How To Find Your People | Fostering Community with Darci Wiseman

In this episode, we sit down with my future sister-in-law, Darci — a Division I athlete at the University of Northern Iowa and the owner of Gather Together Company, a charcuterie business built around creating memorable experiences and fostering genuine community.

If you know Darci, you know she has the spiritual gift of hosting and fostering community. We talk through practical, fun, and realistic ways to step out of loneliness and into connection, including joining intramurals, church small groups, and interest-based clubs like crocheting, rollerblading, or sand volleyball to meet like-minded people.

She encourages listeners not to wait around for an invite or fall into a pity party when feeling alone, but to be bold, put themselves out there, and intentionally pursue community. We also discuss how to discern the right people to surround yourself with and what it looks like to choose a life-giving community that pours back into you.

If you’ve been feeling lonely or unsure how to find your people, this episode is full of practical wisdom and encouragement to help you take the first step.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

What is up everyone? I'm your host, Gabby, and this is the Plan and Purpose Podcast. And I hope you are having just an amazing week. And today we have a really fun guest on the podcast with us, and it is Darcy Wiseman, soon to be Clay Meyer, as well, because she is engaged to my brother-in-law, and they'll be getting married in just like two months. Yeah, a little over two. A little over two, which is so exciting. So welcome to the studio, Darcy. Thanks for having me. Um, do you just want to start off by like just sharing kind of a snapshot of like the season of life you're in, like what are you involved in, kind of where are you at in life?

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Yeah, for sure. Um so I am a senior at the University of Northern Iowa. Um, yeah, so only like a month and a half left of college, which is so sad. Um, I'm on the track team and see one athlete. Right. Um so humble. I run Fournette hurdles, dabble in some other things. Um, yeah, uh, I'm engaged, gonna get married in June. Um, my fiance uh currently lives in New York, so we're doing some some major long distance right now, but that's okay. Um, yeah, I live in a big house with six other of my best friends, and that's super awesome. And yeah, college is super, super fun right now, but having a lot of lasts. So that's kind of sad. Yeah. But it's great. It's all just yeah, huge blessing.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

And I love how you talked about it. So you're in like a house with like six other friends. Um, you guys just went on a big spring break trip. Tell us like, tell them like what you guys did um and how you got down there.

SPEAKER_01 1:47

Yeah, so um, my time in college, we've done a bunch of trips together, which has been super fun. But we rented a 15-passenger van um so we could all fit, and I think eight of us went. Um, and we yeah, drove down to Daytona Beach and spent a couple days there. We had my friend Kenna, she's also getting married this summer. We had a couple days for her bachelorette, which was really fun to celebrate her, and then just yeah, spent time on the beach. Uh each morning, we every single one of us got up before sunrise. We either had to work out, a couple of us, or we had to, or we just wanted to like watch the sunrise on the beach. So it's kind of funny. None of us like really rest or anything. They're always like all boats go.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

Yeah, yeah. Well, it looked really fun. Um, and just yeah, that commute sense of community. And it's like, is that gonna be your last trip, you think? Before all of you graduate. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

That was our last big trip. We there's uh five of us getting married this summer, which is yeah, very funny. But um, yeah, five of us getting married. So we have a couple bachelorette trips and everything too. We're all like spreading out around the country though, kind of, so we won't be together as much. That was probably our last like huge trip together. So kind of sad.

SPEAKER_00 3:02

Yeah, yeah. You mentioned track, so talk you said you dabble in a few other things. What are all the events and things that you kind of dabble in?

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Yeah, so um my first two years of uh college track, I was a multi, so I did the heptathlon and the pentathlon, um, which is like five events for the pent and six events for the no, wait, seven? I don't know. I don't remember. Six events for the heptathlon, if I remember right. Um, that's like field events and running events. And then I ended up switching event groups, um my junior year back to the 400 groups. So now I just do 400s, 400 hurdles, and I do some 100 hurdles as well.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

And how has this season been for you, like your senior year?

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Yeah, um, it's actually, man, it has just been like such a blessing. I've had I had a pretty good indoor season, like just yeah, improved a little bit. So that was like really fun to end on that note. And then we open up, well, I'll open up at um Drake this next weekend. And try, I mean, training's been going good, like I feel good. Um, but yeah, it's just been, and I like love my teammates and my event group, so that's awesome. But it's just been uh, yeah, I don't know. I don't really get I guess I don't gauge, try I try not to gauge my season based off of like how I'm performing. It's more just like yeah, it's more just like kind of how I'm feeling about everything, but it is a bonus, I guess, that things have been going really well performance-wise.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Have you always been involved in track? I guess when did you first start like doing track?

SPEAKER_01 4:37

Yeah, um, well, I did like road races growing up, I guess, and then like did like junior high track. I mean, we did like a lot of I did a lot of sports growing up, but that one just ended up like track ended up going well. And I guess I mean things are fun when you do well in them. So like just kind of yeah, it through high school things went well, so poured into that a lot, and then yeah, decided to do it in college too.

SPEAKER_00 5:05

So was there a specific moment or time where you were like, oh, I could see myself doing this in college?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Um probably well, didn't have sophomore season for COVID. So I mean, that maybe would have been an indicator, but I guess after my junior year, like things were going pretty well. So I was like, Yeah, I'll probably start looking into this for college for college and stuff.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

How did you decide on like going you and I for track?

SPEAKER_01 5:31

Um, so there was like a couple different places I reached out to and like visited and stuff, kind of like all the same, maybe like that higher D2, mid-major D1 type situation. Um, and you and I just like I don't know, it just checked all the buckets of like it was like kind of close that I loved the size. I kind of liked that it was like a bigger university a little bit, um, compared to maybe some of those like D2, D3 schools. And yeah, it was just kind of fun to be able to like give myself a little bit of a shot at like a D1 situation. Like, yeah, I was like, oh, still get like it'd be kind of cool to get to maybe run against like big schools and stuff. So yeah, kind of like definitely went out on a whim a little bit, took a risk, but yeah, just excited for like a little bit of a higher opportunity, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

Cause like in high school, you went to a smaller-ish high school, like in Winterset. So, like, was that kind of like a shock? Like going from like a Winter set to like a D1 school. That's a lot.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

I mean, it's a smaller D1, but um yeah, I think I was prepared for the change and like excited because like yeah, growing up in Winterset, I mean, our our we weren't like super tiny, but you still knew everyone. Like I knew, yeah, knew everyone in my grade. So I was kind of excited to like go somewhere where I would like maybe not know everyone my whole four years and like could almost like recreate myself a little bit, like really choose, yeah, choose to just like be kind of maybe who I wanted to be and didn't pursue in high school, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

That's so good because I I kind of felt the same way. Like it's like a chance to start fresh, like no one knows you when you go over. Um, so with track, when we were preparing for this podcast, I asked you, I'm like, oh, do you have like a plan and purpose story? Like, do you have a story where something didn't go according to your plan? But looking back, you realize God's purpose has prevailed, which is kind of the reason we call it the plan and purpose podcast. And you're like, Yes, track. Tell me a little bit how track didn't really go according to your plan, but you still like looking back, like are so thankful it didn't because God's purpose prevailed.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

Yeah. Well, I think any athlete can kind of attest to this that most things, whether it's like high school or college, it's just it doesn't go according to your plan almost ever. Um but I guess it kind of started in high school. Um, like my junior season, like track and everything had gone well. Cross country, kind of had some like hiccups and stuff. Like just again with like performance just not going how you want it to. Like, I just didn't in like I guess cross country and track, like didn't perform how I wanted to. Like my junior year, uh I won state, and then like going into senior year, I didn't win state, and like that was pretty heartbreaking. But like, so obviously you just have this plan to have this like uphill, like you're just gonna get better every year, it's gonna go well every year, you're gonna be, I don't know, win everything. Like, but so in high school, I guess that started just like not things not going to plan. And it just the big one for me there was like teaching me to not put my worth in my performance, and like yeah, definitely learn that the hard way. Um, but that didn't go according to plan. But then like now looking at where I it put me going into college, like I almost I like not that I was I was I was humbled, but I just yeah, I just like had a an idea of like I can't put my identity in this because it like will destroy me. So like going into college, I had like a way better mindset that I don't think I would have had if things I guess would have just been on the uphill in high school. Um so that's kind of where that started, I guess. And then like going into college, I went and asked asked to join the well went in as a foreign hurdler, asked to join the multi-group um to try out the HEP and stuff and did that for two years. And I mean, it just it's I mean, anybody that's watched it or competed in it knows like I just give so much credit to those athletes because it is it is so mentally and physically taxing and just a really hard event. And it just didn't, I just didn't fit there super well. I wasn't super successful. And the community there, like I loved all the girls I was with, but just um a little bit more like secular, I guess, like didn't mesh super well with all of them all the time. Like yeah, I just kind of had different interests and um yeah, that was it's just kind of discouraging, like going to practice and like not feeling super connected or like like you belong, I guess. And like that was really hard. And then on top of that, like my performance isn't going very well. Like it's a big learning curve. I mean, like you are the best in high school and you go into college and you're just not the best anymore. Yeah, so like that was hard. Yeah, I'm learning all these new events, like never done field events and stuff. And then like I finished my sophomore year, it didn't go great, but I mean I'm learning a lot of things in this, and I'm like, it's okay, but it just was yeah, kind of discouraging. But do all my summer training going into junior year, and then I get pulled in at the beginning of junior year, and they're like, Okay, like we're gonna be done with the multi, we're gonna switch you back to what I came there to do, which was like 400 hurdles and stuff. And like yeah, I I had just planned to kind of write out this multi-thing and like try to just be the best that I could, do the best that I could, like, for myself, and like yeah, just maximize that as much as I can. And then like yeah, I don't know, not getting to do that was like at first I was like kind of like humiliated a little bit. I felt like I was just like, man, like I wasn't good enough to like continue in that and like just kind of like a hard pill to swallow that, like maybe I just like wasn't I don't know, wasn't good enough to like stay in that group. But um so yeah, obviously that was a really hard pill to swallow and like big change. But then I've now been with the 400 group, these pat my junior and senior season, and like that has just been like the biggest blessing ever in like my collegiate and and track journey, like getting to be kind of in like a new training program and with a new group of girls, like a new coaching style. Like, I've just been like so blessed and I've connected so well with my teammates, which I mean yeah, it's just it's just been awesome. I mean, there's a lot of things that play into that, including like now I was kind of in a more of an upperclassman standing compared to the multi. So, like there's just a lot of things that have contributed to like why these last two years have probably been a little bit better for me, but yeah, and just I don't know, it's just been such a blessing. And I feel like I can like I I'm a lot more open to like share my faith and stuff there, which has been great. And yeah, but just so not according to my plan at all, but like it has just been like the biggest blessing ever the past two years.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

He when your coach asked you to switch, was there ever a moment of like, I know you mentioned like doubt and like your ability and doubt and like even kind of your identity? Cause you're like, oh, I run this as my best event. Um, and you went there to do it and ride it out all four years. Was there ever a moment where you thought about quitting?

SPEAKER_01 12:43

Yeah, um, probably like sophomore year, like, oh, I just saw more year while I was competing in the multi is just like it's kind of like okay, like am I gonna be done with this or am I gonna try to, like I said, kind of ride it out and just do the best that I can. But then yeah, when they told me to switch, I was kind of like, oh man, like you have to like basically start like just like with a new group of people, just new yeah, new training. It's just it's just a lot different. Um yeah, I'd I wouldn't say I could have ever seen myself quitting, but like it was definitely like a thought in the back of my brain.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

And yeah, even like not giving all your effort.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

Yeah, you just question, yeah, just question like my ability and whether I like deserve to be there or not.

SPEAKER_00 13:25

What kind of shifted that mindset? You're like, okay, I'm I'm gonna try my best. And actually, was it the community or was it just yeah, I guess what was it?

