I believe that this article gives words to things we intuitively know, but maybe reluctant to acknowledge. It gives us a creative perspective on the "Love2020" or the author's "Zip Code Presence" strategy, and the in-road to emerging generations, who crave relationships that are not formed or nurtured primarily through traditional or outdated institutions.
It also invites us to question our assumptions about the effectiveness of a single approach for hospitality/evangelism, whether it is prayer evangelism (according to Luke 10 teaching by Ed Silvoso), adopting a lifestyle of pray-care-share (according to LOVE2020), or making disciples (i.e., spiritual multiplication through Cru's "win-build-send" methodology).
Regardless of what approach we use, hospitality/evangelism that is culturally sensitive -- being humble without being too humble -- works best. In fact, when George Barna and David Kinnaman, the authors of Churchless, asked pastors and church leaders to share what is working to connect with unchurched people in their surrounding communities, Michael Hildago, pastor of a growing church in urban Denver offered this: "Listen to them. I just had someone tell me, 'I never feel like I'm a project when I'm at your church.' Rather people feel embraced and, more importantly, understood, because we do all we can to listen. The key, of course, is loving the churchless for who they are rather than what they can offer our church... Seeking to genuinely hear and understand someone leaves no room for ulterior motives, and it sometimes does open the door to deeper conversations about faith and Christian community."
I see this as a clear and basic explanation for the road we're on (present) and direction we're headed (future). So I would ask each of you think about how Love2020 and our Pray, Care, Share initiative applies to an emerging generation that is no longer loyal to the institutional church. Because the Church, as the bride of Christ, can only truly make herself ready for her Bridegroom by making authentic and lasting places for those in our communities with whom we connect.
When Paul wrote that love is “the more excellent way”–that it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things”–and that it is greater than faith or hope, he was doing all he could to say it is the sum of all. And when this kind of authentic love saturates us, we cannot imagine not loving, and we lose interest in trying to decide when, where, how, to what extent, and whom to love. In fact, we realize that the most soul-wearying thing we can ever do is to be the self-appointed managers of God’s love. So, we see Christians in Acts loving–loving regardless, loving anyway, loving nevertheless. Theirs was not a knee-jerk, unconsidered love, but rather it was a Spirit-anointed love made possible by grace. It was a love marked by radical hospitality.
That's why I am grateful for the way the author of this article shifts our focus from front door hospitality inside the church building to those who live in the community! We just cannot underestimate the value of having people at the front doors of our homes, businesses, schools, restaurants, hospitals, law offices, etc.—who can bless people and make them feel welcome. That sounds a lot like the way of Jesus —pursuing a life that is deeply soulful, connected to our real needs and good news to our world.
http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/6032/evangelism-or-hospitality-or-both
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RENEWAL THROUGH MISSIONAL HOSPITALITY
Keith Doornbos @ Churchrenew.org
Gibson CRC (located near Saugatuck, MI) recently served as a hospitality and warming station for the annual “Frostbite Marathon” that began on an early Sunday morning in Downtown Holland and finished at the Saugatuck State Park before noon. To facilitate this hospitality the congregation didn’t gather in worship as is typical but chose to generously serve race participants along with their friends and family. Here is a Facebook post Gibson received from a racer:
“Dear Pastor Rod and Gibson Church: THANK YOU for living out your mission by inviting us into your warm youth center and providing us with hot chocolate, coffee and snacks giving us the restoration we needed on a bitter cold day! We have gotten used to “Christians” coming out of churches and honking or yelling at us to get out of the road or almost running us over. It is refreshing to see you and your church be Christ-like.”
Pastor Rod Brandsen called this activity “missional hospitality.” Extending unexpected hospitality is a wonderful way to join God on mission.
HERE ARE SOME PRACTICES CONNECTED WITH MISSIONAL HOSPITALITY
Practice 1: REMAIN ALERT TO HOSPITALITY OPPORTUNITIES
In previous years, Gibson saw racers pass their church on a Sunday morning in January. Figuring this must be an annual event they pursued the organizers and offered hospitality. There are many opportunities for hospitality if we are attentive to activities in the community.
Practice 2: PROVIDE HOSPITALITY ON YOUR GROUNDS
There are multiple ways to provide missional hospitality on the church grounds including picnic tables, a playground, beach volleyball, basketball hoops, a place for food trucks to gather, a well-stocked fishing pond, neighborhood gardens, or benches located along a sidewalk.
Practice 3: PROVIDE HOSPITALITY AT OFF-SITE LOCATIONS AS WELL
Another act of missional hospitality offered by Gibson CRC is free ice-cream at outdoor music concerts. Every summer free concerts take place on the grounds of a historic home located near the church. This off-site hospitality significantly expands the reach of the congregation.
Practice 4: BECOME THE FACE OF WELCOME FOR NEW RESIDENTS
Still another act of missional hospitality offered by Gibson is a welcome bag of coupons, gifts and information for new neighbors. The church is partnering with the township where they are located. The majority of expenses are covered by the township. It is a win-win relationship.
Practice 5: BE EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS
A California congregation was asked by an adjacent public school if they could rent rooms during an upcoming remodel. The church discussed the impact on ministry and the potential rental price. Better to charge nothing to build a new partnership and a good reputation.
Practice 6: USE HOSPITALITY TO SERVE THE UNDER-SERVED
Jesus expects believers to feed the hungry, provide drink for the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked and care for the sick (Matt. 25:35-36). Consider being a rotating homeless shelter, a food bank location, a meeting place for A.A. or a career sight for the unemployed.
Practice 7: DEVELOP POLICIES TO GUIDE MISSIONAL HOSPITALITY
It is helpful to create a vision for missional hospitality. For example, will outside groups be charged for the use of the building? Who will be responsible for clean-up after events? When community events are scheduled at the same time as church events, who has priority?