A Warm Welcome

As God has continued to grow our faith family, we find ourselves striving to be good stewards of finances and facilities, but most importantly, the families and friends God has blessed us with. Recent changes, including the arrangement of the worship center and updated lighting, are designed to create a more inviting and worshipful space. The heart behind our volunteers’ efforts and the added services is to make visitors feel welcome. Although we continue to invest efforts into tools such as social media, websites, and apps to help streamline communication and connection, there is no replacement for the authentic hospitality of a warm and welcoming handshake.

God’s Word often reminds us of the importance of hospitality (Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9). In many ways, authentic hospitality is foundational to the identity and mission of the Church, reflecting the Gospel itself. This notion of Christ-centered hospitality is derived from the Greek word philoxenia, which literally means the “love of strangers.” Small acts of care and concern are the foundation for trust and a sense of belonging. Genuine hospitality is not about putting on a show; it’s about consistently demonstrating love while creating a space where people feel valued and appreciated.

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to visit several churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma. My intention for these Sunday morning visits was to evaluate their buildings and systems in the hopes of gaining ideas for our new worship center. Although amazed by many of these church buildings’ architecture and technology, one experience has stuck with me above all others. As I sat alone in a worship service evaluating the sound system, lighting, and projectors, a young father approached me. With a warm smile, he said, “I saw you by yourself. Would you like to sit with me and my family?” Sure, I could tell you about the technology in the room, but none of it had the same impact on me as that invitation.

As disciples of Jesus, everything we do should demonstrate our love for God and for other people. Ultimately, crafting a welcoming and loving environment is a responsibility that we each share as followers of Christ and part of a local church body. While focusing on simple acts of hospitality, we create the first space within our faith family where visitors can encounter Christ and grow in spiritual maturity. As individuals, we often feel that there is little we can do to make a lasting impact. However, God does big work in the small spaces of handshakes, kind words, and hospitality. Every act of disciple-making begins with a warm and welcoming introduction.