by Associate Pastor Todd Holdridge

What a delight to be here! On behalf of my whole family, thank you very much for the many notes, gifts, invitations to coffee, dinners, camping trips… So many of you have opened your homes and your lives to us—we are very grateful.

The experience of moving to a new location, beginning a new position, and living “in transition” has underlined a biblical theme that has always been important to me, but much more so in recent days. While in seminary, I took a course studying the Church’s mission to our increasingly postmodern, increasingly pluralistic, increasingly secular and highly spiritualized world.

After reading many books, writing several papers, and experiencing ten weeks of lectures we students were left quite puzzled on what it meant to “be church” in such a world. It was much easier to determine what the church was not to be than what it was. And to my amazement, our professor ended the course with a passionately teary-eyed appeal that we learn and practice hospitality.

Hospitality, in his view, was more than inviting friends over for dinner. It meant “making room” in one’s life for another, or creating space for others. Ultimately, it means removing obstacles that hinder relationships. And you know as well as I how many relational barriers exist in our world—lack of time, lack of energy, etc. Can you pinpoint some of the barriers that impede your relationships?

The Biblical basis for the practice is well-established. For the Israelites, who once lived as strangers and sojourners in a foreign land; who were vulnerable, reliant upon God and others for their very survival, the practice of hospitality evoked deep memories of God’s provision for them. In fact, it became something of a “litmus test” confirming whether or not they recognized how much God had done for them.

We, too, might revisit that logic. And think a little more. Isn’t the Bible as a whole, and the Christian Gospel in particular, at its roots the story of a God who made room for those who were estranged from Him? God created space in His heart and in His kingdom for those who didn’t belong there. God, in Jesus Christ, did what was necessary to make relationship with God possible. It seems to me that hospitality (making room for others), is one of the most simple, tangible expressions of the Gospel.

And that is precisely what our family has so enjoyed over the last several weeks. Many of you have opened your homes and your schedules to us. We’ve enjoyed coffee, lunches, dinners, and activities together, and are already beginning to feel a part of the Bethany community. And we feel as if you are not merely allowing us a night or afternoon on your calendar, but you are making room for us in your lives as well. Thank you very much.

I am keenly aware, however, that there are some who worship at Bethany who do not yet sense their place within the community. For one reason or another, they would not describe their experience as being “connected” or “belonging” in the community.

In some recent conversations I have heard that there are people who for one reason or another are having trouble feeling “rooted” in the Bethany community. I am sure that there are very good and difficult reasons why this is so. But I can’t help but wonder what it would take for Bethany to be the kind of community where all people quickly sense that they belong? What would that be like? What would a newcomer’s experience of the Gospel be in that kind of environment?

Our first month has been tremendous. We are delighted to be with you, and look forward to sharing the journey for years to come. I am deeply grateful for your concern for us, and your willingness to welcome us.

God has made room for each of us. May we be watching for those who would like to, but are not yet able to call Bethany their church home.

Todd will be “officially” installed as a Bethany Associate Pastor at the
5 pm service on September 23rd.