When we invite people into our homes, we basically ask ourselves: “Who is there that we can serve?”
From the moment they walk through our door, our purpose should be to make them feel at ease. One woman I know conveys real joy at seeing me each time we meet. Her smile scatters sunshine, her arms are thrown wide to embrace me, and delight brightens her face. What an honor it is for me to be received in this manner If we do nothing but make people feel we are glad to see them, we ye gone far beyond this world’s norm.
My pet peeve is groups where no one says a word of welcome. There is no excuse for this in the fellowship of the body of Christ. No business should supersede a smile that conveys, “So good to have you here!”
Refusing to give a greeting is for many people the same as rejecting them. Their insecurities are so near the surface, their feelings of worthlessness so dominating, that we can give great healing if we do nothing more than say, “How glad I am to see you!”
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Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen Mains serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This microfinance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
Karen has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
An award-winning author of several other books, Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
