Showing hospitality to strangers
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I got an unusual phone call many years ago. "Are you the minister of Southeast Christian Church?" the caller asked. When I answered affirmatively, he explained his unusual predicament.
"I'm a member of a Christian Church in Michigan, and our preacher shared your phone number with us because we really need help. My wife, daughter, and I are traveling from Florida to our home in Michigan, and we'd planned to spend the night in Louisville, but we didn't know it was Derby weekend. We can't find a hotel room within a hundred miles. Is there someone in your church who owns a bed and breakfast or manages a hotel that could provide a place for us to sleep for the night?"
It was almost 10:00 p.m., and I couldn't think of a single person in the city who could provide a room. Besides, I wouldn't impose on any of my friends or church members with that late of a notice. As I paused thinking about how to answer him, that Scripture from Hebrews 13:2 came to mind, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." I finally said, "I'll tell you what…you come to our house, and we'll put you up for the night." He was extremely grateful and jumped at the chance.
I hung up the phone and, with some degree of trepidation, said to my wife, "Judy, we've got some guests coming for the night." When she asked, "Who?" I gulped and responded, "I don't know!" There was then an awkward pause. When I tried to explain the situation, Judy listened somewhat anxiously. I could tell this was one of those times when she wished she had remained true to her teenage vow to "never marry a preacher." We had never met these people, and they're spending the night! Really?
Our two sons were still home at the time, but we did have one small guest room available, so we hurried to put clean sheets on the hide-a-bed and prepare the couch in the family room for the teenage daughter to sleep upon. Within a half-hour, the road-weary family was at our front door. They apologized profusely, and we assured them they were welcome. But just as we were showing them their rooms, loud weather sirens began blaring.
I turned on the television and learned that a tornado had been spotted just west of Louisville, and everyone in our area should take cover immediately. So we ushered these three complete strangers down into our basement, the underbelly of our home. It's not the most organized place with toys, old furniture, and boxes of used clothing scattered around. But the seven of us spent about 20 minutes huddled under a train table in the basement, getting acquainted.
The next morning, we ate a simple breakfast of cereal and toast, and then the couple joined us for worship at church and afterward continued on their way. A few days later, a UPS truck delivered a huge box containing a new set of towels as a thank-you gift for our hospitality that night. Our visitors weren't angels, but they were gracious people, and we made some new friends. I remember that incident almost every Derby weekend.
The Scripture admonition to "show hospitality to strangers" was even more important in Bible times when few decent hotels were available. Christian leaders traveling from town to town were dependent on fellow believers providing food and shelter for them. But today, very few families open their homes and welcome guests. Most don't even welcome friends or other church members into their homes, even for a meal. It's a lot of trouble. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants available. When people come to our homes, we lose control. How long will they stay? How much will they eat? Will they be satisfied with our less-than-ideal conditions?
By not allowing our homes to be used as a gathering place, we miss many blessings. Relationships deepen around the dinner table. Conversations are much more likely to include spiritual topics when we're not rushed. Our children get exposure to meaningful discussions from respected Christian leaders. My parents kept an "Elisha room" (2 Kings 4:8-10) ready at all times to host out-of-town guests. Some of my most lasting memories from childhood were those occasions when we hosted traveling evangelists, gospel quartets, and Bible college students who needed a place to stay overnight and sometimes for days.
My wife is an expert in hospitality. She has literally entertained well over a thousand preachers and missionaries. And she does so graciously, without complaint. And each of those guests has enriched our family. Judy has been working on a book about this subject for the past several years. She has compiled dozens of stories from our experiences, including the one above. The book has been a labor of love and is now being edited and should be available soon. We pray it will encourage younger couples to restore the gift of hospitality and serve to enrich relationships in their churches.
Even if you never read the book, be attentive to Scripture. "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2).
 | Bob Russell became the pastor of Southeast Christian Church at just 22 years old. That small congregation of 120 members became one of the largest churches in America, with 18,000 people attending the four worship services every weekend in 2006 when Bob retired. Now through Bob Russell Ministries, Bob continues to preach at churches; conferences throughout the United States, provide guidance for church leadership, mentor other ministers and author Bible study videos for use in small groups. Learn More » |
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