Hospitality and the church

Nowadays when people think of hospitality they think of Martha Stewart and a perfect house with perfect food. Or the hospitality industry which includes hotels, spas or vacations. Or church committees responsible for potluck lunches or the coffee hour.  Somewhere along the way we've lost the true meaning of hospitality.
Henri Nouwen states:

Hospitality . . . means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.  It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.  It is not to lead our neighbour into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment.

 This quote is so rich in meaning that you need to break it down into manageable pieces.  If we were to take this quote and attempt to live this out in our churches, how would we do it?  What does it mean to make room for the other?  I believe when we can change our language from evangelism to hospitality and welcome, we begin on the right track.  When we let go of our agendas and programs, we begin to be free to live into a space when people are welcome as they are.  And if we are really honest with ourselves, we as a church become free to be who we are too.

I received an email from a friend from Winnipeg who sent me this link to a CBC podcast.  Take time to listen how people are striving to make room for others.  Click here to listen.  Then think how you can begin to recapture a life of hospitality.  (More posts on hospitality to follow)

A great definition of community

In 4 days I am speaking at a pastors' conference on 'Building Community by serving each other'.  I haven't got it all together yet, but I am totally using this Wendell Berry quote:
“A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the possibilities of each other's lives. It is the knowledge that people have of each other, their concern for each other, their trust in each other, the freedom with which they come and go among themselves.” 

A little video to get you thinking...

Just so you know, I don't actually believe that Jesus is just in North America and needs to go to the rest of the world. I believe He is already there, waiting for us to join Him.

I may be getting a wee bit cynical...

It occurs to me that I may be getting a little too cynical in my thoughts around church and short term missions.  And it has been especially helpful to read some other bloggers with great words to realize:
A. I'm not the only one who thinks this.

B. We seriously need to reclaim the biblical narrative around serving others.

I recommend Jamie, the very worst missionary and her husband El Chupacabra as good places to start reading.  They link to lots of other folks who are thinking hard about what the face and culture of STM should look like.

Happy Reading!

Hondorus and New Life Duncan

Seems kinda odd that I would set up a group to go to Honduras since my mandate is for local missions.  Never fear, there is a method to my madness!  Here's the scoop:

10 years ago New Life came to us in East Vancouver to serve with our ministry UrbanPromise.  For 3 or 4 years they came faithfully with a group to perform much needed repairs, work in the summer camps and to put on a huge carnival for our kids and community in the park.  After their experience with us, New Life became much more intentional in their own community through hosting different events and programs to serve their neighbours.  And in these 10 years there has been an ever present relationship between us.  So when Tammy Klassen, the youth pastor, asked me for help in arranging a trip, I didn't hesitate to set her up in Honduras.  Why?  Because UrbanPromise Vancouver birthed the UrbanPromise Honduras site.  An intern that we poured 3 years into felt the call to bring the programing of UrbanPromise to Copan Ruinas, Honduras.  And so 3 years ago he did.  And just like us in our start up years, Blair needed some solid groups to come down and help out.  He put the call to me roughly the same time Tammy asked; so a relationship was born.

See, to me when a relationship is formed the possibilities are endless.  Yes, Honduras is not local in a physical sense, but it is in a spiritual sense.  New Life has a vital, living relationship with UrbanPromise Vancouver.  That relationship allows for growth on both sides, both Vancouver and New Life.  Vancouver birthed Honduras, and New Life has not only become a hub of serving to their community in Duncan, but in Vancouver and now this summer in Honduras.  A natural progression.

Want a glimpse into their trip?  Check out their blog here

Got questions?  Leave a comment!

The Resistance by Josh Garrels

This song could be the anthem for STMs!  This is a tribute video, so ignore the spelling mistakes and listen to the song:

What is Short Term Missions?

The phrase "Short Term Missions Trips" often conjure up visions of eager, fresh scrubbed youth heading out to Mexico to do drama skits and hard labour.  It takes months of bottle drives, babysitting nights and fervent testimonies in front of the church to raise funds.

That's great...if you are a youth.  And you speak Spanish.  And you and your church plan to commit to this destination/ministry/village for an extended time with money, resources and visits.

The reality is that STMs can be SO much more than that!

What if short term missions looked like serving in a local meal program in your own community once or twice a month?  Or planted gardens in your church lot for folks who could use both the community and the food that the garden would provide?  Or going to one of our sister churches to serve the elderly or children?

What if Short Term Missions actually meant Loving your Neighbour?  Your actual physical neighbour, your community, your region, your country????


Interested in learning more...keep checking this blog.  Email me at: nvanderkuip@cbwc.ca or call!