The Ministry of Listening

THE MINISTRY OF LISTENING

Think of a time when you really felt cared for. Chances are someone focused on what you had to say, was attentive to your needs, and listened to how you felt. They didn’t give you a lecture or pep talk, telling you how you should feel or what you should do.

Listening is one of the most powerful ministry tools at your disposal. It demonstrates you care about another person in a compassionate, respectful, and gentle manner.

In Care Partners training, a great deal of time is spent in teaching and practicing listening skills because of its importance as a caregiving tool. You too can become a more caring listener by understanding and applying six listening concepts from Care Partners training:

LISTENING IS ACTIVE.

It takes energy and commitment to listen well. Focus your attention on what the other person has to say instead of thinking of what you’ll say next. Look at them while you listen, and nod along from time to time so the person knows you’re tuned in.

LISTENING TAKES PATIENCE.

Often you need to build trust before someone will open up to you. Constant, patient listening is a key.

LISTENING INVOLVES MORE THAN WORDS.

Pay attention not only to what is said, but to what is not said – or to what is said with a smile or a sigh. Pay attention to body language, too. Does it agree with or contradict a person’s spoken words?

GOOD LISTENERS AREN’T COMPLETELY SILENT.

They restate key thoughts or ideas to be sure they understood correctly or ask focused questions to encourage the person to reach a little deeper.

LISTENING HAPPENS OVER TIME.

One conversation might build upon previous talks together. As you listen over several conversations, are there recurring themes or patterns in what the person has said? Are there any contradictions from what was said earlier? These are signs there may be more to explore underneath.

LISTENING IS CONFIDENTIAL.

A great way to build trust and show the person you care for them is to maintain confidentiality and not share with others what was said to you in private conversation.

Jesus was the model of a good listener. Much of His ministry was listening to people. By listening to what people said He demonstrated how much He really cared about them. Remember the stories of the woman at the well, Nicodemus, or the disciples on the road to Emmaus. All were times when Jesus showed His care and concern by first listening to people and then giving them what they needed.

A PLACE OF CARE

We all want Celebration Church to be a caring place where congregants and attenders truly feel people care about who they are, how they feel, and what they think.

Just as Care Partners use good listening skills to communicate how much they care, so can you. Follow and practice these listening principles and make a concentrated effort toward becoming a better listener.

Listening is a great gift we give to one another, and one we can all use to make Celebration Church a more caring place.