Real Relationships in Any Space
We all have experiences we wish we could forget. The year 2020 and the disruptive realities of navigating a global pandemic are, on a global scale, experiences we all wish we could wipe from the history books. Graduations, funerals, weddings, services, birthdays, and retirement parties - we were kept from it all. We were forced into isolation.
At first glance, it seems as though little good came out of the pandemic. However, when we reflect on it a little longer, the time we spent having to distance ourselves from our loved ones made us, as a human race, realize our need for connection. People held family Zoom meetings, scheduled more phone calls with friends, tapped into their creative sides and produced art that would speak to the souls of strangers. It was in isolation - understanding what loneliness feels like - that people sought unity.
The feelings people experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic screamed of the importance of community, and a tool that made a lot of community-building possible was the video call. It empowered us to create online communities where genuine connection could still be had despite being miles apart from the person on the other side of the screen.
At Illume, we encourage both in-person and online communities. We've seen them both work effectively as ways for a group of people to love, support, and grow with one another. This is why the materials we provide to our Spotlight Communities are accessible to everyone via our website and app. Whether you live here in the PNW or on the East Coast, you can experience the digital togetherness that ensues from being a part of a Spotlight Community.
Some of you may have doubts (understandably so). After all, how can people have "genuine" relationships online? And what approach do Spotlight's take to create these authentic relationships?
Much like deep in-person relationships, genuine online relationships are cultivated by intentionality. At Illume, we create online spaces that allow time to listen, learn, question, speak - overall, engage in conversation that cultivates deep, spiritual relationships. We typically meet via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, but we encourage community members to use whatever platform best suits them. Everyone who experiences a Spotlight is encouraged to find rest together, to learn together, and to serve together. That's what makes authentic relationships possible. Our communities are not cultivated alone. Should you choose to be a part of this Community, you will not do it alone.
For more on how to get connected, contact us.
At first glance, it seems as though little good came out of the pandemic. However, when we reflect on it a little longer, the time we spent having to distance ourselves from our loved ones made us, as a human race, realize our need for connection. People held family Zoom meetings, scheduled more phone calls with friends, tapped into their creative sides and produced art that would speak to the souls of strangers. It was in isolation - understanding what loneliness feels like - that people sought unity.
The feelings people experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic screamed of the importance of community, and a tool that made a lot of community-building possible was the video call. It empowered us to create online communities where genuine connection could still be had despite being miles apart from the person on the other side of the screen.
At Illume, we encourage both in-person and online communities. We've seen them both work effectively as ways for a group of people to love, support, and grow with one another. This is why the materials we provide to our Spotlight Communities are accessible to everyone via our website and app. Whether you live here in the PNW or on the East Coast, you can experience the digital togetherness that ensues from being a part of a Spotlight Community.
Some of you may have doubts (understandably so). After all, how can people have "genuine" relationships online? And what approach do Spotlight's take to create these authentic relationships?
Much like deep in-person relationships, genuine online relationships are cultivated by intentionality. At Illume, we create online spaces that allow time to listen, learn, question, speak - overall, engage in conversation that cultivates deep, spiritual relationships. We typically meet via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, but we encourage community members to use whatever platform best suits them. Everyone who experiences a Spotlight is encouraged to find rest together, to learn together, and to serve together. That's what makes authentic relationships possible. Our communities are not cultivated alone. Should you choose to be a part of this Community, you will not do it alone.
For more on how to get connected, contact us.
To consider this further, you might enjoy the book I Want You to Be by Tomas Halik.