Associate in the office of collegiate and student ministries, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
I was recently asked by a friend about a practical way to connect with and reach internationals in their community. My friend went on to say they knew they should invite internationals into their home, but they didn’t want it to be awkward.
My quick response was, “When we open our home, we open our heart.” I’ve been challenged about my own lack of Christian hospitality and the great yearning for hospitality from those around us. So how do you open your home and it not be awkward? Well there is no sure-fire way but look for ways to connect with someone and then open your home to them. This isn’t inviting someone in before you even know his or her name. Have a conversation and get to know them. Then invite them over. Open your home for a holiday or birthday or special sporting event on television. Find something you can help center that initial visit around to really create a relationship with that new international friend. Then you will see that as you have opened your home, your heart has opened to the community around you.
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