Radical Hospitality
Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger that you can imagine, but there are few workers, therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38
Church Family,
I attended a virtual Conference in April called “Radical Hospitality.” Speaker Debi Nixon quoted:
“Every Church – every Christian – is called to practice hospitality. This call is rooted in scripture, wherein both the Old and the New Testaments we discover God’s desire to use us as conduits of his love to others. When a community of believers truly share biblical hospitality, loving and welcoming others as God does, it gives people a taste of the Kingdom of God.”
She talked about how a stranger to any church may not remember any points of the sermon, the words to the songs, or opportunities offered in the announcements, but they would remember how the church and members made them feel the moment they turned into the church parking lot. The moment they turned into the parking lot!
Church Hospitality begins in the parking lot with a smiling face directing to an open parking space, the smiling face of a shuttle driver dropping folks at entrance doors and finally the smiling face of a door greeter. Are you that parking lot person? Or, are you the golf cart shuttle driver? Or, are you the smiling face of the greeter at the door, welcoming that stranger, friend, or member into God’s house.
Webster dictionary defines hospitality as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, and or strangers. Biblical hospitality is centered on the love of others and particularly the love of the stranger. Its main focus is servanthood.
Let’s get “Radical” in welcoming all who turn into University’s parking lot! Each of these servant areas requires 30 minutes between services from 9:05 – 9:35am or 10:35 – 11:05am or 11:55am - 12:20pm and of course a smiling face. If you or your family are interested in serving one of these areas contact myself by emailing,
In Leviticus 19:33-34, God commands the Israelites to show hospitality to strangers or outsiders in their midst, treating them as one of their own – to love them and they love themselves. Are you one of the Israelites?
Grace and Peace,
Debra Harris
Director of Hospitality