Here's a great article by Liz Selzner of MOPS International on touch points. It's worth publishing here for all of you to help you reach one more mom for Jesus.
Touch Points
By Liz Selzer, PhD, Director of Leadership Development
As you are deepening relationships with women in your MOPS group, listen carefully for ways to connect. One way to facilitate relationship is to listen for “touch points.” Touch points are topics where you relate to another person’s life, areas of common ground, places to begin honest discussion.
As the other person is speaking, listen for things that you have in common; areas where your life experience touches hers:
A specific topic (e.g. growth of the internet, suffering, longing for acceptance, motherhood)
An emotion (e.g. frustration, tiredness, excitement)
Specific people (e.g. a favorite author, a certain actor, Mother Teresa)
Personal relationships (e.g. husbands, parents, friends, sisters)
Past experiences (e.g. loss of a loved one, high school memories, previous spiritual experience, physical illness)
Common values (e.g. a strong marriage, a good educational system, integrity)
Once you identify a touch point, guide the conversation to these places of common ground. If a mom feels you are really listening to her, she is affirmed. Often this will open the door for her to be willing to listen to you.
Paraphrase what she says. This shows her you have heard her and gives her the opportunity to correct or expand on your understanding of what she said. You can also ask open-ended questions (questions that require more than a one word answer). This will expand your understanding of what she is saying and allow her to control the course of the conversation.
Once you have really heard what the other person has to say about the subject, find the area where you agree and build on it. For example:
If she is struggling with her mother’s cancer – your touch point might be that suffering in others is hard to watch. You can then discuss this common feeling to build your relationship.
If she is nervous to have people over to her house because it is not as ‘nice’ as others’ – your touch point might be the common feeling of insecurity in areas where we are different from others. You can then talk about that feeling of insecurity.
If she is telling you about how much joy she feels as she watches her toddler take his first steps–your touch point might be the indescribable feeling of love we have for our children.
Be careful not to immediately emphasize areas where you do not agree. You may not agree with all that she says about that topic, but you can still find touch points within it:
You may not agree with the way she disciplines her children, but you can both agree on the touch point of how much you love your children.
You may not agree with her view that “all good people end up in heaven regardless of their beliefs,” but you can agree on the touch points of the desire to be good, the desire to understand what happens after death and the desire to go to heaven.
Once you have found a touch point:
Emphasize the areas where you agree. Make sure that she sees that you are quite similar to her in this respect.
Next, talk about the places where you believe differently and why. Do not tell her you think she is wrong. Instead, engage her in your own story about how you live out your beliefs.
Touch points offer opportunities to build bridges that may eventually lead to a discussion about faith and how Jesus can make a difference in her life.
Remember this is God’s process. We are called to participate!
Area Coordinator's (AC's) Corner

Nichole Bethel, Zone 22 AC
CONVENTION UPDATE
Ta da! A Convention announcement!
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.
Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).
Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).
And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).
Naomi Cramer Overton
Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.
Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.
MOPS International Convention 2010
August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL
Check back often for more information!
Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:
Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.
Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).
Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).
And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).
Naomi Cramer Overton
Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.
Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.
MOPS International Convention 2010
August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL
Check back often for more information!
Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:
Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation
MOPS Convention ~ August 5-7, 2010
Thursday, March 01, 2007
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