SPEAKER_01 13:33

Um, the community was an aspect I was really excited to kind of be with like a new group of girls. And a lot of those girls at the time had they were like in my um small group that I lead. So that was like kind of I was excited to get to like be with them, maybe a little bit similar mindsets to me. And um honestly, I feel like I kind of had some unfinished business with like the 400 and the 400 hurdles, like almost not that the multi had let me like run away from it, but just like it was like a big point of anxiety for me, like all of high school. So like switching to the multi kind of like let me like get that off my chest. So I was like, I was kind of like, you know, like you know, you need to like toughen up and like let's like let's give it your all these last two years and like see what you can do. Cause yeah, I guess the best way I can describe it is kind of like just unfinished business with that training. Cause it's just it's very difficult to train for the 400 and like 400 hurdles and stuff. Yeah, kind of those points. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Um, so you mentioned a lot like with community and how community has been super important to you. Like, even um, you mentioned like your small, like the small group you lead at church and stuff, like you're involved there, but also the community um and how it can impact even like your view on like athletics if you are in the right community. And I just wanted to say, like, if you do not know Darcy, she has a spiritual gift of community and she was like a fostering community, like wherever she goes. She like always has like the most fun events planned with her friends. Like her Instagram is full of like all these fun things they've done. All and she mentioned like you mentioned like going on a vacation, you take a ton of trips. Where are all the places you've been with your friends? If you can even name we've been to Missouri, Kentucky.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Um oh, what is it's we go south every Thanksgiving, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, and um another place can't remember. But then we've been to California, Colorado, just added Florida. Um, I've been to your or I've been to Greece and Italy with them as well. That's so fun. Two different summers. Yeah, just all over, all over Iowa. We've gone pretty much everywhere and camped, all the state parks, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Yeah. Something you might not know is that the Plan and Purpose podcast actually grew out of a family business and ministry called Jesus Design Co. It's a company that I'm a part of with my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, and our heart behind it is simple. We want to create products that help people keep Jesus at the center of their everyday lives. From Christian coffee table books, tutorial, Bibles, notebooks, and pens, everything we make is designed to encourage faith and spark meaningful conversations. Our clothing line is called on purpose, which includes a hoodie and hat with that phrase on them. Something that fits perfectly with the heart behind this podcast. And the reminder that we are all living out God's plan and purpose, and that we are created on purpose and for a purpose. If you want to check it out, you can use my code Gabby10. That is G-A-B-B-I all capitals and the number 1010 to get 10% off your entire purchase on a one-time order at JesusDesignco.com. So you've been like to so many different places with your friends. Now, has community always like fostering community and just like being in community always come naturally to you? Or is that something you've had to like work on?

SPEAKER_01 17:08

Um honestly, it's always come pretty natural. My or growing up, my mom was a a very big like planner, like put the things together. She was like, was our Girl Scout troop leader, kind of like, I don't know, she like she knows what it takes to like put in effort to like plan the things, I guess. So I just always grew up kind of realizing that like like a big thing I've kind of lived by is like if you want to be included or like you want to do things, like do it yourself. Because like nobody, I don't know, people just people don't lean towards that naturally. So like, yeah, me having that a little bit of that natural tendency to like want to do things, it's like, I mean, yeah, if if if you want to do something, you gotta plan it yourself. So that's just kind of what we lived by, which my mom taught us that growing up. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

In high school, did you have a ton of community like you do now, or was that something more that came out of college?

SPEAKER_01 18:05

Um, I my community now in college is definitely like the one of the biggest blessings the Lord has ever given me. Um, yeah, it has just been so, so, so amazing. Like just so amazing. But in high school, um, I would say like my friend group was, I'm not gonna say it was bad. Like I have so many great memories with all of my friends, whether they were like into their faith or not. Like it, it really was great growing up, but it it was just a lot different. And like, I mean, you know, high school is just kind of that time where you grow up, and that's really when you kind of start to split off and find who you want to be and like what you want to do with your time and stuff. So, like that kind of as I got a little bit older, made my community shrink a little bit. Like, yeah, just didn't have as many people interested in the things I was interested in, um, living the lifestyle I wanted to live. But also, we had just like the most amazing like youth group experience ever. Like, I think a good amount of like who I am today was shaped by like our youth pastors and like Franny Fulton, like having her um kind of like shepherd us a little bit, like that just totally changed my life. So I'd say that community, like we always had a church community, and like maybe they weren't in my greater my main friend group, but like always had really great people around, honestly. So I can't say too much bad things about it, but it wasn't anything like it is now for like my main friend group, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 19:32

And I feel like you've been like really good at just like discernment of like who's in your flock, kind of like um, who who do you want pouring into yourself and like choosing those pockets of community that you want to be part of, and then like kind of distancing yourself from either those friends or areas in community where you're like, you know what, that's not the type of person I want to be. So you have like a good like level of discernment as well, which it can be really hard in high school because you I'm a people pleaser, so you like want to like please everyone, and it's hard to say no. And I feel like so many people struggle with like they want to have good community, but it's hard to like know like what type of community or like where do I find this community? Um, especially if you don't have like a youth group, like that's really like the type of people you won't want to be friends with, go to those areas, like youth group and church and stuff. And I feel like in high school, I grew up in a tomwa, which love a tomwa, like I'm so thankful for that experience, but it is a rougher town, and so it's like not that many pockets of like good Christian community. And I went to like a super small Christian school or I got graduated with a class of 12. And so I have 12 friends to choose from, basically at that point. But um, so I like struggle like in high school. I had like two or three like really close friends, and then I went and dual enrolled at the public school and like had kind of a friend group. We all worked at high V together. Um, but like they definitely weren't Christians by any means, and so that kind of like I don't know, kind of puts a not a wall up, but it's hard to get as deep with them because you have the same like beliefs, and then like in high school, I'm actually not close with a ton of friends from high school just because those two to three friends kind of either fell off or grew out of their faith. And so I feel like college is where I really like picked up that community. Like you said, like it's a chance to kind of start over. Like I was really shy in high school, especially going. I would like dual enroll at the public high school, and I just always had this thought in the back of my mind, which is definitely a lie, but like, oh, people are gonna think I'm like the weird girl. Like, who is this random girl in our classes, in our Spanish class, our stats class? Like, she doesn't even go here. And so that kind of hindered me. And then freshman year, I really like kind of was like, okay, I don't wanna be that shy person anymore. I want to focus on community because that's what I'm like. Really missing is to have that good Christian community. So kind of like transitioning to college, how were you intentional about meeting community your freshman year?

