How May I Help You?

by Jaye Lindo

Hospitality, by definition, involves other people. It’s not about you or me; it is about the We of Mosaic. As Mosaic’s Hospitality Coordinator, I love to see the many ways that Mosaic Conference embraces hospitality across our community.

We show hospitality through our actions as we love God and each other. Mosaic’s practices provide us an opportunity to show hospitality – for example, through mutual invitation or circle process in our gatherings. In our events, like the Oasis conference or delegate prep sessions, we have the opportunity to welcome each other across differences. And we’re invited to do so in our equipping and leadership development spaces, like the Ambassadors, or the new Art of Preaching cohorts.

This summer, I got to spend time with some of the Ambassadors at their closing retreat, leading a session on spiritual direction. I was struck by how they didn’t fear the unknown and were willing to share openly with each other. They were willing to go beyond their own communities and comfort zones, and the program is stronger because of it.

I have observed in many of our meetings how space is given for each person to be heard, engage, and grow in relationship with one another – even when our languages and traditions are different. In fact, we are creating new traditions together.

In the Centering Document published last year, I was struck by the encouragement for all of us, in our communities, to offer high expectations and gracious hospitality as we become, love, and live like Jesus. We consider where God is on the move, and if we are being faithful to God’s call as Jesus followers, in all that we do. We are gracious with one another, assuming good intentions, even when we don’t see eye to eye.

This can show up when we host someone in our home, each with our own different expectations about what hospitality looks like. Hosting and being hosted both require us to offer something and receive something. That is mutual hospitality.

It can also show up when we seek to learn each other’s languages, or when we work together, using a translation app, to understand one another. We are invited to challenge ourselves, learn about others’ cultures, and seek first the Kingdom of God.

We must remain centered and focused on Jesus, committed to serving God and each other in all that we do. Let Jesus show us that there truly are no differences in him.

3 John 1:5-8 reminds us of the value of hospitality. Read from the MSG Version:

Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

Mosaic family, keep modeling this good work!

My mother never met a stranger. I try to embody that same sentiment every time I interact with you, via talking, text, email, or WhatsApp. If you are in need or have a question, I hope to consistently say with a smile:

“Hi, my name is Jaye Lindo, and I am Mosaic’s Hospitality Coordinator. How may I help you?”

And I hope that when I call you, I will hear you say:

“Hi, I am your Mosaic family centered on Jesus Christ. How may I help you?”

It’s the Mosaic way—mutually. Amen.