The Adventures of a Greeter at Wesley Chapel
We may be entertaining angels.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2).
Hebrews 13:2 conjures a beautiful image of what the adventures by the Wesley Chapel greeters could entail. The verse focuses on being hospitable to strangers, but our Team also shows hospitality to everyone who walks through Wesley Chapel’s doors. Each person I speak to is as much a blessing to me as I hope I am to them. I believe all of our Hospitality Team believes that they are blessed to show what a hospitable church Wesley Chapel is.
I was curious about what kind of adventures other members of the Hospitality Team have experienced and so reached out to the Team to ask them for stories that were impactful or funny. Two sweet servants shared stories with me that I want to share with you.
Pat Peterson assumed the big job of being Lead Greeter for two services on the fourth Sunday of the month. However, she has been a marvelous greeter way before she became a Lead Greeter. She laughs about how there is a “gigantic picture” of her greeting that hangs on the wall at church. I told her she is the poster child for the Wesley Chapel greeters.
Janis Banet shared both an impactful story and a light-hearted story of being a greeter. Janis says, “I truly love being a greeter at Wesley Chapel. Not only have I worked with many wonderful people but I have been blessed to have made some amazing friendships. I notice the more I serve and volunteer, the larger my church family grows. I do regret that I didn’t become an active member and volunteer at Wesley earlier in my lifetime.” Janis also said that even if she addresses someone by the wrong name or can’t remember their name, most times they both will laugh and the person will tell her their name again. “And just like that, I have made another new friend.”
When I was looking for a church several years ago, I visited a couple of churches before coming to Wesley Chapel. I attended one Sunday and knew immediately that this was the church for me. Ted greeted me the moment I arrived and everyone I encountered made me feel like I belonged. I hadn’t been attending for very long when Pastor Tony asked me to participate in the discussion group that was considering what Wesley Chapel’s stated Core Values should be. Being included in important decisions and being invited to socialize with others in our church affirms how much we, and ultimately Jesus, want to have a relationship with everyone who enters our campus.
Even if you are not officially a greeter, you are part of the Hospitality Team. It takes all of us to make people feel welcome and wanted. In order to make disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be kind to everyone we encounter. Just as the writer of Hebrews pointed out, when we show hospitality to others, we may be entertaining angels.