SPEAKER_01 22:13

Yeah. So when I went to college, I ended up rooming with I ended up like usually for when you join a sports team, they pair you with another person on your team, which is really cool for some people. But I was like, I had heard um from another girl that didn't do the same thing uh or didn't room with a track person. She's like, I actually really liked kind of being able to dabble in both worlds a little bit. And I was like, oh, I like that idea. And I had a really good friend, um Katie Collin, um, and she was going to UNI too. And I didn't know if she'd want to room with me because she knew me, but like uh it ended up we were just like, yeah, we like this will be this will be good. Like we we do know each other and like and then like I'm on the track team, so I'll have that community. She can kind of pursue some other people, so like we won't be attached to the hip and like this will be great. And so roomed with her, and that was just so amazing kind of going in with somebody that I actually did know. I didn't feel totally alone. Um, and then discerning kind of like how I wanted to um spread myself out, I was like, okay, I'm gonna invest a lot in the track team, see if I can find some people here. Um, and then also I knew I wanted to get involved in like a student ministry, um, which I would suggest to anyone, kind of a side note, like don't be set on one student ministry or something, like when you do go to college. Like you need, I think it's like super important to try out different ministries, different churches, like just do your research, what these people believe in and things. Like I will say that I kind of like gravitated towards one right away, but um yeah, I don't like and I'm very happy with my decision, like wouldn't trade that, but I just I do think it's important to not like don't do like a little bandwagon situation. Yeah, just yeah, you need to try different things and like you never knew know who you're gonna click with or things like that. But anyways, and then so I ended up getting pretty involved in Salt Company. And on the I think it was like the second night, they do this thing called where they like all of the a lot of like groups, not even just the Christian groups or whatever or church groups, they like are trying to kind of get the freshmen in that first week of college. Like they're they have events and all this different things. And I went to a sand volleyball night um with Katie and right outside of our dorm. And we met, we got paired on a volleyball team with these two girls, Evelyn and Nora, who also ended up being in our um dorm. And I actually had a friend, it was just a really funny coincidence. Like we kind of got along with them, and I was like, Oh, maybe we should try to like hang out with these guys. And then I saw that Evelyn had a dexcom, and I had a friend in high school who had got diagnosed with type one, so I knew about it, and I saw that Evelyn had that, and I was like, oh my gosh, like little conversation started. I'm like, maybe this is a sign, like this is like someone I should, yeah, maybe I don't know. It just like felt like a weird sign or something. So like I was able to like talk to her a little bit about that, and like we ate ate with them, and then like the rest is history, and then through more church events later on, I met like McKenna, Kenna, um, my teammate and was my senior bleeder, Millie. Like, all of them came from church backgrounds, like that's how they became my like best friends, but so definitely like invested a lot in there, and then for the track team again, yeah, just tried to learn about these teammates and try to hang out with them the best I could, and kind of like that. I didn't super connect with anyone on the team that first year, but but I think that that is a lot to do with the fact that I had poured so much into my um church group, I guess, which is not a problem, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:49

I think you said just so many good nuggets of like advice, even in that small like story of how you met. Like, one, I love how you're like, don't just like bandwagon and go to a church, like, oh, my roommate's going to the church, so I'll just go to that church. But like test out like what clicks with you because my freshman year, I actually was like, oh, like I'll go to the church that kind of started my home church. Um, and I started going, I was like, I don't love it. I don't like I haven't really meshed with anyone. Like, there's not a ton of young adults going to this church. And then I tested out a different church um a couple months in and like really loved it and clicked with it. And there was a lot of young adults that went and college students that went, and they had a really good college ministry where the youth pastor would invite on Tuesday nights like college kids over to his house and cook us home cooked meals. And so I'm so glad I ended up switching just because having like a good foundation and a good church where there is like a lot of young adult community that you click with makes all the difference because then like that's a pocket of community where you're gonna meet those friends. And actually, like all of my friends that I had met in college, I met through that young adult ministry. And kind of like with you going to Salt Company and like making sure you get plugged in right away is huge because if you honestly wait too long, you're just gonna keep making excuses like, oh, it's gonna be awkward if I like jump in like this month and like keep going. But if you go in and like go right away, it makes it so much easier to meet those friends and to form connections because those freshman events, all the people attending those freshman events, are all looking for the same thing. Yep, exactly. They're all looking for that community. And just like a side note, too, like Evelyn actually, I was her camp counselor um at the camp for kids with diabetes. So, like when I started dating Casey, you had been dating Caden for like ever. You started dating when like middle school, freshman year. Um, you've known each other since you were like three years. Yeah, really young. Um, so she that was kind of your first like connection. Like, oh, like, did do you know Evelyn? Because you saw we were like mutual friends. I'm like, yeah, I actually was like her camp counselor. Um, so Evelyn's just sharing, like just doing all the conversation starters with her Dexcom and then now us. But even like for me, I wish I would have gone in with that mentality. Like, um, looking back at like my college experience, I like when it was like, oh, I don't want to be like the old Gabby, like the high school shy Gabby. I I had spent a year at that camp that I was a counselor with and learned, or summer and like learned how to be more extroverted and like talk in front of people. And so I wanted to take that, what I learned that summer into college with me. And I also had gone to a Christian school all my life. And yes, Central's like, I went to central college and it's loosely affiliated with the Reformed Church. So there's like pockets where of Christian community, like there's a chapel on campus, but a lot of kids go there for athletics, and a lot of kids go there not because of the Christian, and a lot of people there are not Christians. So I wanted that sense of both, where at the Christian school is like everyone was a Christian, and there wasn't a big like, oh, I can pour out and I can do outreach with these kiddos. And so I was excited to be able to fill up and pour out at this campus. However, I did it completely wrong. So I do not advise doing this, but I was like, I'm gonna make friends with all these people who are not Christian and I can pour into them and I like the savior complex or whatever. And I neglected to find those Christian friends. Like I went to the campus ministry the first night, and then I like didn't really meet anyone that first night. And I was like, okay, like whatever. And I started hanging out with like my suite mates, the people close to me who were not Christians, and I did that for like the first six months, and then I started realizing trends that I was like trying to pour out of an empty cup, and I wasn't getting filled up with that Christian community. And then eventually I started like sliding into like the habits of those non-Christian friends, like um, started like cussing, and I had never cussed before, or even like just started not going to church because I would be up late and hanging out with them and just like tired. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna sleep in. I don't have anyone to go to church with me because I'm the only Christian friend. And so it wasn't until like after Christmas, my freshman year, that I started realizing I'm like, I'm actually really lonely. Like, I these aren't I kind of reflect, I'm like, these aren't the type of friends I want to be filling me up. Like, I it's fine if I'm friends with them and I can pour out on them, but I'm not pouring out. Like I'm literally pouring out of an empty cup, and so I'm not pouring out at all. And so I really started praying, like, Lord, like, give me a Christian community. And I just had that realization, and like someone poured into me, like one of my mentors is like, you have to go to the places where the people you want to be friends with are gonna be. So they're not gonna be in a dorm room at 3 a.m. And so I started like by myself going to like the calm, which was our campus ministries, intervarsity, um, going trading churches and trying to figure out that Christian community, um, which I think is huge. And like I like am so mad that I like waited those six months, but the Lord's timing is perfect. But I would just say, yeah, like you did, like get plugged in right away.

