Staying in Touch with Brethren

We have all been there: You had a meaningful conversation at a social, or shared wonderful moments during the Feast of Tabernacles with someone in the Church. When it was time to depart, you vowed to keep in touch. You exchanged contact information and left.

Then a few weeks fly by. Then a few months. Even later, you realize you never reached out. You might think, “How did I let that happen?”

Life’s demands—work, family, health, etc.—can easily pull us in different directions. The above scenario is one many of us can relate to: We start out with the best of intentions but find that keeping communication going is more difficult than it seems. It is a real challenge in today’s busy world.

Staying connected with brethren is more than a courtesy. It reflects God’s love for His people and fulfills His desire for us to maintain strong relationships. Hebrews 13:16 states, “To do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

God informs us that reaching out to fellow Christians is a good work that we should not forget to do. He considers these acts of kindness and communication to be sacrifices, similar to how offerings were given in the Old Testament—acts of worship and devotion.

Many Church members live alone, are part of smaller congregations, or are spread across great distances. For some, the Feast or other Holy Days may be their only opportunities for in-person fellowship. Others are homebound and cannot attend even these gatherings.

Regardless of circumstances, consistent communication allows us to uplift and encourage one another, ensuring no one feels isolated or forgotten.

Remember, staying in touch is a sacrifice. It requires time and effort, but it is well worth it. Regular communication can significantly impact someone who is struggling. Even if we may not always realize it, God sees and values our willingness to show outgoing concern.

How can you ensure that joy and connection with brethren remains consistent throughout the year, despite daily responsibilities? You can maintain these relationships by building simple habits that withstand life’s challenges.

Common Impediments

Even with the best of intentions, various factors can prevent us from staying in touch. Understanding these challenges will help us overcome them and forge better communication habits.

Busy Schedules: Life’s responsibilities often leave us feeling as if there is not enough time to connect with others. We push things off to the next day. But as Proverbs 27:1 states, “Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth.” Each day brings its own set of new challenges. Before we know it, weeks or months can go by without connecting. We have to actively make the time to reach out. Hebrews 3:13 tells us to “exhort one another daily, while it is called Today.”

Forgetfulness: We live in a technical age. Gone are the days when you had to remember multiple phone numbers or addresses. Now, these things are stored in a smartphone. Our ability to remember things is no longer being exercised as it once was. We have grown accustomed to outsourcing information to our devices, which has made it easy to forget even simple things. We genuinely intend to reach out but forget. Yet remember that in Hebrews 13:16, God says to “forget not” to communicate.

Hesitation and Shyness: Some people hesitate to reach out because they are unsure if the message will be well received. Sometimes, we overthink our words, wondering if what we say will come across as intrusive or pushy. Others worry that the recipient may be too busy. Often, hesitation comes from a fear of being misunderstood or making things awkward. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking can lead to missed opportunities for connection.

Understanding and working to overcome these challenges allows us to start building consistency that will benefit our relationships with brethren.

Simple Habits

Maintaining the right mindset is just as important as the actions themselves. Make sure you are focusing on concern for the other person, instead of expecting an immediate response or communicating out of obligation. The apostle Paul wrote, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another” (Rom. 12:10).

Keeping efforts to communicate grounded in love maximizes the effort and thought we put into each gesture. Even small, sincere actions are appreciated.

This perspective allows us to maximize simple, intentional habits to help us stay connected year-round.

As with any task, keeping in touch requires intentional focus, especially when life gets busy. Setting aside time to check in with someone can make a big difference. Create a simple plan, like scheduling a day in the week or a few days each month to contact one or two people. Having a routine, no matter how small, helps ensure that communication becomes a part of our lives. Staying connected can fit into even the busiest schedules if planned well. Making time for just one or two people at first can quickly blossom into many more connections.

Now that you have a plan, take initiative and implement it. One of the most effective ways to counter forgetfulness is to set reminders. This helps ensure that even when we are caught up with other things, there is a gentle prompt to remind us of our commitment. If you are crunched for time, even a short note to say “I’m thinking of you” can go a long way.

Another way to stay mindful of communication is to link reaching out with a weekly activity—such as Sabbath preparation. For example, you might text or call a few brethren every Friday evening as you get ready for the Sabbath. This association makes it less likely to be forgotten, as you will naturally think of connecting with others whenever the seventh day of the week draws near.

Developing small intentional habits like these makes staying connected feel natural. Over time, these actions strengthen our bonds and make it second nature to keep in touch.

You Can Do It!

With so many distractions in today’s world, it can be easy for our relationships with brethren to fall by the wayside. However, by valuing these connections and making small, consistent efforts, we can sustain communication that withstands the demands of daily life.

We must continue making the sacrifice of communication. Galatians 6:9 states, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

If you turn your good intentions into consistent action, you will open up opportunities to apply I Thessalonians 5:11: “Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do.”

Regular communication also allows you to build deeper bonds with people. Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Staying in touch with others allows us to know and bear each other’s burdens.

If you have struggled with staying in touch with God’s people in the past, take heart. You can do it. Now is the time to take action. God is ready and eager to bless your efforts to connect with His people. Reach out to your friends in the Church, trusting that your efforts will bring them joy and comfort.