Being Home

A whole lot has been going on at ViaCordis this week. Here are two of the things God's been up to:

Bob was talking to one of our intercessors about a prayer letter we had sent out on our values. She noted that one value that seemed to be missing, yet permeated everything we do, was hospitality. In making that observation, she was pointing out the obvious, yet we needed it pointed out. Hospitality was an assumed value, but unstated. We hadn't put words to it. We move toward inviting: inviting people into our homes, into our lives, into relationship with Jesus. Thanks to this intercessor for pointing that out to us! We love our intercessors!

One leader's home is becoming a popular hangout for high school students. More and more of them are congregating in her home as they sense it is a safe place to be real with one another. Someone observed, "Maybe we could have a kids' church meeting in your house. Your daughter could be the leader." Now I'm not sure this leader has ever seen herself as a host, but she has always served as an incarnational missionary—opening her home so people can experience the presence of God there. We don't know where the network of relationships will go—nothing formal has been established—but we're excited about the possibilities.

While hospitality has emerged as one of our values, we understand that many do not have houses to which we can retreat for comfort and security. Rather than viewing hospitality as something that can only be done in a physical house, we desire to create a sense of hospitality in all of our regular gathering spaces (wine bars, basketball courts, classrooms, workspaces, etc.). And more than that, we want to become hospitable people--people who are approachable, trustworthy, and with whom others can be authentic. In this way, no matter where we gather with people, we will always be home.