Hospitality
There seems to be a consensus among those commenting about the best ways to improve efforts at evangelization that clearly centers on hospitality. A few of the comments are shared below.
Having been a “door knocker” for the church of Christ and done “evangelism” for 40 years, the BEST way to evangelize anyone, churched or unchurched is hospitality. Bible studies, reading, etc. are helpful but relationships and a couple hours of spiritual discussion and just enjoying sharing our lives with each other over a good meal is what connects people to Christ and to the community of faith. Information without relationship ends up hollow and easily supplanted by different information but relationships are hard to usurp.
s-p
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I’ve started making a pot of coffee for class. Folks really seem to open up when they have a hot cup of joe in their hands on a cold night.
People attend class. Friends drink coffee together & talk.
Mark G.
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At our parish, we have CRHP (Christ Renews His Parish) retreats and a 6mo. process afterwards that is for anyone in the Church, no matter what stage of their journey. Having just completed the process, I can say this is a very effective way to have the parishioners develop friendships … and when they develop friendships within the Church, they’re more likely to spend time at Church, and that carries out into their professional and personal lives.
Renee
I couldn’t agree more. If our churches are not places where people can come to build relationships with one another, we are missing a large part of the Gospel. In Tuesday’s blogpost I mentioned The Rule of St. Benedict and what it has to teach us regarding hospitality. My first two years of seminary were spent at a school run by Benedictine monks that was attached to the monastery. One of the most important things I learned from the monks was the importance of hospitality. They are experts when it comes to how one ought to treat a guest. Chapter 53 of the rule states,
In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving or departing, let all humility be shown. Let the head be bowed or the whole body prostrated on the ground in adoration of Christ, who indeed is received in their persons.
Each time I visit a monastery there is a feeling of being at home and an overwhelming sense of peace. A visit with the Benedictines can heal the soul. The monastic practice of welcoming all guests as Christ also allows those who are visiting to see the face of Christ expressed through acts of kindness performed by the monks.
Hospitality ought not be limited to monasteries, however. Our parishes should also be places of welcome, healing and peace for those who enter them each day. Sometimes it is easy to miss the reality of those who show up at our doors for the first time, or who have been away from the Christian community for years. It takes quite a bit of courage to decide to return to the Church following a long absence. A simple smile or greeting can be a great gift to everyone who gathers each week for prayer, but especially for guests and newcomers. May we keep these words of Scripture close to our hearts,
Do not forget to welcome strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)
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