Christian fellowship and most spiritual involvement depend on conversation. From babyhood, children should be trained in the art of good conversation. They must know how to listen, how to ask questions, how to respond when addressed.
Others are encouraged and honored when properly spoken to. Most people like to talk of themselves, so questions regarding their interests are always acceptable.
Such conversation removes fences, making it easier for them and for you, but this art of reaching out to others must be learned and practiced.
Really, it is one of life’s great adventures – that of discovering what people truly are like. Meaningful conversation removes misconceptions. God’s image lies there in personalities. Knowing people better is a worthy objective.
Develop a list of Basic “Starter” Questions, such as:
What is your work or occupation?
What are your spare time interests – hobbies or sports?
How did you and your husband/wife meet?
How was it that you came to believe in the Lord Jesus?
When and why did you become a part of the church fellowship here?
Below is a letter from a dear missionary ministering in Zaire. She had learned the blessings that come from practicing hospitality.
“It was Thursday – mail-plane-day –MAF coming from Nairobi. I was on my way to the airport taking a missionary couple who had spent the night with me out to get the plane. I was looking forward to a free day or two when I would have no guests and some time to catch up on some of my other work. On the way to the airport we were stopped by two lady tourists (Christian teachers from California) who had just arrived in Goma to have a look at some Zaire missionary work.
In my heart I was wondering how I could possibly handle receiving two more guests that day. As it turned out, they were able to get a ride directly to one of our bush stations, returning to Goma two days later where I was prepared to receive them for the weekend. We had a delightful time. We shared the Word at the table after each evening meal as is my custom with all of my guests. A week later a letter came from one of these guests thanking me for the time in my home. I quote from her letter:
‘Thanks so much for all you did the past weekend. I can’t tell you how much your life touched me and gave me goals to strive for! My desire to spend time with the Lord was challenged and I saw that it is discipline and desire to make it happen in my own life….thanks for showing me how to be hospitable!’
Letters such as this encourage me to carry on with this very important ministry. Some old African proverbs say this:
‘A house without guests is without blessing.’
‘Guests are a blessing to the house that welcomes them.’
God’s Word instructs us to ‘practice hospitality.’
Throughout July and August I’ve had many opportunities to do this. Scores of missionaries have passed through Goma on their way to and from their vacations. I’ve had the privilege of sharing my home with many of them. I seem constantly to be learning new things about hospitality…from the Africans and from the Word.
Some of the principles are these:
- Always have a spirit of hospitality—the Africans teach me this by their example. They welcome very warmly anyone who comes to their homes.
- Simplicity and comfort of the guest room. The Bible gives us the example in II Kings 4:10…a bed, a table, chair and a lampstand.
- Putting our guests at ease….I Corinthians 16:10 in the New English Bible.
- ‘Be hospitable to one another without complaining.’ I Peter 4:9 (NEB)
- In Deuteronomy 31:12 we are commanded to share the Word with the aliens. The Swahili uses the word guests in this passage.
I thank the Lord for my home here in Goma where I have two guest rooms. Pray that the Lord will continue to bless this part of my ministry. Please write and tell me how God is using your home in this way.
Your missionary in Zaire