About
The Philosophy of Friendship
Several years ago a small group of people began meeting to explore effective ways to connect faith-based and marketplace leaders in their city. In short order these friends experienced a philosophical split regarding the purpose of connecting influential people.
One school of thought was that there should be a functional purpose for the connections. Maybe they should try to unify these leaders and create a plan to transform the city.
The other school of thought was much simpler; to just gather saints together for the sole purpose of creating friendships.
They decided to try the simpler approach.
This small group of leaders met weekly, and over time they created an environment where cultivating deeper friendships was the main goal. This effort organically birthed a friendship philosophy.
After a year, the group decided to open the meetings to others who might benefit, setting an official day, time, and meeting place. They each tried to invite at least one other friend to the next meeting to see what would happen.
This idea of a meeting with no agenda other than friendship was received with surprising enthusiasm. Leaders of prominent ministries and businesses in the city became regulars. They were used to carrying the weight of responsibility, having all the answers, and meeting all the needs, so it was extremely refreshing for them to come to a meeting and not have to be in ministry mode. They could just be. These high-powered leaders found comfort in one another without the need for acceptance through accomplishments. They all simply connected as friends.
Over and over we heard and witnessed how these gatherings are a source of life and encouragement. The simplicity of getting to know and celebrating each other for who we are, not what we do is enough. No matter how diverse one’s perspective, friendship is valued far more than agreement.
We put this document together to gladly share with you a number of concepts we have learned in the process of creating this philosophy of friendship for ministry leaders. Please take what you find useful and go plant your own gathering of friends.
Steve Sargent
Influencers Gathering Moderator and Founding Member
A Note from the Founder
For many years I’ve had the wonderful privilege of partnering with business and ministry leaders in implementing strategies to transform our communities. But it’s just been in the last decade that my ministry has adjusted our approach to focus on cultivating friendships between leaders. Until then I had not recognized the powerful role that real friendship plays when it came to the bigger vision of transformation in community relationships. I came to realize that my personal destiny is divinely intertwined in the destinies of these friends I now love, and that has dramatically changed my community and ministry perspective. I now celebrate and cultivate friendship connections with no agendas, just a heartfelt desire to see my brothers and sisters succeed in their personal God-given calling. This reality has brought us into a new depth of cooperation across our community that I personally didn’t think was possible. I no longer underestimate the power of friendship in the context of city transformation.
We hope that this resource, years in the making, will aid you in facilitating the establishment of life-long friendships while serving the needs of your own communities.
Steve Freeman
Market Place Executive, Church Planter, Elder/Mentor, and Friendship Advocate.
Steve Freeman is the founder of the Influencers Gathering; bringing business and faith-based leaders together to cultivate friendships. He is passionate about seeing cities and communities transformed through healthy relationships. He devotes much of his time discipling, with a focus on leaders in ministry and business. Much of his expertise comes from his twenty-three years in the market-place and several decades in itinerate ministry. He still serves as an elder in the church he helped plant thirty years ago in Avon, Indiana. Steve and his wife Karma live in Indianapolis, IN.