Ministry Through Our Home

My husband and I have always desired that our home be a sanctuary for whoever enters it. We want our home be used to bless and minister whoever walks through our door. This is something that we pray for often. When people leave our home and comment how comfortable they feel or how easy it is to open up to us, we know that God has answered our prayers.

Our Guiding Principles
Be hospitable – First, I must admit that this is not my strong point. It is almost guaranteed that if you come to my house, I will forget to even offer you something to drink. It just doesn’t cross my mind. However, my husband is great at this. Right when someone walks in the door he is offering them a drink and helping to make them feel comfortable. For him it is natural. For me, it is something I always have to work to remember.

In addition to food, we seek to create a warm, welcoming environment. We often use music and lighting to do this depending on the atmosphere we are trying to set.

Be interruptible – One of the dangers of being known for having an open home is that people will drop in on you. Before dishes, laundry and a clean house comes people. If someone needs us, all of these things can wait. Putting aside the tasks and focusing on the guest in our home is how we seek to minister.

Be available – In order to actually minister through our home, we have to invite people in. We enjoy hosting dinner in our home. We would prefer to invite people over than go out to dinner. We feel the conversation is better and we are able to really connect.

We also enjoy hosting overnight guests. Though we live in a one-bedroom apartment, our living room is always available for someone who needs a place to stay.

Be intentional – The relaxed environment of a home enables people to open up and share unlike they do in other places. This is true for us as well. We feel free to ask questions and have spiritual conversations at home. We teach a college Bible study on Sunday mornings at our church. Hard chairs and concrete walls seem to dictate that no one shares or opens up. However, if we invite these same students into our home, they talk on top of each other and don’t want to leave – even in spiritual conversations. However, even the very next morning, the silence returns.

Obviously we are strong proponents of small groups and Bible studies that meet in the home. Presently we are hosting a small group. In spite of our small quarters, it is our home that is the preferred meeting place. The babies all sleep and the adults all share. It seems almost magical. But then I remember that this is something that we have and do pray for on a continual basis. When it works, it is not something I dare take credit for. God is truly making our home a sanctuary and using us to be a blessing to this world.

What are ways that you use your home to minister?

Tracey is a stay-at-home mom in Florida to her son, Deacon. She and her husband, Micah are expecting their second baby.