An interview for the ages

I apologize for this longer entry. Hopefully it will be a quick read.

During our Comm group this past Wed we did something a little different. Our senior pastor every so often 'interviews' folks to give them a chance to share how they came to Christ and what difference that has made in their lives.

So instead of continuing our 4 part video series on relational outreach called "Just Walk Across the Room," I figured I'd steal a page out of an older coach's play-book and interview someone who spent the last week involved in relational outreach. Staci and John, who deserve their own Wikipedia page in my opinion, have hosted week long reunions the last several years. You could call them family reunions of sorts, for several different families who adopted children out of the same orphanage in Vietnam reunite once a year down in sunny Florida (pronounced Flar-ida of course).

Largely successful and quite anti-Christian, these families have built a strong bond with John and Staci over the last several years. They already have planned a trip for next year.

Since I didn't podcast my interview with Staci and John (interviewing someone is harder than it sounds on the radio-I have to give that to Jim Rome, who is the best I've heard), I'd like to just conclude with some of her concluding points, encouragement and challenges to our group.

1.) Hospitality-Having people in your homes opens up a new level of trust, intimacy, friendship. After several years, one woman quite hostile to Christianity allowed Staci to talk with her about the gospel. In addition, having folks in your homes allows people to see your strengths as well as your weaknesses-which gives you a chance to model repentance. Weaknesses probably give us more of an opportunity for the gospel, so there is nothing to fear (like screwing up or accidentally saying something you shouldn't) for the repentant person! There is simply a deeper level of intimacy when people come into our homes. Staci mentioned that it is different than just being out in public or hanging at a coffeehouse.

2.) Intentionality-Staci specifically mentioned being convicted about being intentional with her neighbors. The Vietnam gang takes the initiative with this whole deal each year. While Staci has been involved in bringing several folks to Hope and even more into her house, she still felt a need to continually be intentional in seeking to bring folks into their homes. She has seen the gospel go forth in the context of hospitality over the years. Obviously a very hospitable woman already, we all felt challenged/encouraged to keep pressing forward to advance His Kingdom, not our own. I love it when 'non-professional Christians' (I'm being facetious of course) communicate my vision and live it even better than myself. I left encouraged, and excited to continue moving forward.