This is Part 11 of our Spring Leadership Lesson Series: Radical Hospitality. As we lead our groups and ministries, we must strive to forcefully advance the Kingdom of God through strategic evangelism, exponential discipleship, and sacrificial service. Hospitality is on the front lines of such an advance.
Today, we will pick the brains of some of our NCC Hospitality Coordinators. We will talk with Sara Kruger, who, with her husband Mike, runs hospitality at Ebenezers, Pat Thomas, who runs hospitality at our Georgetown location, and Amy Foley, who leads the charge at Union Station.
Next time you see these ladies, give them a big high five and thanks for who they are and for what they do!
How did you get involved in hospitality ministry?
Sara Kruger: Indirectly, through Amy Doolittle. I attended her Scribes small group and responded to her email requesting hospitality help for the following weekend’s services. Mike and I continued to help out bi-weekly, and at the end of the academic year, she approached us about taking over the ministry.
Pat Thomas: The first Sunday I attended NCC was around Christmas time, and of course it was almost like a Ghost Town at Union Station…there was only one person setting up for Hospitality and I asked them if I could help and the rest is history.
Amy Foley: I got involved in the hospitality ministry back in 2001 when I started coming to the church regularly. The church had mentioned needing people and I ended up volunteering to shadow the hospitality team. I wanted to serve in a ministry and had previously led the hospitality team at the church that I was coming from prior to NCC. I felt that my gifts would be most utilized in greeting people and making them feel welcome at the church. I ended up shadowing Bill (who is also still on hospitality) and stayed with the team ever since that time.
Why did you stay?
Sara Kruger: Our hospitality team has become another family for us. We really enjoy serving with these volunteers. Also, I enjoy making connections with newcomers and regular attenders, and having a part in helping Ebz’ services run smoothly.
Pat Thomas: I knew (but had also forgotten) that hospitality was one of my spiritual gifts and I really enjoy helping people to feel comfortable and receptive
Amy Foley: I stayed with the ministry because I felt that the Lord could really use me to welcome people to the church. I wanted to be involved in the church and hospitality team offered a great way of both serving the church and meeting people (both serving on the team and attendees to the church.) I felt that this ministry definitely complemented my personality and gifts.
What has been the most rewarding thing about being involved in hospitality ministry at NCC?
Sara Kruger: Feeling like I belong and am needed.
Pat Thomas: In the beginning, it was creating an environment of welcome and receptivity for others and although that is still somewhat rewarding, now, it more about helping Hospitality Ministry Team learn how to do that very same thing.
Amy Foley: Most rewarding thing about the hospitality ministry has been the opportunity to meet the newcomers and make them feel welcome. People often walk into the church looking confused or uncertain with a lot of questions or concerns. Being able to welcome them and show Christ’s love, even if it is only for a couple of minutes with a friendly smile or a several answers to fundamental questions, has been one of my favorite things about the hospitality ministry. I love hearing stories later on of how people got involved in NCC because they saw a friendly face or were greeted by someone in hospitality on their first Sunday.
On zonegathering, we’ve talked quite a bit about hospitality requiring a willingness to enter uncertainty and invest risk. Can you think of any examples or stories from your own experience with hospitality ministry that reflect that?
Sara Kruger: Every time I approach a person I don’t recognize, it’s a risk. I just know that I’m going to introduce myself and they’ll already know me because I’ve introduced myself so many times before! I’ve had that happen a couple times. Although, each time the person points it out, I never forget their name after that. Or I’ll ask how long they’ve been attending NCC and they say something like 5 years. I always feel a little silly then, since clearly I should know them — especially if they’ve attended Ebz for the last two years.
Pat Thomas: Well, although hospitality was one of my spiritual gifts, practicing it in an open environment like NCC was a risk for me, because I’d always played it safe because of fear of rejection. Once, I decided to step out and really trust God and practice this special gift, I was rewarded far beyond what I could ever imagine…I was rewarded with a team(s) of people who I can pour love and care on and who I can pray for and who actually return this love, care and prayers. For me, taking the risk was a step of growth in knowing and being known, something I’ve always wanted to do but was very afraid to do.
Amy Foley: At Union Station services, we definitely have the opportunity to encounter quite a bit of uncertainty and risk. Because of the high homeless population at the services and between services, we often have both good and bad encounters with them. We often have to deal with difficult situations involving disturbed or intoxicated attendees. Also, because of the public nature of Union Station, we encounter a lot of patrons that are attending movies in the theater, giving us the opportunity to reach out and explain a bit about our church and its mission. These encounters are sometimes met with diffidence or hostility but are also often very rewarding as some people seem receptive to hearing what we are about at NCC.
We’ve talk about how God brings his presence, power, protection, and provision when we practice hospitality. Which of those things have you personally witnessed as you have practiced hospitality at NCC?
Sara Kruger: I have witnessed God provide people for hospitality, whether it’s new volunteers interested in joining us on a regular basis, regular attenders who jump in to help stack chairs and put away tables after the services but don’t necessarily want to be ’scheduled’ for hospitality, or other leaders who are willing to help out when a scheduled volunteer is unable to make a service. We always have enough people for the tasks that need to be done.
Pat Thomas: I think that I’ve experienced all of them at one time or the other…but I think I’ve experienced his provision most of all…the many times we’ve appeared to be short handed, and God sent the one or two people we needed. The answers to prayers for the team has been another provision. One of our team leaders needed a job and although there has been some delay in starting it, God has provided the position and is working out the details. These are just a couple of examples, out of many.
Amy Foley: God has definitely brought his protection to us at the Union Services as we practice hospitality. There have been several occasions where attendees have gotten rather upset and violent but God has definitively protected us. God’s presence has also been very prevalent in many situations where later on we realize that He led us to speak with certain people. He has often led us to situations where the people need a friendly face or direction.
As Hospitality Coordinator, what would be your greatest encouragement to the small group and ministry leaders of NCC?
Sara Kruger: Our actions have impact, often in ways we might never see. No action is trivial. Everything we’re doing is storing up treasure in Heaven.
Pat Thomas: My greatest encouragement is this: Whatever gift God has given to you, the greatest way that you can praise …that you can worship God is by giving that gift away to others!
Amy Foley: My greatest encouragement to you as a Hospitality Coordinator would be to stress that, although one is not on a targeted “hospitality team,” we can (and should) all be practicing hospitality daily…in our small groups, at our church services, throughout our work days. It actually takes very little effort to smile and greet someone once you get in the habit of doing it. And God can open amazing doors once we allow ourselves to be used by Him to reach out to His children. Amazing experiences will happen and you will be so encouraged to hear months or even years down the road how your simple hospitality has affected someone that you didn’t even realize you touched. And even when you are having a rough time and it is hardest to reach out to bless someone then, you will often find yourself blessed back in innumerable ways, just when you need it most.
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