Set the Table, Don't Forget the Key

There's this like binding element in the social connections of people that meals do to, like it just happens.

Another experience with meals, I was working in Melbourne, Australia at a university there.

And There's a church called Gateway Adventist Center, and they do small groups.

They call them care groups.

And in these care groups, they follow the simple formula of Acts 4, verse 42.

They look at the apostles' doctrine or Bible study.

They fellowship with one another.

They pray, and they break bread together.

They have meals together.

This church at that time really focused on working with Asian students who were coming abroad to Australia, and they would have Friday night Bible studies and meals.

These people coming over, these students coming over to the university, they leave their family, they leave their traditions, but they provide meals for them.

And what happens is you start feeling connected.

There's a study that took place and it shows that when you're in negotiations, when meals are involved, it's easier to find a resolution to that negotiation when meals are not involved.

Why? Because meals, when you eat together, not just binds you together, but creates a trusting relationship that takes place.