SPEAKER_02 31:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:19

Um, because for me, I started making excuses. I was like, when I was wrestling with the Lord about my friendships, I was like, oh, it's too late. Like everyone has their friend groups now, like I can't just join one. And I had to really get out of my comfort zone and like put myself out there because I had waited so long to do that. So um, and I feel like a lot of people going into college kind of struggle with that community as well. Um, what I guess what challenges have you had with community? Has there any been been any challenges with community? Or I guess even like common things you've seen in community as well with like people who struggle with it?

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Yeah. Um yeah, I think so. Yeah, me being able to have a like an access to kind of like the track team community versus like my church community or whatever, those are probably my two main avenues of where I like interact and connect with people. Um yeah, I don't know. I think that one struggle that people have is having like too high of expectations sometimes, which again, it's like kind of that mindset, especially going into like freshman year or something, or like a new area of your life. It's like like, oh, like nobody like wants to or like everybody's friend groups are full, or nobody wants to talk to me, like things like that. And just like that's not true. Like you said, with freshman year, it's like an example of like everybody here is in the same boat. Like we all want friends and we all are very scared right now. And it's like if you could just have like a little bit of courage more than the person next to you to like ask them how they're doing or like be the one to like, yeah, be the one to reach out even when it's scary, like that's just like the that's the game changer. Cause like, yeah, I mean, not everybody in this world is able to get things done. And like, so if you can be one to do that or like force yourself to do that, then like things get very easy for you. Um but then I guess so. Yeah, that's can kind of fit into like both of those communities, but also just like remembering the place of each community that you invest in. Like, I think it is like very wrong to only have Christian friends. I think it's very wrong to only have not Christian friends. Like, I think there's just a super fine balance there. Like, I mean, you can still like be super close with people that don't align with your faith practices, and like that's okay. But like you said, it's like you can't put those people in a place where they're filling you up. Like you have to have a place that they fit. And um, yeah, you just you have to be very aware and very intentional about that because again, things can change and they can slip into a place where they're pouring into you, and like you said, it can affect you unknowingly until you've looked back six months and it's like, where am I right now? Like, what am I doing?

SPEAKER_00 34:10

Like, this is not the person I want to be.

SPEAKER_01 34:12

No, and I would say freshman year, I was like, again, I was still learning and kind of like I have this good Christian community, but I'm still trying to fit in on this track team. I mean, I'm going to the parties, like I'm trying to that'd be such a hard balance too.

SPEAKER_00 34:24

Like two separate.

SPEAKER_01 34:26

Yeah, it was. And like, I I want to fit in with these people. I want them to want to be friends with me. And it's like, well, when they hang out is on the weekends together, and it's like, I mean, I'm not interested in that. Like, um, but so yeah, I'd say a mistake is just putting um your community in the wrong places in your life. Um, because yeah, I have a lot of friends. Like I love all of the people on the track team, and I like I have so much respect for all of them and all the hard work they do. But like they just some some of the people that I'm like interact with, like they don't get to be in the place of like filling me up or like being my main community. Um, but I can still have like very deep and valuable friendships with them. Yeah. And like, yeah, I'm not like discount, yeah, I'm not trying to like discount or say they're bad people at all because that's not the case at all. But just yeah, I'd say that's a big mistake.

SPEAKER_00 35:15

And that's also like your mission field. Like, yeah, like I love how you're like, you can't just only be friends with Christian people because then like what like who are you pouring out into? But you also need to get filled up. And one as you're talking, I kind of was thinking this too. One thing, another piece of advice, like if you are going, because I know springtime is here, people are graduating. If you're going into college, um one other piece of advice I would say is not to, I feel like everyone's so desperate for that community, but like also be kind of picky with your friend group. Like, don't latch on to the very first people you meet. Um that's kind of like what I did is like, oh, they live right next door to me. So I'm gonna latch on and like do everything with them. When they we'd be like in two months, we realize, oh, we actually don't have that much in common. Um, so like kind of be picky and like keep going to those events of Christian community. Don't be like, oh, I made two friends, I'm done.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:09

Um, and kind of going to those events. What are some examples of things? And I know you already talked about going to Salt Company and church. Is there any other areas that you would recommend like going in college to meet people? Um, or things that they could do to meet people.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Yeah. Um, yeah, for sure. The biggest one, like I said, is the ministries. I mean, those people want to pour into you. They want to like they want to match you with your best friends, like they want to help. I mean, the Lord wants you there. Like, that's a big one. Um, I think actually one that isn't talked about a lot, I know this doesn't fit for all people, but is like inner murals. Yeah. That is something that a lot of my roommates have put a lot into. And like, I just think that's so awesome. It's something that I've always been sad I can't do. But um that's a great place. I mean, just like doing things that you like you enjoy doing, like that's where you're gonna find like-minded people, which which might mean joining the the knitting club, like just things like that. Like you're gonna like find people with similar interests. Like, I don't know, try out all the glove, all the clubs you can. Like I did the, yeah, I did like I kind of just said, I did the crocheting club for a week and I did clay club for a couple of weeks, and just like different things like that where you just never know who you're gonna meet. I mean, spending a lot of time in like your rec center, like doing all those things is fun. I mean, when people see you doing fun things too, like they want to join. So it's like if you're doing if you're biking or like you're rollerblading or you're sitting outside on campus on a blanket having a picnic, like people want to do that stuff. Like that attracts good people, like just things like that. Yeah, just trying to be as involved as you can, go to the sporting events, like just yeah, I don't know, just get out of your room and do fun stuff.

