Lecture with Randy Larson on Neighboring and the Bless App

Introduction

• Guest: Randy Larson, associated with the Bless Act & Bless Every Home app
• Main Topics: Loving your neighbor, using the Bless app, personal anecdotes
• Focus on: the art of neighboring, practical steps to love neighbors better

Randy's Background

• Lives in Denver, Colorado
• In ministry since college, passionate about the church and the gospel of Jesus
• Loves engaging with people who don't know God
• Enjoy watching neighbors transition from strangers to spiritual companions

The Art of Neighboring

• Concept: Seeing neighbors as part of a mission field
• Transition from passively knowing neighbors to engaging them meaningfully

Neighboring in Practice

• Past experiences with at-risk teenagers, youth ministry, worship leading, and community outreach
• Introverted nature but socially gifted; found it hard to engage neighbors after church interactions
• Conviction to love and know neighbors inspired by the Great Commandment (love God and love neighbors)
• Started intentionally investing in neighbors about 12-13 years ago
• So important to make time and energy for genuine neighborly interaction

The Bless App & BLESS Practices

1. Bless App Overview: Helps see neighborhood as a mission field, suggests nearby people to focus on
2. BLESS Acronym: Model for easily share faith
   • B: Begin with Prayer – Ask God's guidance for neighbor interactions
   • L: Listen – Show curiosity, understand passions and struggles of neighbors
   • E: Eat – Sharing meals to build deeper relationships
   • S: Serve – Identify and help with neighbors' burdens
   • S: Story – Share personal faith stories, build meaningful conversations

Stories and Practical Takeaways

• Real-life Application: Process of interacting with neighbors, listening, and sharing stories
  • For example, taking slow steps to introduce spiritual topics and being patient
  • Demonstrates the importance of genuine curiosity and compassion
• Examples from Randy's Experience: Eiffel Tower & Marriage: Deep one-on-one conversations born from casual interactions

Using the Bless App Effectively

1. Getting Started: App selects the 40 closest families for you; customizable
2. Daily Routine: Daily reminders for prayer and action, supported by videos and tips
3. Note-taking Feature: Important conversations and details about neighbors can be noted
4. Track Progress: Track interactions like praying, listening, eating, serving, and sharing stories
5. Practical Utility: Helps remember names, details, and follow-up topics

Encouragement and Challenges

• Challenges of doing ministry and achieving visible impact on people's souls
• Encouraging story: Pastor influenced positive change and unity in a community over time
• Personal Testimony: Example of personal resilience transforming lives

Q&A Highlights (Rapid-Fire Questions)

1. Unusual Home Feature: Cold Plunge for daily refreshment
2. Current Reconsideration: Optimal structure for churches to prevent burnout and falling of pastors
3. Inspiration Source: Randy’s wife, passionate and courageous
4. Feeling Loved: Recent experience with his daughter wanting to hang out with him

Conclusion

• Encouragement to use practical tools like the Bless app to build deeper community
• Reminder that significant neighborly interaction doesn't require being a pastor, but just a person with genuine intent & presence.