Each step we take toward welcome & inclusion frees us to live out God’s hospitality

Whenever I think of extending hospitality, I think of a person who’s taking a journey in sandals in the desert, and they arrive at your home, and you pour water and wash their feet. It’s very personal, it’s caring, and it’s a humble act—there’s nothing prideful about that action. Then you sit at table, share a meal, and have conversation. That is the epitome of hospitality.

In the context of church, you’re welcoming a stranger, you appreciate their journey—its difficulties and challenges—you offer comfort, a safe place, and a seat at the table. They are part of, not outside of, the experience. You tell your story, and they tell theirs. They are heard, and you are heard.