to true friendship, which can then break down walls and provide opportunities for deeper spiritual conversations.

 

••••

"Most people need love and acceptance a lot more than they need advice." 

—BOB GOFF, LOVE DOES

••••

 

Tips for adopting an apartment community:

  1. Choose an apartment community near where you live, where you work, or where you go to church. 
  2. Once you choose a community, find out how many apartment units they have. Websites such as Apartments.com and ForRent.com will have this information in the property details for each community.
  3. Use the number of units to estimate how many staff work there. Typically there is one office member and one maintenance member for every 100 units.
  4. Brainstorm a care gift to drop off during your first introduction. Apartment Life has a Pinterest board with tons of affordable ideas.

If apartments aren't your thing, find someone else to creatively adopt. Maybe your local HOA board members, PTA officers, a nearby nursing home, your gym receptionist, your mail carrier, or even specific neighbors that might need some extra encouragement. Ask God to show you who he wants you to start a new, intentional friendship with... no strings attached.

 

Whether you're walking through this study individually or as a group, take a moment to process by asking yourself these questions:

  • What is your plan to incorporate the blessing strategy into your daily schedule?
  • What are some simple ways you could incorporate blessing people into your existing lifestyle?
  • Who do you want to bless this week? Make a list.
  • Which apartment community staff would be strategic for you to adopt? 
  • What's keeping you from getting started? 
  • Who else in your family or circle of friends can help you? If you have children, is there a special way they could be involved?

 

» NEXT STEPS

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Love God, and love your neighbor.    

Apartment Life believes that a community can be radically transformed when people intentionally invest in the lives of neighbors and build authentic relationships through service.

 

It's that simple.  
  
We partner with an apartment community’s management team to deliver the Apartment Life program. We  have the opportunity to  build community and serve residents by doing things that flow naturally out of the Christian lifestyle — welcoming new neighbors, planning social functions, and caring in times of need.

 

Together we can change the lives of people living in apartment communities, and one person at a time, we can change the world.  

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE AN APARTMENT LIFE COORDINATOR, YOU CAN APPLY HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PARTNERING WITH APARTMENT LIFE, VISIT APARTMENTLIFE.ORG.