The last YWAM Centre that I was on seemed to be a constant state of debate about whether their should be a separate hospitality department or ministry area. The arguments about it seemed to follow the same lines about if it should be something assigned to specific people, or if everyone should be scheduled to do it, or if everyone should just do it, regardless of what they are “scheduled” to do.
One of The YWAM Foundational Values is to “Practice Hospitality” and it is written out like this:
PRACTICE HOSPITALITY
YWAM affirms the ministry of hospitality as an expression of God’s character and the value of people. We believe it is important to open our hearts, homes and campuses to serve and honour one another, our guests and the poor and needy, not as acts of social protocol, but as expressions of generosity.
While I agree entirely that hospitality should be a way of life for everyone in YWAM, and something that we all engage in, I also think that there is definitely a place for specific people to be actively engaged in the “ministry” of hospitality.
When we read Acts 6:1-7 we read about the apostles setting aside seven men to handle the distribution of food to the Hellenistic Jews. Their job is to provide hospitality for the women and help care for their needs.
The men that they choose were not just any slouches in the group. They were directed to choose “seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom”. The men were selected by the group, presented to the apostles, prayed for and released into this ministry.
Unfortunately I have seen hospitality looked at as a “secondary” ministry, a place where people go to serve while they wait for a school to staff or an outreach to lead.
Wow, what a waste!
This ministry is one that is set in high esteem by the apostles, and one where quality people were set aside to do it. The people selected were done so for the gifts that they had so that others in the group of disciples could also move into the areas of ministry that best used their gifts.
So how does your ministry do hospitality? Is it something that is forced or does it come naturally?
photo credit: marfis75