In her book Open Heart Open Home, Karen Maines, tells the admonishment her mother gave her when she was newly married. Some friends came to visit them at their home, but instead of inviting them in, she sat with them on the front porch. Why? Because her house wasn’t neat and tidy. Her mother reminded her that she should never let her pride keep her from enjoying her guests.

For more information on Open Heart Open Home, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578490367/fm082-20

When David Egner had the opportunity to travel to Belarus to speak at a regional conference for pastors, he says everything went right. His planes arrived and left on time, and there was no trouble getting through customs. David says the most memorable part of the trip was the hospitality of one family.

David’s hosts the first night were his driver’s family. They were extremely gracious to the stranger from across the sea. When he was dropped off at the small apartment, the man’s wife and three of his children welcomed David. The oldest boy and the two younger sisters entertained David while their mother prepared a modest dinner that probably cost the family a couple of week’s food budget. When the oldest daughter came home from a drawing class, she showed David her portfolio and offered him a drawing.

After the meal, the family gathered in a small room for music and singing. David says, “ For a visitor from home, missing loved ones, and keeping a grueling schedule, the warmth of that family was very special.”

—Our Daily Bread, Open Door Open Heart, August 13, 2002, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Romans 12:13 “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

In his book, "The Radical Reformission" Mark Driscoll writes, "In our church in Seattle, as lost people become friends with Christians, they often get connected to various ministries (for example, helping to run concerts, helping to guide a rock-climbing expedition, taking a class on biblical marriage, helping to develop a website, joining a Bible study, serving the needy) and participate in them before they possess saving faith. In this way, reformission evangelism depends on friendship and hospitality as conduits for the gospel."

In his book, "Reimagining Spiritual Formation", Doug Pagitt writes, "But when a friend tells you about a deep struggle, and the natural response is to enter in to that person's life, whatever the risk—then we find ourselves being transformed into the people of grace and mercy opened for us in the Kingdom of God. At its core, hospitality is an act of faith. It is faith in God and faith in people. It is an open posture that views others not as threats, but as participants in the process of one another's redemption."

Romans 12:13 (NASB) "contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."

A new business proposes to offer churches Image Advising services similar to the mystery or secret shopper services businesses use. Faith Perceptions states in their mission statement that churches, like businesses, rarely get a second chance to make a first impression. One experience can determine whether or not a person will return to a church. The organization provides feedback to church leaders so they have a better understanding of what a first time guest thinks and feels about the church.

Faith Perceptions plans to hire “unchurched” individuals to attend church services and provide written and numerical feedback regarding their experience. The company says in a world which offers many choices on Sunday mornings , their service can help churches see themselves through a visitor’s eyes, know precisely what first impressions guests have, identify ministries which are and are not meeting expectations, and quantify their strengths and weaknesses.

--Faith Perceptions, www.faithperceptions.com/about, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Hebrews 13:1-2 (CEV) “Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord's followers should. (2) Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.”

Brule said he gave Bono and his assistant a ride to Horseshoe Bay about ten minutes away. When he got there, he met another member of the band. The Edge came to the window and thanked Brule for driving Bono down. Brule said he was so in awe of everything that was going on, during the ten-minute drive that he never about taking a picture of one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. Grateful for the ride, Bono rewarded Brule with tickets and backstage passes for him, his girlfriend, and his mother. Brule says the U2 front man signed all of the passes with special messages. He added, "Mine actually says 'For my hero--Gilbert', which was unreal to get from Bono. It's crazy.”

-- Brule's side of the ''Bono Hitchhiker Story'' http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews/story.aspx?ID=1435758, June 3, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Hebrews 13:2 (CEV) Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.

To get a genuine look at the job churches are doing, Faith Perceptions partnered with church leaders to send “mystery guests” to visit various churches and rate their experience as a first- time visitor. The guests reported that churches with an average of 300 to 500 attendees ranked highest with smaller congregations and larger mega-churches with over 1,000 attendees offering less satisfaction. The largest churches generally had higher scores in the area of the children’s ministry, sermon, speaker, and connect-resources. Churches with attendance in the 300 to 500 range ranked higher in overall friendliness, pre-service atmosphere, and seating. Not all small churches received low ratings and not all mega churches received high rating. The survey asked the respondents to rank several factors including signage and directions and put them on a scale of 1 to 10. A score in the “7’s” was marked “fair,” with a score over 8 considered to be “ very good.” – Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

'Mystery Guests' Rank Churches Based on First-Time Visits, Lillian Kwon Christian Post Reporter, http://www.christianpost.com/news/mystery-guests-rank-churches-based-on-first-time-visits-78720/, July 23, 2012.

