Building Relationship

(extracted from the Building Relationship from Lifeteam

Relationships are the path to belonging
Attendance or participation is not the same as belonging. Relationship not participation is key to the experience of belonging.
Relationships with adults that provide a space for youth to discover who they are, explore their abilities, and engage with/contribute to the world are call developmental relationships.

Create an environment where belonging has a chance to take root through developmental relationships. The following 5 actions can turn your good intentions into fertile ground.

Express care - offer warm invitations, encouragement, dependability, and active listing. Let them know you enjoy being around them and tell them why.
Challenge growth - invite them to try hard things. Let them know that discomfort is a normal part of development and not something to avoid
Provide support - recognize and offer the kind of support they need based on their skills, resources, and situation.
Share power - crate opportunities for them to be part of idea sharing, decision making and problem solving especially around build community and serving others.
expand possibilities - introduce them to new experiences and new ways of seeing themselves, the world around them, and God.