I don’t know when “check-ins” became an integral part of a meeting, but I love them.  I’ve always been much more curious about the people working on the project than the project itself. I now have a list of “check-in” prompts.

-       Name something new, good, or grateful in your life.    

-       What is something new you learned?

-       What are you reading or listening to?

-       What is motivating you today?

During this past Lent, I reviewed my check-in questions and realized I hadn’t specifically geared them towards faith, God, or Salesian spirituality.  What would those questions even sound like?

In the fall of 2023, we started a new ministry in the Oblates called Live Jesus Ministries.  We initiated this ministry following a thorough reflection on the method of discipling we were using at our school, retreat center, and parishes.  After a year of research and pilot programs with a few locations, we launched a ministry that trains parishes and schools to build spiritual mentorship and small group discipleship ministries for youth.  Since then, we’ve trained over 100 adult mentors with 15+ locations in the Diocese of Toledo, beginning to implement this relational approach to youth evangelization.  I could go on, but feel free to visit the website.

Because Live Jesus Ministries focuses on small group discipleship for youth, we use lots of check-in questions to build comfort through sharing and listening to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.  This method is not new or revolutionary, it’s heart-to-heart.  I just never made it intentional.  Here are some of the questions: 

-       What word would you use to describe your relationship with God today?

-       What is your peak, your pit, and your prayer?

-       What is one way you’ve seen God since we last met?

-       What is the number one thing you’ve been praying about?  Why?

-       What is something simple, interesting, or new you witnessed about God?

I share these because I’ve found them fruitful in my life, even though they were designed for teens.  Just like the check-ins I use for meetings, I love these questions.  Maybe I’ll start using them at my meetings and community dinners! Maybe you will too? 

May God be Praised! 


Fr. Joe Newman, OSFS
Provincial
Toledo-Detroit Province

 

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