Hospitality as ministry: Outreach in Kitchener

Members of the Anyuak community pose with pastors at Holy Cross Lutheran in Kitchener, Ontario.

by Leonardo Neitzel

The practice of Christian hospitality flows from gratitude to Jesus, who came to us, humbled Himself, built His tent among us, and welcomed us to dwell with Him in the fellowship of His family of faith, the Church. It points to our eternal habitation with Him in heaven. The practice of hospitality leads to abundant blessings for those giving it and for those receiving it. Scripture says that in practicing hospitality we may entertain angels without knowing it, as it happened with God’s people in the past (Hebrews 13:2). For those being graced by hospitality, there is no better feeling than that of being loved, welcomed, and received.

For Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC), these last few years have been marked by numerous opportunities for God’s people to practice Christian hospitality. A great number of immigrants have taken up residence in cities and communities near our churches and congregation members. In this context, the practice of hospitality becomes an opportunity to connect people to local congregations and to share the Gospel of Jesus with newcomers to Canada. The practice of hospitality has become an opportunity for friendship beyond measure.

Aware of the Kingdom’s harvest coming to our doorsteps, Lutheran Church–Canada has encouraged its congregations to receive newcomers in Jesus’ name. When it established its strategic directions and goals for mission this triennium, LCC made it priority number one to encourage the cultivation of loving, healthy, growing congregations. This means developing new models for outreach in the changing Canadian landscape, in urban, rural, and multi-cultural contexts. It means developing congregational resources, training leaders, and encouraging multi-cultural, intergenerational, welcoming communities of faith. And it means encouraging relationship building, caring for church workers and their families, and strengthening the body of Christ.

We are witnesses to just this sort of thing in congregations throughout Canada, congregations in each district who are being nurtured by God’s Word and becoming more and more outwardly focused in loving outreach to others. Recently I had the special blessing to witness the practice of hospitality in action at one particular congregation: Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kitchener.  A Winnipeg student of the Pastors with Alternative program from Southern Sudan found out that some of his friends and relatives (refugees from Ethiopia, whom he had not seen for about ten years) had arrived in Canada and settled in Kitchener in April 2013.

This student arranged with his pastor to introduce his people to a local Kitchener congregation. A trip was arranged, and on October 6, nine members of the Anyuak community were introduced to Holy Cross Lutheran in Kitchener. It was a special Sunday for all of us. The congregation celebrated, and I’m sure Heaven rejoiced and celebrated even more. These members were welcomed into the fellowship of believers, had their hearts touched by love and mercy, participated in the worship, and were later visited by the pastors and members of the church. Recently they were part of a special Thanksgiving dinner—their first ever—hosted by church members.

During that event, they shared about their trials and tribulations that accompanied living in a refugee camp and the move to Canada. When asked for what things they were thankful—given the Thanksgiving season—their answers varied. The most impressive, though, were these: “We are thankful that God who kept us alive till today.” “We are thankful that people in Kitchener, rather than turning away from us, welcomed us and received us as their own family members.” The local church continues to make it a priority to minister to these families, providing them with the Word of God and the means of grace, as well helping them with other basic needs, like English as a Second Language education.

Our prayer is that the Lord Jesus would continue to bless LCC congregations and members in such a way that they do not lose sight of the importance of hospitality. Many people are coming to Canada from other countries. Some are already our brothers and sisters in the Lord; others do not yet know about Jesus. Many ethnic communities are finding warm welcome in Lutheran Church–Canada, joining our congregations, and adding their joy to our own. May the Lord continue to bless LCC members as they reach out to new immigrants and embrace them for Jesus’ sake.

Our prayer is that the Lord Jesus would continue to bless LCC congregations and members in such a way that they do not lose sight of the importance of hospitality.

One day, we will see the eternal dimension of this hospitality in Heaven. There we will all stand in the Lord’s presence, and receive His final invitation to the banquet at His home and table. Then we will witness the vision of Revelation 7 concretely and face to face: A multitude of peoples who nobody is able to count, from all tribes, nations and languages, worshipping in the presence of the Lord forever and ever. “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

Already there is joy in Heaven over today’s earthly practice of Christian hospitality today. And this joy will blossom into a future everlasting celebration of hospitality with the Lord forever and ever. Jesus’ promise in Matthew 25 will be fulfilled: “Come, you, blessed of my Father. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

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Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel is Lutheran Church–Canada’s Executive for Missions and Social Ministry.

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