SPEAKER_00 37:52

I love that is such a good piece of advice too. I especially like the intramurals, because for me, like I did not go to college and I didn't do sports in college, and it was hard because like my friends who were in sports have that natural community where it's like their teammates are their community, and I'm like, I don't have that, so I have to try a little extra hard to like have that community. Um, and so like either yeah, intramurals, yeah. We would like play sand volleyball all the time outside of our town home and stuff like that, and we just meet so many people through that and selfishly too. Like I led like a group through the camp, the college ministries on campus. I like led a small group on the chosen um Bible study, and I loved that because that's how I met a lot of my friends. Like, I just invited like random people and they'd come and then we'd get close through our conversations, and I'd be like, Oh, do you want to go grab coffee or do you want to do this? And we became really close friends because like you're leading a young adult group, but then like the people attending are the same age as you, and like you make friends that way as well. So that kind of leads me to my next question. And you kind of, I know you lead, you led or you do lead right now a small group through salt. Um how do you move from just like attending a church, um, whether like even just like going to like the Thursday night salt nights versus like actually becoming known and like getting into community there? Because you can just be a number, right? You can just like walk in, walk out, and say you tend salt, but how do you actually become known and like be put in community with them?

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Um, yeah, I mean, this goes for a lot of the things I guess I've like hit on today, but just like I don't know, people just care too much, like be bold and be ready to be hurt and to be embarrassed and to like just be okay with like putting yourself out there. Like, I mean, that's just what life is is like just yeah, like pouring in so much and just being okay to be vulnerable and like yeah, like just the fear of rejection. Like you just have to like eventually you just have to be like, I'm just I'm done, like being scared and I'm just gonna go all in and I'm gonna so that what that looks like practically is like being able to like go up to somebody and be like, hey, I am interested in a small group. Can you help plug me in? Or like, oh, like who are you? Like, do you have any connection to anyone that can get me plugged in? Be ready to like, I mean, pretty much every church on the planet, like in their announcements in both their college ministries and their regular church service, is like they're in their announcements that before the services, here's how to get involved. Like, be ready to help with the parking on a Sunday morning or like there's so many, like, just pay attention when they talk about like the Bible studies and the women's events and like things like that. Like, there's things everywhere you just have to like be willing to like open your eyes and your ears and put yourself out there to do them. Cause like the resources, in my opinion, are almost always there. It's just whether you're willing, willing to like reach your hand out or not.

SPEAKER_00 40:55

Yeah, that's so good. I feel like too, like a lot of, and I think you like hit on it a little bit, is like a lot of people care too much whether people are gonna think of them or even like if you're going and attending one or signing up for these groups, you're like, I'm going alone, like I don't know anyone, like I don't know what is going to happen. And I always have a I have a fear of the unknown. So it's like, oh, what if this happens? What if this happens? And I get in my head, but like you just gotta do it. Um sign up for that group. Like, there's I'm no salt, like has a ton of groups, and you even like clubs from the college, like has a ton of groups, and you said it too. I just want to reiterate like find something you're interested in because it's like-minded people. Yeah, um, I know our church for has like a young adult group, or they have a basketball group, or um, they have like a coffee and like young adult girls group. So there's a ton of different groups, like you said, there's resources out there. You just have to like be bold enough and get out of your comfort zone to like sign up for that group, but not only sign up for that group, because there were some clubs I signed up for, and then I was like, I just never attended because I was like too scared. I got too in my head. I'm like, oh, I'm going alone. I don't know anyone. But like you have to be bold to like even go. So, like, yeah, yeah, it might have taken you courage to sign up, but it takes even more courage to actually go to the event and like keep going because that's where you meet like-minded people and those people that eventually will become your community. Yeah. Um, and you said it too, like with your mom and how she instilled it. And I kind of want to go back to that of like, you can't just like wait around for an invite. You just you have to be the one to kind of make that happen. And in my season of like loneliness in college, when I realized I like don't have a good Christian community, um, I was really struggling. And I kept saying over and over, like, this was the phrase I would say to myself where I like write my journal. It's like, I feel like I'm always inviting, but I'm never invited. Um, and so that can also be like a hard thing where like people think, like, if I don't invite people, like, will people invite me? But like, I love every like, so what? Like, be the person to invite and stuff, and be the person to like come up with fun plans. It doesn't matter. Like, if you're about you can't just like wait around for an invite and like have a pity party about it. Like, I have no friends, but did you message people? Did you invite people over? Yeah, like you have to kind of take it into your own hands as well, and then also really pray about it. Um, my sophomore year, I really prayed for Christian community. I was like, I think I like wrote in my journal, it was during COVID. I was like, Lord, I really, really need Christian community. I think everyone kind of felt a season of loneliness during COVID. And I was like, I'm really lonely. Like, I really pray for a good group of girls to pour into me. Literally, two months after writing that, I went back to college. Thankfully, I went to a small school where we could be in person again. And within two months, I had made five friends that were like amazing women of God, and we're still friends to this day, like they're at my wedding and everything. And that was like such an answer to prayer and just like the power of prayer as well. For that Christian community makes a huge, huge difference. And so like I do want to talk about too, because you actually have uh a business that kind of goes with your spiritual gift of like fostering community um called uh gather together company. Do you want to share kind of like what that is, what business that is, why you started it, and like kind of your vision behind it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:26

Um so yeah, very into the the gathering, uh gather togetherness. Um yeah, I don't know. I was just always like, I'm always like putting together little things. And then I was like, oh, maybe I'll just put together like a little, I can maybe occasionally make a little money off of this, potentially. Um so yeah, kind of like started that with like the little palette picnic type situation. Have done like a couple of those, but then I've like focused in on two. Like I really like doing the charcuterie. And I was like, yeah, this is you're so good at it. I was like, this is also like a nice little way to make some money. And like I I really like doing it. But um, so yeah, that's kind of how that has like come about. But but it it just, yeah, I like I like that it just encourages like like a big thing is I just I want to create like memories for people for people and like I want them to have fun experiences and and find community and be in good community and like yeah, so this this business is just a way that I can like add a little bit to someone's day or like yeah, create a memory and an experience for people, you know. So that's kind of how that came about.

