Welcoming Strangers: Church Revitalization through the Practice of Biblical Hospitality

This article explores the biblical hospitality mandate in the context of modern society with a focus on the potential for hospitality with immigrants bringing revitalization to local churches. The author conducted grounded research on Canadian evangelical congregations and their interactions with Syrian refugees between 2015 and 2019. The research determined that the practice of biblically informed and contextually relevant hospitality with immigrants and others in need had a positive effect on the hosts. Churches indicated improved vitality, stronger community, and intentional mission as a result of their reciprocal hospitality with the Syrian people. The essay concludes with some practical recommendations for a contextual understanding and practice of biblical hospitality today.