The church serves as a witness to the ministry of Jesus who welcomes all into the kingdom of God. The faith community neglects its role as an instrument of God’s grace when it fails to embrace the “other”, and allows internal conflicts to become barriers to the formation of a unified body. This project examines a congregation for whom a lack of hospitality toward the other has served as an impediment to church growth. This project was inspired by a document that was produced on behalf of the denomination that cast the vision for the general church for the years 2010-2014. The theme for the quadrennial is, “An Essential Church Poised for 21st Century Ministry.” Included in the characteristics of an “essential church”, is that of radical hospitality. The goal of this project is to facilitate conversations that examine attitudes and behaviors toward the stranger; and through sermons on hospitality, offer Biblical principles to building relationships. The success of this sermon series and conversations will be evaluated through observation, infonnal conversation, and interviews with members of the congregation. The perceived outcome is that as the result of conversations, preaching and teaching; the congregants will develop a heart for practicing hospitality rooted in the spiritual desire to love others as Jesus loves.
