Today your assignment is to txt or call someone and schedule a lunch or coffee with them in a three day window. If this assignment feels familiar, you are correct, it is. I did not put this assignment in the Bootcamp multiple times just because I am lazy, but because what I said before is true.
If you want to grow in community, you have to involve people.
It is so easy to get wrapped up in community building philosophies, but still feel disconnected from your community. Rather than thinking about the community as a whole, my challenge is for you to begin to identify individuals within your community. What is God doing in your church through the diverse individual personalities represented there? How does that diversity encourage you to live Kingdom-mindedly? Who do you need to know better in order to understand why they are at your church and what they want to see God accomplish through them? Who could you invite that could be a candidate for joining your inner circle of friendship?
If you have taken this Bootcamp seriously, there is one other thing that I think I should address. Those who have tried faithfully to schedule each assigned lunch, coffee, activity, or dinner already know just how difficult it can be to find time to meet with people.
You could have a completely blank calendar, and still not be able to complete some of these assignments. People are incredibly busy. Busier than they have ever been in the history of the world, and they know it. They also know that it is unhealthy. They won’t do anything about it until they have a heart attack, so the only thing that you can do is be persistent.
Even if it means scheduling a month out, get people on your calendar. Be flexible with your invitations. By that I mean, if one person cannot meet within your timeframe, bump them to an agreed upon time next month and try again with someone else. Do your best to accomplish your Bootcamp assignments within the timeframe of a month. You might be surprised at the friendships that develop with people who are available while you wait for the friendships you thought would be the best fit for you.
God is ultimately in control, and that means that he is in control of your calendar too. Give it up to Him as an offering and see what amazing things He can do through it.
Jason Hundley 