By Pastor Felicia, Associate Pastor
In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the sense of belongingness is one of the significant needs that motivate human behavior. It is not just about being acquainted with another person but about being accepted, welcomed, and supported by group members. According to an article on Very Well Mind, “Maslow believed that the need for belonging helped people experience companionship and acceptance through family, friends, and other relationships.” Acts of kindness can make people feel valued and loved.
One of the many acts of kindness in the world is hospitality; in English, the word “hospitality,” which comes from the root word “hospital,” originates from the Latin word hospes, meaning “guest” or “host.” According to an article written by Pastor Fari Maghami: “this term referred to a place that provided accommodation, such as an inn or lodging for travelers. Over time, these establishments that welcomed guests also began to offer medical treatment.”
The act of hospitality is also a Biblical mandate, where we are called to show love and care; it is rooted in the experience that the people of Israel had in Egypt when they were strangers in a foreign land. As Leviticus 19:33-34 says: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself.” This passage is a reminder to not forget where they came from and to empathize with others in similar situations.
While you may not have experienced this personally, you might know of someone or have seen news stories about individuals leaving their countries due to political reasons or a lack of safety in their homeland. Or perhaps you know of a loved one who lost their home and family, and they needed a place to stay or live. In this instance, we are called as people of God to extend our hands and help those in need, and this is mentioned about 2,000 times in the scriptures.
This year, NHCBC recently welcomed three new families from Latin America. Many left their home countries due to insecurities in their homeland and found a new place to live in Pittsburgh. These families expressed that NHCBC made them feel welcome; people said hello to them, they shook their hands, and they could communicate even with language barriers.
I can certainly attest that one of our congregation’s many positive traits is that anyone who walks in or enters the sanctuary is always warmly greeted and made to feel welcome. Thanks to the efforts of several parishioners, we assisted these three families in finding a permanent place to live and applying for jobs. Additionally, some NHCBC members offered them rides to church.
To help the families feel more welcome, we also took several actions:
- We ordered several Spanish Bibles.
- We now have a church bulletin available in Spanish.
- The scriptures displayed on the screen during Sunday services are also in their native language.
- As part of the Joys and Concerns, we are trying to present them in English and Spanish.
- Additionally, I translated Pastor Jeremy’s and my sermons into their own language so they can understand the shared message.
Why do we do all this? One reason is that our mission, as the people of God, is to love and serve others. We believe that God delights in the diverse gifts that members of the body of Christ contribute; different individuals bring unique talents, and through this diversity, we experience richness and a more vibrant community.
Furthermore, we believe that in the Kingdom of God, the very Gospel of our Savior breaks down barriers of language and ethnicity, as the Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:28:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
In a world focused on exclusion, division, and polarization, we are called to open our doors and hearts to those who feel marginalized. After all, isn’t the Kingdom of God an upside-down kingdom where everyone is welcomed, regardless of who they are? If you’re unsure, take some time to read the Gospels, especially the genealogy of Jesus, and you will see that foreigners and outcasts are also part of His lineage.
I invite everyone this Advent, Christmas, and New Year season to remember that hospitality involves opening the doors of our sanctuary and our hearts. Let us be incarnational people, serving as His hands and feet in this broken world.