A Powerful, Quiet Gift

There is a spiritual gift of hospitality that does not seem to get as much attention as the demonstrative gifts such as teaching, preaching, or prophesying.  The gift of hospitality is a powerful gift that is amazing to see in action. I am writing this from Tremont, Illinois at the home where Rachel and the team has been the recipient of the gift of hospitality from Stan and Jeannie over the past eleven months.

We made it from Minnesota to Illinois with one cooler (see previous blog “Packing Light”) and four of us in a five passenger car. Rachel looked at how full the back was and gave real wonder if all her luggage would fit. I reassured her that the straps I brought would resolve any space limitations.

Stan and Jeannie made us feel very welcomed and showed us to “our rooms”. Each room was not only made up with clean sheets and towels, but had bottled water, snacks, and extra toiletries in case we forgot to bring toothpaste, toothbrush or anything else.

The couple hosted a get together yesterday evening with the parents of each of the A4 interns and some of the staff that instructed and worked with the interns. Each table had a white tablecloth, cookies and treats that made the setting special. Barbecued brats, burgers and side dishes filled our plates and stomachs.

Stan and Jeannie feel that the things they have are from the Lord and should be used for kingdom purposes. They use the extra rooms in their home to host pastors, missionaries, A4 teams, grandchildren and others who need a place to stay.

Our church has people with the wonderful gift of hospitality and they do not even know it! They make people feel at ease and welcomed the moment they step in the door. Their greatest joy is sharing the things God has given them.  They do not realize the power and grace their gift of hospitality brings into the lives of the people they touch. Rachel and the team have been so saturated with Stan and Jeannie’s gift of hospitality that now it overflows from their life.

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

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