The latest monthly gathering of the Westminster Women’s Fellowship was one of our Ministry Discussion Nights. Devoted to preparing women for their future ministry lives, this event’s discussion was on Hospitality. Not just tips and tricks to make your dollars stretch or strategies for invitations, but on developing a philosophy of hospitality that exemplifies the warmth and welcome of gospel joy. We discussed Rosario Butterfield’s words in “The Gospel Comes with a House Key”, “Radically ordinary hospitality shows this skeptical, post-Christian world what authentic Christianity looks like.”
Our three panelists were seasoned ministry women (pictured left to right: Carol Troxol, Carrie Goodwiler, and Priscilla Nutting along with moderator Kristin Barrie) connected to our WSC community who generously shared their time and experiences for our benefit. They answered questions regarding their own approach to hospitality over the years, accommodating their finances, home size, and season of life. What if you have a kid with special needs? An extremely introverted spouse? These ladies offered practical strategies for a number of situations and specifically encouraged women reluctant to practice hospitality because they do not feel they’re gifted it for it. We were left with a call to release our self-imposed standards and to keep it simple with our focus on building relationships in the church and community.
