God is the catalyst that moves community forward. God's character is the cornerstone upon which community is built, that every community might be a reflection of God and God's purposes in Christ.

Practices that help foster a spiritual community:

· Have a House Blessing or prayer time in new homes.

· Encourage residents who want to form prayer groups by spreading the word or posting flyers.

· Have a resident talented in worship lead a community gathering with some songs from their tradition.

· Go with a small group of residents to one of the chapel hours regularly, or to a Day of Prayer.

· Host an outing to a local museum or garden, and have people share where they meet God through art and nature.

· Have a prayer board in the laundry room where residents can post prayer requests, or learn about their neighbor's prayer needs.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19)

Thriving communities integrate the gifts of community members into a collective whole. Residential Community seeks to create opportunities in day to day living in which the gifts of community members may be both recognized and utilized. Our intention is to encourage ownership and participation in order that the community of God may flourish.

Community Coordinators (CC) must offer a minimum of 1 event or opportunity to gather (OTG) per month. Intentional Community Coordinators (ICC) continually seek to empower the community in their shared, collaborative leadership of events and lifestyle. IC residents meet regularly (usually at least biweekly) to connect and facilitate their community life.

At least one or two large community events each quarter (one near the beginning of the quarter and one near the end) should be well planned and well advertised, and should be well thought out in terms of community collaboration. Other events each quarter may bring together smaller groups of community members, or create more informal large group activities.

Community Event Ideas:

· Have a Town Meeting every for residents to vision, brainstorm, and plan for their community.

· Organize a progressive dinner

· Encourage activities, which center around residents: i.e. celebrating a holiday from a culture represented.

· Draw upon a resident's skill in computers, cooking, crafts, etc. to teach others at a community event.

· Encourage resident hosting and planning of events, especially activities that interest them.

· Invite community members to something you are already doing or wanting to do (sporting activity or event, museum, concert, campus seminar or event).

· Use the Resident Questionnaire to get to know residents' desires, skills, and then follow-up on the info by involving them! (See samples in the "Forms" section)

· Foster caring for one another in day to day living, such as helping neighbors with meals, transportation, sharing resources, etc.

"For as in one body we have many members, and not all members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5)

Community emerges as residents seek to know and be known by one another as they authentically share their lives with one another in a spirit of hospitality and friendship through the daily encounters, challenges, and joys of life.

Goals that help foster an authentic community:

· Know Names: Know every member's name, including spouses and children. This is the most basic building block.

· Resident Questionnaire: Have residents complete the Resident Questionnaire to draw and gather information about their interests and more about them as a person.

· Community Directory: Use the Resident Questionnaire and the quarterly Fuller Housing printouts to complete a directory for the apartment complex with names, phone numbers, degree programs, birthdays, and anniversaries. Update directories quarterly. Please respect any resident who would not like their information circulated.

· Community Newsletter: On a semi-quarterly basis, CCs offer a community newsletter. ICCs create quarterly newsletters. Newsletters should be simple and a single page, taking only 1-2 hours to put together.

"So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves." (I Thessalonians 1:8)

Community is the classroom of life. For student, spouse and child, our vision is that life in our communities will contribute to our mission of learning how to love our neighbors as ourselves while living among others from diverse backgrounds, perspectives and stages of life.

Learning how to love your neighbor and experiencing that in tangible terms is very much a foundation for character formation and ministry development. ResCom staff are encouraged to consider the learning implications of their community. The whole of everyday life is part of the learning in community living.

Possible Learning Events:

· Inviting faculty to the community for informal dialogue or to discuss their latest writing or reading interests.

· Have residents lead presentations or discussions on subjects they are learning, or on a previous or present ministry

· Learn about the cultures represented in your community.

· Presentations or discussions on stress management, surviving graduate school, staying alive spiritually, etc.

· Process conflict in your community as a learning opportunity for everyone involved developing useful skills as ministers of the gospel and better learning how to love a neighbor within difficult real-life circumstances. (See "Crisis and Conflicts" section)

· Reflect on how issues of everyday living, are part of our theological education and spiritual growth in learning to love our neighbors.

"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." (Romans 15:14)​

As Christ-centered communities we welcome all residents, help them experience a sense of belonging, and foster connections that set a positive tone for vibrant community life.

Staff Welcome Goals:

· Have contact with the incoming residents prior to arrival

· Meet new resident within 6 hours

· Notify all residents so that they may also greet their new neighbor and offer support.

· Give them the Community Orientation Flyer

· Orient them to complex and introduce them to other neighbors

· Make a welcome basket for them

· Create a welcome sign for the resident

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7)