SPEAKER_00 45:32

Yeah, and I love it. And I know um, so you actually started this company before we started Jesus Design Co. Cause you're also part of the Jesus Design Co business with um my mother-in-law, Jess, your future mother-in-law, and Jaya, um, just my sister-in-law. And so we're all, yeah, sister-in-laws and um mother-in-law business. But we actually kind of were like, oh, like what would it look like to take your business? Because I like you're gonna be graduating. Like, how can we apply it to like foster community, even like outside of college or outside of things? And I just love like the whole purpose behind this business is to foster community. Um, you did the charcuterie at our wedding, which was amazing. Um, you did the charcuterie at my sister, my other sister-in-law on the other side of the family, Megan, her wedding. You've done like, like you said, like picnics and stuff. Um, and even like engagement parties you'll do. So you just do a really great job of like using this business to create that community. And we've talked about too, like, I know you're not there yet, but graduating college and going to the real world, finding community is so much harder because you get pulled from this like group of people where you're surrounded with people who are your age, full of community, or and like salt company is for those college kids, and like even like finding clubs, like you don't have that in the real world. And a lot of times your job is not people that are your age, yeah. And so, like we talked about it's a bummer because there's not a ton of events outside of college when you graduate for Christian community. Most, if you think about it, where do most people meet people? It's at the bar. Yeah. And like that's not where you're gonna want to find that Christian community. And so, like, we're like brainstorming just even just like what are some things we could do to find community outside of college, or how can we create that community? It's like whether it's hosting a retreat or you do a great job, like those picnics and stuff like that. And so I kind of want to talk about a little bit, just like speaking into like no matter what stage you're of life you're in, um, whether it's you're in high school, you're feeling lonely, college, you want to get plugged in with Christian community. Maybe you graduate college, you're about to graduate college, you're struggling, you're a young adult with community. Maybe you're older and you're a mom and it's hard to find community because your kids take up so much of your time or even a different season of life. Like I feel like everyone at some point has struggled with feeling lonely and community. And I feel like the devil uses isolation and loneliness because in the Bible literally says surround yourself with that Christian community. And so um, I just want to speak to like if you are feeling lonely, what are some practical things that you can do to find community? I know Darcy just said a bunch of them, like what she's done in college. Um, so speaking outside of college, where do you think someone even starts to find Christian community if they're not involved in college? So there's no clubs, there's no community groups. Do you have like any suggestions for them, like practical things?

SPEAKER_01 48:45

Yeah. Um, yeah, I'm about to enter that season, which we will see because college is pretty like rose-colored glasses, like you've community kind of handed to you for people that are also looking for friends. Um yeah, I think a big one again is just gonna be like finding a church and like not necessarily like pour, like I don't know, people like I've heard different things about like finding a church when you like reach kind of like that adulthood period. It's like you need to like pour into the church and be open, like open your heart to a church, and like you should I definitely think you should give it like a month or three months, and but then it's like be okay with the fact that maybe if it's not clicking, be ready to move on to the next one and try a different one. Like so I don't think it's good to like church hop a bunch and like like give it one serm sermon and then you're like okay, I'm done with this, I don't like it. But like also don't wait, don't settle somewhere, like still be picky. But again, just that church community. Um I again, I would just like going and doing things that you enjoy doing, like in the park, like rollerblading or biking, like those are two big ones that obviously I participate in. Like, I mean, I have a friend in Boston and like she has joined like a run club there, and like you just again you find so many like-minded people there. Your parks and rec department is that's kind of a funny plug, but just like looking into things like that, like their whole purpose is to create community and like do events and stuff. So, like looking for things like that to join. Like, I know Casey has, I mean, obviously does like couple basketball leagues and stuff, not necessarily parks and rec, but like just different things like that, like just doing your interests and just like again, just being willing to like put yourself out there and like be okay with like meeting people and pouring into them, and maybe it doesn't work out and you never talk to them again, or it's kind of awkward. Like you just have to be okay with that because like we're all just trying to like make it through life and like yeah, being vulnerable sometimes hurts, but it just like it pays off so much when it is kind of within like where the Lord wants you to be. Um, yeah, that's probably I guess that's probably the best of it.

SPEAKER_00 50:56

Yeah, that's so good. And it's pretty similar to like in college too. I know for me, like my biggest struggle, because I have been out of college for four-ish years, um, was I had a lot of friends younger than me. So like I had severe FOMO of like seeing like their Snapchat stories or things on Instagram that they had post, and they're still all hanging out in that community, and I'm an hour away um by myself in my apartment on a Friday night. And so that was really hard. But then, like one of my friends said, was like, you gotta start doing things that like you're interested in. And I think the biggest thing that I did, and I'm so thankful I did, was I asked my home church and I said, Hey, I'm moving to the West Des Moines area. Do you have any recommendations for a church?

SPEAKER_01 51:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:42

So asking people for recommendations if you know of in that area, um, or like you said, trying out different churches until you find one that you click. And now, and I love how you also said this like there's not going to be a perfect church, right? Church people, like churches are led by people and humans, and we all feel sure of the glory of God. But find people that you click with as well. Cause a church isn't just a building, it's the body of believers that make up the church. Um, and so I asked my home church and they recommended Summit Creek. So I went the very first Sunday, I moved to the area. And actually, it was cool because my high school mint, my high school like small group leader growing up, actually moved to this area and goes to Summit Creek. So I actually went with her, um, which was a blessing. But the next Sunday I went by myself, which going to church by yourself is like a new level of confidence that you're like walking through the door and you have no idea. But what really like helped me is one of the ladies who kind of was on staff at the time saw that I was sitting by myself and she turned around and invited me to sit in the front row with her. And then I just like got plugged in. Like I started like signing up for we call them life groups. Um, looking, I signed up for like a brunch life group, and I signed up um for other some other life groups where I met people. And then I got in plug, I told myself, I was like, oh, I just want to attend for a year before I get plugged in. Um, which I'm so glad I didn't wait a whole year because within like two months of me attending, the youth pastor found out I had been involved in youth group. And so he asked if I wanted to start like helping with youth. And after I started helping with youth group, my community expanded like tenfold. Like I felt like I was a part of a church and not just a number or a face that like walked in and then walked out. Like people said hi to me. They knew my name. I was a name rather than a face. And then that summer, I hadn't even been going for a year. I'd been going for six months. I got asked to lead the young adult group. And I was heads down. I was like, I don't even know the young adults in the church, like I haven't even been here. But we met so many people through that too. Um, so getting plugged into the young adults, and yeah, like you said, just like saying yes and signing up is huge. Um, going to places, doing things that you like to do. And then one last thing I was gonna ask you because I feel like you do a great job, is um how do you um how do I want to word this? I feel like a lot of friendships or friend groups get struggle with like, especially if it's a bunch of girls, struggle with drama or maybe lack of intentionality. How do you maintain friendships um and kind of stay kind of like how do you not get involved in drama or let that ruin a friendship? Yeah. Um, let one small thing ruin a friendship. And how do you make sure you're still intentional with your friends, even if you're in like different seasons of life? Or I know a lot of your friends, you said a lot of them are gonna be like leaving. Like, yeah, yeah. How do you stay intentional and stay out of the drama or letting drama kind of ruin your friendships?

