Part 2: Changing Church Culture by Gathering the Saints | Jacob Hansen and the Long Beach East Stake

In March 2024, Jacob Hansen joined us on the Leading Saints Podcast
to talk about how we can combine values and people’s interests to
create a great experience. He believes this is a powerful way to
build Zion by creating community and human connection between the
saints. Jacob is back with a conversation about interest-based
groups in the Long Beach East Stake, where they are changing the
game in bringing together the Lord's children both inside and
outside the Church. In this rebroadcast of a recent Thoughtful
Faith podcast, Jacob talks with leaders from that stake about what
they are doing to literally gather Israel. Links Part 1: Changing
Church Culture by Gathering the Saints | An Interview with Jacob
Hansen Thoughful Faith on YouTube The original video about stake
activity groups: "Could This Revolutionize The Church?" Stake
Activity Group Linktree (Note that the “Scripture Buddies” groups
are open to men and women anywhere in the US.) Stake Bulletins
Talent & Interest Survey There is already a discussion started
about this podcast. Share your thoughts. Transcript coming soon Get
14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Jacob Hansen is
back with a follow-up to his previous podcast interview about
interest-based groups at Church. In this podcast episode, Jacob
talks with leaders from the Long Beach East Stake and emphasizes
the value of connecting individuals with similar interests to
strengthen relationships and combat loneliness. The stake has
successfully implemented over a dozen interest-based groups,
ranging from yoga classes to scripture study groups. These groups
have provided a platform for members to bond over shared passions
and activities, fostering a sense of community and friendship. The
stake has seen significant success in organizing these groups, with
members actively participating and engaging in various activities.
The conversation highlights the grassroots approach taken by the
stake leadership, allowing members to initiate and lead these
groups based on their interests. The episode also addresses
concerns about control and the necessity of providing a framework
for organizing these activities within the Church. Overall, the
podcast showcases the positive impact of interest-based groups in
building relationships, promoting unity, and creating a sense of
belonging within the Church community. 03:10 - Impact of
interest-based groups in strengthening relationships 07:05 -
Formation and success of a yoga group in the stake 10:05 -
Involvement in various interest-based groups 12:40 - Organizing
groups in the stake 17:04 - Importance of shared interests in
building relationships 22:19 - Organizing groups through surveys
and communication 26:04 - Overcoming initial hesitations to start
groups 29:38 - Benefits of interest-based groups in reducing
loneliness and isolation 34:07 - Encouraging grassroots initiatives
for groups 36:42 - Building relationships through shared interests
40:42 - Utilizing stake resources to promote interest-based
activities 44:35 - Participation and success of groups in the stake
47:24 - Balancing top-down guidance with bottom-up initiatives
50:18 - Emphasizing the importance of individual talents and
interests 52:13 - Gathering saints through shared values and
interests The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent
Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints'
mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn
more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at
LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David
Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz
Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore,
Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister,
Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B.
Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan
Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson,