Hospitality is Simply a Catalyst
A lot of our churches put a lot of time into creating welcoming environments for our guests. Putting it simply? Those environments and that attention are a big deal.
But they’re notĀ theĀ deal. If our designed experience begins and ends with hospitality, we’ve missed the point. If we bill ourselves as a friendly church…but “friendly” doesn’t move beyond that…we’ve failed. If our systems for parking and seating are flawless but only lead to a dead end, then we need to hang up our orange vests and seating stanchions and call it a day.
Hospitality has to lead somewhere. It must be a jumping off point. It might be the thing that initially delights and surprises, but you can’t keep up that cycle of bells and whistles for long.
Hospitality has to be a catalyst. It has to move people from here to there.
It has to be the front door for the gospel.
If we’re not being gospel-centered in our treatment of our guests, we’re going to have a hard time centering them on the gospel.
What is it about your hospitality that has become an end unto itself?
photo credit: David LeBron