Most people would agree that James and Sheila Boutwell have big hearts. They have made a practice of opening their homes to individuals and families needing help. But what many may not know is their hospitality began with prayer. “Sheila and I got married 16 years ago, with a family, and we were looking at a house … but at the onset, we said, 'Lord, this is your house. Do with it as you want to have done.' That was our full intention upfront," said James. From the beginning, hospitality was their intention and on their mind. And while James admits he is a collector of things, he did not fully realize that Sheila is a collector of people. With big arms, a big house, and big hearts, the couple began to invite people they met who needed a helping hand. Over the years, they have affectionally referred to them as the "basement dwellers." The first basement dweller was a lady whose home burned down, and she had nowhere to go. She lived in the basement for three...

Thomas P. Farley is better known as Mister Manners. He is an etiquette expert, speaker, and author. You may have seen him on NBC’s Today Show or read his book, “Modern Manners: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Social Graces.” One of his frequently used phrases is the reminder to put “people over pixels.” In a recent interview I conducted, Farley said this is more important now than ever before. “With each passing year, our brain chemistry has been literally changing. We are social media addicted, and we are e-mail addicted. With the advent of the smartphone and other technologies, we are just further and further engaged with our devices,” said Farley. But the challenge with this new addiction is that there are still only 24 hours in a day. “The number of hours you’re spending on social media or checking to see how many likes your latest Instagram post may have gotten, that’s time that you’re not giving to the people around you,” said Farley. The technology itself is neutral, bu...

Being a good neighbor offers tremendous health benefits, reduces crime, reduces loneliness, improves communities, is a preventative measure against having difficult neighbors, and improves your quality of life. With all of those benefits I have to wonder why more people do not want to know their neighbors? A State Farm research study on the "state of neighboring"  showed that 50% of Americans do not take the time to get to know their neighbors, and 37% do not want to interact with their neighbors beyond a friendly wave hello.  Americans today have limited time and attention and more ways to spend it. It is not that we are making an active decision not to talk with neighbors. Instead, we prefer to spend our time texting friends, chatting online, or watching television. This means Americans are growing farther apart and talking less with people who have different opinions.  But being a good neighbor does not have to be a separate activity, or simply a box you check off your...

This neighboring story by World News Group began when David Burton sent a proposal for a series of stories on neighboring.  "I listen to their national news podcast The World and Everything In It every morning. And I thought the expanding idea of neighboring nationally might be of interest and gave them five-story ideas highlighting five different groups working in the neighboring space," said Burton. A few months later the editor contacted Burton saying they were going to send a reporter to explore the neighboring idea in Republic and at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield where a "We Are Neighbors" project is underway. The reporter came from Wichita, Kansas, and spent several days in the Springfield area doing interviews. She also interviewed some staff at Ridgecrest. "It wasn't my intention to have the final story focused on Stacey and I," said Burton. "But it is an accurate and well-done story. I am hopeful that in a few months they will ...

  Legislation establishing Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4) passed the Missouri legislature on the last day of this session, and now HB1738 sits on the Governor's desk awaiting a signature.  Rep. Bishop Davidson got the Missouri Good Neighbor Week language added to this bill.  A portion of the text designating Missouri Good Neighbor Week reads: "Citizens of Missouri are encouraged to participate in appropriate events and activities to establish connections with their neighbors. Research shows that knowing one's neighbors reduces loneliness, crime, and isolation and leads to safer and more vibrant communities."  Several cities nationwide have designed good neighbor weeks, but Missouri appears to be the first state.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- David Burton, a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension, came away from the 47th annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) national conference held in Little Rock, Arkansas (May 3 to May 7) with five coveted national awards in 10 possible categories. NUSA is a non-profit organization created in 1975 to share information and experiences to build stronger communities. NUSA continues to encourage networking and information-sharing to facilitate the development of partnerships among neighborhood organizations, government, and the private sector for the ultimate goal of strengthening every neighborhood. This year's conference theme was "Neighborhoods: The Fabric of Our Communities." The NUSA awards process began with submitting applications in February. Applications were then scored, and those selected as national finalists were alerted to their status in March and asked to make a 20-minute presentation to a panel of judges at the...

Nearly nine out of ten Americans (86 percent) like their neighbors, a sentiment that remains high across all major demographics, according to results from a national Xcelerant omnibus survey conducted on behalf of Fathom Realty, a national, cloud-based, real estate brokerage. Of those Americans that do not like their neighbors, being too noisy (50 percent) is the reason that troubles them the most about their adjacent counterparts, followed by not respecting boundaries (38 percent) and being nosy (37 percent). Gen Z has the highest concentration of individuals who do not like their neighbors (20 percent), which is twice that of their older Baby Boomer counterparts (10 percent). Eighty-six percent of survey respondents say they are friendly with their neighbors, although women are less friendly with their neighbors than men, 17 percent vs. 11 percent, respectively. I do think it is important to note a flaw in this study. Other research studies over the past decade have shown that ...

  “Hello, I am busy.” That has nearly become the standard greeting in the United States of America. But there is an answer that brings improvement and it is not simply better “time management.” The truth is, most people feel frazzled and overwhelmed much of the time. We are distracted and preoccupied in the same sorts of ways--struggling under the weight of work, family, exercise, bills, church, school, friends, and a barrage of requests, demands, and desires. It's safe to say that on a typical day for most of us, our responsibilities, requirements, and ambitions add up to more than we can handle. After having a frantic 2018 , I was  been thinking about New Year’s resolutions. That is when someone suggested I read the book “Crazy Busy” by Kevin DeYoung, and the book hit a nerve for me. The biggest dangers arising from this hectic and frustrating modern life are not what we might expect. An immediate and obvious threat is that busyness can ruin our joy. When we're fra...

Watercolor how to video  https://youtu.be/at8_66UG49c When a neighbor receives a kind note from us, especially if it is handwritten, they feel like the writer has a deeper desire to serve them or connect. I solated and lonely people desire a personal touch. This has always been true. But it is especially true during this period in our social history. As a speaker and writer on the topic of neighboring, I am seeing a surge of interest in connecting with the people who live nearby, and notecards are a great way to do introductions or invites. Taking the time to personalize a notecard, like with watercolors, can be relaxing for you, but it also tells the receiver that you invested time in the communication. Quentin Schultze, a Communication Professor Emeritus at Calvin College, is a fan of handwritten notes and personal letters. He has written books and blogs on communication topics, and when it comes to a handwritten note, he says a nicely written note is gold. “If there’s ...

  In his book, Pastor Dave Ferguson shares a simple acronym that describes for us a practical way to B.L.E.S.S. our neighbors. B – Begin with prayer L – Listen E – Eat together S – Serve S – Share stories Let's take a closer look at this idea of serving. When Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples, he sets an example of service for us. He washes his disciples’ feet. He was the master. He was the teacher. You would think that it was the disciples who ought to wash Jesus’ feet. But there Jesus is stooping down to perform this modest but meaningful task. After he finishes he says: “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:13–15, ESV) Jesus trades his crown for an apron.  This was big. In an honor and shame culture what he did would never bring...