Offerings
Host an event for your group
What we do
We will customize an experience suited to the needs of your group, drawing from exercises, experiences, and methods that have shown a galvanizing impact on communities.
What you do
You arrange the audience, venue, and advertisements. Groups can range from 6 to 120 participants.
Event Types
Conversations in the Spirit – 2 hour facilitated listening session for your group to gather, listen to each other’s experiences of faith, and share what you’ve heard of each other’s stories
Talk on Accompaniment – 1 hour descriptive talk + 30-min facilitated discussion
Accompaniment Workshop – facilitated workshops on topics tailored to your group’s needs, ranging from 2 hours to 2 days
Consulting: Event & Content Design and Reporting – incorporate a spirit of openness and accompaniment in your planned events, receiving support for strategic action planning on how to integrate these values beyond the events
Example Topics Covered
How to Relate to Others & Know Yourself
How to be Present to a Variety of Relationships
Talking about Faith
How to Include God in Accompaniment & Prayer
Accompaniment’s Role in Vocational Discernment
Uplifting Spiritual Growth through Spiritual Friendship
How to Facilitate Groups in a Spirit of Accompaniment
Participant Reactions
“Real talk not small talk.”
“It was a wonderful experience of sharing, support, and accompaniment that has given me courage and strength to try to address a need I see.”
“Sharing in a small group allows you to accompany others and be accompanied, even for a short time. It is surprising how easy it is to see God in others.”
“Just having a setting to get to know people was great. I wasn’t excited about simulated situations but I didn’t want the conversations to end."
“Thank you so much! This was such a good use of time, helpful, informative, and helped me get closer to others.”
Doing something similar?
We are in an accompaniment movement. Register into our community that leverages shared resources, unblocks you when you are stuck in financial and political barriers, and encourages you to persevere. We all need accompaniment.
Have an idea for how this can grow?
We love ideas for how the Accompaniment Project can grow. The dialogue for these many ideas is strong. We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts and encouraging the movement.
The Basics
Get started practicing the art of accompaniment with three intentional behaviors.
We listen most effectively when we give our entire attention to the other person. Recognize body language and meet them where they’re at. Find something in common. Notice what they’re interested in and drawn to. If they say something intriguing, ask what they mean and look for genuine understanding.
1. LISTEN
Reveal something about yourself that identifies you as having faith in something bigger. You may comment that you are interested in how people are journeying in their faith or that you are spending time doing spiritual reading. Tell them you are interested in hearing what they think. Ask for clarification. Respond to questions with questions. Know that faith is a space where we are all looking for truth, so be guided by searching together. Strive to support the other person in their search for purpose, meaning, and hope.
2. ASK
Reflect on how you use prayer in your current life. Are the opportunities to invite moments of accompaniment into your life? Before and after intentionally being present with someone, ask for guidance and humility. If possible, pray for the other person by name. Begin to notice opportunities to pray with each other.