Resources

If you would like to be informed about the needs of rural places, the opportunities for ministry, or help get equipped for ministering in rural places, the books, podcasts, and videos below may be of help.

If you are a pastor who would like someone to come alongside as a coach to help think through and implement outreach to your particular community, or . . .

. . . if your church or leadership would like to inquire about a potential workshop to help pray, dream, and implement local outreach, I would love the opportunity to come alongside.

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Questions that invite conversation

Good questions not only allow you to know a person better, but in the process of learning, hopefully the Lord develops your heart toward them as you inquire into their back story, hopes, fears, and dreams.

How do you start a conversation? One writer suggests the simple idea of looking and listening to what the person is wearing, carrying, or sharing.

Wearing: Do they have information on a hat or shirt that tells you something like, “I like to fish,” or “I’m a Tennessee fan”? If they have a tattoo, often a good conversation starter is, “Does your tattoo have a story”?
Carrying: This could be a purse, a brief case, a computer, a dog, etc. “I see you have a computer with you. What kinds of places do you choose to work in?”
Sharing: “I overheard you say that you work remotely. How did you get into that line of work?”

Questions that continue conversation:

Try to avoid closed questions that can be answered with a “yes” or “no” unless you are prepared to follow-up with an open-ended question. Example: “Did you get an undergraduate degree?” Closed ended questions often start with is, do, does, where, when, and who.
Conversely, ask open-ended questions: “How did you choose that career path?” These questions generally start with why, what, and how.
“Tell me more”, and “go on” are great ways to continue conversation and learn more.
We need to be open and curious ready to receive information rather than dispense information. A great exercise is to enter a conversation with the goal of not giving any advice or instruction but just to listen. It’s harder than one might think . . . especially for people in ministry.
“How” and “what” are powerful questions. The “why” question can make people feel defensive.

Samples:

What is something exciting that you are working on right now?

What things hold you back from what you really want to do?

What is one thing or situation that really scares you?

What is something you wish people knew about you?

When you were in high school, what did you think you wanted to be doing at your current age?

How did you get from your high school self to your current self?

How do you tend to handle stressful situations?

How do you plan for a vacation?

How is/was your relationship to your parents?