SPEAKER_01 54:51

Um, yeah, that was probably like one of the biggest things going from like high school to college. I mean, I'm not saying anything about like I'm saying more about my my high school self. Like I was just, you know, we're all like teenage girls that are just not nice people. Like I was not nice in high school necessarily all the time. All the hormones, yeah. I don't just like all high school girls kind of suck a little bit. Yeah. We're all trying to figure out our right, right? But um like the I've talked about this a lot lately with my friends is like you just have to be willing to like like you have to be willing to be inconvenienced and like like you don't I mean you just you're not always it's not always gonna be great and fun and like yeah, we're all sinful people and we all have issues. I mean, every single one of my friends, like we've known each other for four years and I know them very well, and I know very well that every single one of us, like we have things that suck about us, and they all they know the things that suck about me. And like the thing that has made us so close and stay so close for four years is like they're willing to stick around in that suckiness and like they still love me through those difficult moments and they still love me when I inconvenience them and like yeah, like they're not constantly getting poured into like none of us are. But like you just have to be okay with being inconvenienced. Like, life isn't just about you consuming all the time, like you just you have to be willing to give. And sometimes, yeah, you have to be willing to have an empty cup because you gave so much and like they don't have anything to give back to you right now. Like, and yeah, we live in a very transactional world, and like that's so good, yeah. Being able to be in a friendship where like you're okay sticking around when they kind of stink a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 56:32

Like, that's just been like a you don't always need something in return. Like you can give without like, well, I did this, yeah. Why aren't you doing it back for me? Or I think that's so good because I feel like a lot of people can like overthink those things. And I think one other thing is just assume positive intent. Yeah, like you can't like read into something so much, and if you just assume that they meant well, rather than if it's like, oh, they they put a period at the end of their message, like are they mad or something, and then not gossiping about because like you live with a group of six people, like you could definitely like if one person's like making you mad, talk about it to other people, but then it just like explodes the problem. So just assume positive attent and go directly to the source, yeah. Um, as well. I think I think it was Sadie Robertson that she had like a 24-hour rule where it's like do not let something anger you for 24 hours and like let it kind of breathe for 24 hours. And if you're still upset about it, go directly to that person. Like, don't start spreading like things about it. Yeah, and I think that was like one of the biggest things I had to learn too. It's like when you start talking about a person, it's gonna get ugly fast. Just go to the source and just ask them like what they meant by that, or always say too, it's like never like you did this, it's like I feel this, yeah, too, is kind of like because then they'll get put on like defense mode and they feel like you're attacking them as well. Um, as you close this podcast on like community, what are um some practical things that people could do this week to step out in faith and boldness to make to like kind of build up their Christian community? Do you have any like advice that they could do, like just next steps this week, even?

SPEAKER_01 58:15

Yeah. Um, I would say like wherever you are, whether that's like say you're sitting in church, you're sitting in class, you're sitting at your desk job, you're on a a walk or just things like that. Like be bold enough to reach out to the person next to you and like ask them to do something. Like, like you be the planner this week. Like maybe you're the one that's always invited, or you feel like boohoo, poor me, I'm never included. Like be the one to inconvenience yourself and like be bold and plan the thing, like plan a movie night and invite a friend over, or invite your coworker over, or like plan a walk, go get coffee. I mean, there's like so many opportunities like to like interact with people, like go get brunch with someone. Like, just yeah, this week, like be the one to plan the thing. Like, that's be the one to be bold and take that next step.

SPEAKER_00 59:07

I love and I love how you gave examples of just like small things you could do, like let's go on a walk. Like if the weather's nice, like look at the weather, let's go on a walk. Like it's supposed to be nice this day. Let's go on a walk or let's grab coffee or brunch or something. Um, yeah, so that's a challenge for you this week. Pray about someone that you can like God will like, even maybe it's not someone you know, like you're just at a coffee shop and you see someone reading the Bible or doing something, like have a conversation with them and like have the Lord like lay someone on your heart or in your path this week to invite um instead of waiting around to be invited. My other piece of advice, um, my piece of advice for you guys is something I started doing in my quiet time is like praying about um who's someone I can be intentional with that day and sending them an intentional message. So every day I try to like pick one friend or even a coworker or something, just like, hey, I'm thinking of you praying for you. Um, and like pray over that friend and that friendship, but also like, or maybe it's like, hey, we should, I haven't talked to you in a while. Like, hope things are well, we should grab coffee sometime. Yeah. Um, so it could be a text like that too. And I try to do that every single day as well. It might not just be like an invite every day, because then you can get busy, but like just saying that you're thinking of them to just kind of boost that intentionality and that friendship as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:26

So and just like be ready, just be ready to listen. And like just yeah, like you're you're like the coffee date you're playing, you're like, Well, what am I gonna do? Like, just learn more about people and just open your ears to like hear about them. I mean, people do love talking about themselves, and sometimes people don't have anyone to pour out to. So, like, yeah, just be ready to learn and listen and like care about other people, which again is super inconvenient a lot of the time, but like you just have to be okay with that. And like the payout of that is just so amazing when the moment is a little uncomfortable or inconveniencing, you know?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:58

Yeah, or even if you feel like you do have a good sense of community or you are a little more extroverted and bold, like being just like intentional when you're at church and like of your surroundings and just being like aware and like is there someone sitting alone that you can invite to come sit with you? Um, or like reach out to them in the lobby and say, Hey, like I'm Gabby, like what's your name? Like, I haven't seen you before, and helping them get plugged in as well. Um, because you never know how much that can mean to them. And you might gain a friend in the process too. Yeah, like be the answered prayer for someone else. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So thank you so much for joining us. Um, you do so well with community. So I'm so excited about this podcast. I think it's a big topic that a lot of people wrestle with. So I appreciate your time and just your advice for everyone, of course.