<!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

Quad Cities Interfaith will host an INREACH Training for member congregations and others looking to identify new leaders and strengthen congregations on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:30pm at St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church in Davenport.

If your congregation wishes to partiipcate in this INREACH Training , please contact the QCI office to reserve your seats. 

An INREACH is a focused and disciplined six week effort to build community in congregations. Teams of trained church members conduct one to one visits with members of their congregation. Congregations are as strong or as weak as the relationships that bind them together. The INREACH is intended to strengthen those bonds.

 

In addition, the INREACH can invigorate and renew leadership, clarify congregational priorities and identify the concerns and self interests of members. The concerns and issues which surface regarding the larger community may become priorities for collective action through Quad Cities Interfaith

 

The In Reach is accomplished through One to One visits. A one-to-one visit is a 30-45 minute, face-to-face conversation for the purpose of building a relationship and understanding what really matters to that person. The purpose of One to one visits is:

 

1) Build Relationships

 

When people are in a relationship they can share, plan dream, create and get things done. Without relationships, people are powerless. Building relationships builds community.

 

2) Uncover Self Interests

 

Self Interests are the things that a person feels most strongly about. It is the things that motivate and drive them. Discovering these interests can help build the congregation, since people are more likely to get involved in things around their self-interests.

 

3) Develop Clarity

 

One-to-one visits allow people to express their feelings about things. When they talk about something, it helps to make that thing clearer to them.

 

4) Gather Information

 

Finally, a visit is an opportunity to gather information about the church, community and neighborhood. Visitors find out what is going on, and most importantly, what members are thinking and feeling.

 

 

 

<!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

AN INREACH'S IMPACT ON CONGREGATIONS

 

1. 
   

   Congregations become intentionally more relational.

   
   

 

People get to know one another. It invites people in who may not have been very involved and who may feel they have been isolated and left out.

 

1. 
   

   Congregations find and develop new leaders.

   
   

 

The size of the "leadership circle" within the congregation is increased. People are challenged to a greater potential and growth within themselves. The work is now done by many versus a few.

 

1. 
   

   The Congregation is encouraged to be more visionary.

   
   

 

A clearer understanding is developed of where the congregation is now and where it is going in the future. By listening to and understanding the concerns of the congregation, then working to address those concerns in a community effort, many are involved and excited.

 

1. 
   

   The Congregation is involved ecumenically.

   
   

 

Working along with other congregations of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds, an opportunity to really get to know your "neighbor" is created.