Soul to Soul

Does the thought of bearing your life story to a group of complete strangers give you a little anxiety? Well, this summer that was exactly what we did in our small groups. But the heart behind Soul to Souls is not to cause anxiety, but to develop intimacy, create a trusting and open environment, and to really fast forward community.

Before Soul to Soul

Up until our day of Soul to Soul, we had the welcome-move in day, and a 1 day orientation. So really these students are strangers to each other and us! So early the 2nd morning into OLSP I took my girls out to a beautiful hotel, Chateau on the Lake, and we sat in a pavilion overlooking Tablerock lake. Then we began a day long journey of Soul to Souls. It looked like thins: each person got 20 minutes to share their life story. No one interrupts, and you get to share your story. Then the next 20 minutes the group asks questions about what the person shared in their story, or about anything else. The last 20 minutes, we pray together for the person who shared. Everything shared is 100% confidential, and I wont betray any confidence here, but know this day was incredibly significant.

I kicked off our time together by sharing my Soul to Soul, and one by one we each shared everything with each other. Everyone cried, for their story, and each others. People shared things they had never said out loud before. They shared things their families don’t know, they never told their best friend, and things they have tried hard to forget. It was difficult to open up, to be that transparent and vulnerable, but I cannot even begin to tell you how the Lord tore down barriers and dispelled fears that we could be rejected by others. God helped us to see that every single one of us is a broken mess, but fully loved and accepted by the Lord and because we placed our faith in Him, we have a eternal bond as brothers and sisters in Christ.

This was a catalyst for community and growth. We went from being strangers, who felt a lit uncomfortable around each other, to sisters who loved spending time together!

After our Soul to Soul, and our little spot for the day, (can you see the pretty lake in the background?)

After we all finished sharing (with a quick lunch break in between), it was time for dinner! We all went out together, and afterwards were having so much fun together we browsed the shops, and even went out for ice cream!

When my girls and I got back to the Honey, we wanted to mark our bond together. One of the girls brought “burn-on” bracelets that you cut a length, melt the ends and melt them together for a permanent bond. Like the bracelets, each of us had to be melted, heated by fire to come out stronger, and we were bonded together in Christ, and also in trusting each other with the FULL story of who we are, not just the pretty things. Our bracelets now remind us of everything we share, and remind us to pray for each other!

And every small group did their own Soul to Soul, and this will be a running trend in pretty much all future posts, I don’t have pictures of Vince with his guys, and he doesn’t like to take pictures, so you will have to take my word on it that he had a great experience with Soul to Soul too!

Thanks, blessings to you too!!