Hebrews 13:2 (HCSB) “Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.”

When Amber Schonhoft was moving from Indianapolis to Denver, the truck containing everything she owned was stolen from an East Denver hotel. The truck was found later in a pond, but her possessions were gone. A local television station heard about Schonhoft’s plight and presented a story about how she as a new resident had already become the victim of a major crime. After the story aired, donations began coming in, and she has been receiving lots of messages of support. One local furniture company even donated a gift card to help buy new furniture. Schonholt says she estimates she lost $15,000 worth of possessions and says the community support has been helpful. She expressed her initial feelings during the TV interview, saying, ”It hurts, you feel violated, people shouldn’t feel that way.”— Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Miracle in the Mile High; FOX31 viewers and sponsors come to the rescue, By Mark Meredith, http://kdvr.com/2015/06/12/miracle-in-the-mile-high-fox31-viewers-and-sponsors-come-to-the-rescue, Accessed June 12, 2015.

Romans 12:13 (HCSB) (13) Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.

Businesses in Yuma, Arizona took advantage of a boom of travelers passing through their town. Yuma is usually a sleepy town on the way to San Diego, but a bridge collapse of nearby Interstate 10 sent detoured traffic through the town. When they realized traffic would be diverted, the convention and visitors bureau created signs inviting folks to stop and look around. Food and gasoline businesses benefitted the most, but several hotels offered specials, and local businesses displayed signs urging the extra visitors to stop in and browse. Though the bridge was expected to be repaired quickly, John Courtis, executive director of the Yuma Chamber of Commerce said, “We got our welcome mat out and are helping folks the best we can.”—Jim L. Wilson and by Jim Sandell

Desert city capitalizes as highway collapse diverts drivers, By Astrid Galvan,
http://www.fox10phoenix.com/story/29614208/yuma-capitalizing-on-drivers-diverted-from-i-10-collapse, Accessed July 23, 2015.

Galatians 6:10 (NASB) “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

The team that developed hitchBot, a talking, tweeting, hitchhiking robot that tried to cross continents relying on the kindness of strangers says their social experiment has come to an end. When they originally started the project, the team wondered if humans would be able to trust robots. After the robot was vandalized in Philadelphia, they say the question has become, Can robots trust humans? The robot had traveled across Germany, vacationed in the Netherlands and completed a 3,600 mile trip across Canada, tweeting about the experience, and talking with its hosts all the while. The robot was seen vandalized in a pile of leaves somewhere in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. They were not able to track the exact location because the battery was dead. The creative team posted information on a website, saying they did not know who destroyed it or why. They also said they were not interested in investigating the incident or pressing charges. They said their focus will be “What can be learned from this?”—Jim L. Wilson and by Jim Sandell.

Hitchhiking robot’s cross-country journey comes to tragic end in Philadelphia, By Sarah Kaplan,http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/03/hitchhiking-robots-cross-country-journey-comes-to-tragic-end-in-philadelphia/?tid=sm_fb, Accessed August 3, 2015.

Hebrews 13:2 (NASB) “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Hospitality

Molly Turpen, a 3-year-old Tulsa girl has some great neighbors. Molly spent Halloween in the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia. When she was released her mother asked on Facebook if neighbors would let Molly trick-or-treat at their doors. Within 15 minutes, 60 families had responded with a yes.

I am not sure how important trick-or-treating really is to a 3-year-old but it does a heart good to see a neighborhood come together for a cause. As the church of Jesus, the body of Christ, we can come together to provide hospitality to the needy among us. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Michelle Keylor, an Ohio mother of two sons and two dogs was very serious about keeping the house nice and tidy for their 2016 Thanksgiving celebration.

She posted a note at the living room entrance that said, “This room has been cleaned for the holidays and is officially CLOSED until Thanksgiving.” —Jim L. Wilson and Daniel Noh

Hospitality is not as much about having a clean house, as it is about having a warm, welcoming home.

HOSPITALITY

The owner of an Italian pizza shop took time to personally deliver water and free pizza to drivers who were stuck in traffic caused by a wildfire. Simone Di Maria shared some the compliments he received through social media after he took the free food and drink through the streets of Genoa. Di Maria said the fire came within 330 feet of his home and he was grateful to the firefighters who risked a lot to ensure the safety of the people. When asked why he gave away so much food, Di Maria said, “You can’t leave people starving at dinner time. (This) is a small gesture that can get a bad day back on track.”—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Italian pizzeria hands out free pizza to drivers stuck in traffic jam, By Daniel Uria,

7-year-old Connor Wheatley has a severe genetic disorder that requires him to make frequent trips to a medical specialist in New York. In order to cover some of the expenses, his family holds garage sales. They will make another trip soon and recently learned that the family’s airfare will be covered completely. An organization called “Miracle Flight” has helped the family cover part of the costs on three other occasions. “Miracle Flight” has arranged more than 100,000 free flights over the last 30 years by partnering with airlines to get complimentary airfare. On average they provide about 700 flights a month. Mark Brown, the CEO of Miracle Flights explained the program. He said, “So knowing that we can fit in and help with one very expensive piece of the puzzle is highly rewarding. So for us to be able to provide this one part of the solution is what motivates us and gets us up every day.”–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Southwest Airlines Flies Sick Children To Treatment Facilities At No Charge, By Kevin Reece, Http://Www.12newsnow.Com/News/Southwest-Airlines-Flies-Sick-Children-To-Treatment-Facilities-At-No-Charge/432061955, Accessed April 17, 2017.

The USS Little Rock was heading for her homeport when the chunks of ice filling the St. Lawrence River stopped its progress. The sailors could have put their feet up and taken time to relax as they waited for warmer weather but instead the crew went ashore and served dinner at a local homeless shelter. The shelter coordinator said, “Sometimes, you feel like you need a small army to get this done which is great, because we have the Navy today.”

Jesus promises a special blessing when we show hospitality to those from whom we can expect no return. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The state of Nebraska introduced a new tourism campaign in the fall of 2018, offering a different reason to visit. The slogan: “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone,” replaced a campaign titled “Through My Eyes” and is a sharp contrast to an earlier slogan which read, “Visit Nebraska. Visit Nice.” Tourism director John Ricks said the state consistently ranks as on of the least likely states people want to visit. Ricks said will appeal to people because it is different. He said, “To make people listen, you have to hook them somehow. We had to shake people up.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

“Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.”

The city of Syracuse, New York found a unique way to motivate residents to pay their back taxes. Working with researchers from Syracuse University, city official wrote and signed thousands of notes by hands, rather than sending the standard legal demand notices. As a result, the city collected $1.5 million more than expected. The notes were less threatening and focused on steps residents could take to avoid penalties or legal action. The notes had a short, handwritten note on the outside of the envelope. Researchers predicted the personal approach would bring in 57 percent more revenue than normal. Mayor Ben Walsh said, “It’s the kind of positive outcome that occurs when you aren’t afraid to try something new.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Romans 12:13 (CSB) “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”

Damien was a 12-year-old with an autoimmune disease that was causing his kidneys to shut down. He lived in foster homes until the disease progressed to the point he had to be hospitalized. Without a stable home environment, and because a transplant involves a lot of loving care, Damien was ineligible for a kidney transplant.

Finn Lanning, a 37-year-old middle school math teacher adopted Damien, underwent intensive training on how to care for him, and now Damien, with a new kidney looks forward to a bright future with his new dad and favorite teacher.

Finn Lanning has taken on an awesome responsibility. It is a remarkable example of extreme hospitality. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

The city of Natchez, Mississippi is offering people who can work remotely $6,000 if they will relocate, buy a home, and stay for at least one year. Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said the city is offering a one –time payment of $2,500 and a $300 monthly stipend for a year, if those workers will move and buy a home worth at least $150,000. Gibson said the city has a lot to offer including, a lot of history, beautiful sunsets, and warm, friendly people. Gibson said people who are tired of big cities, long commutes, and a high cost of living would find the move beneficial. He added, “With this offer, you can live in a beautiful, historic, small town where everything is convenient and affordable.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell