At this year’s church camp, Reverend Ivan Tan*—author of Hospitality and Growing the Church—spoke powerfully on a rarely addressed yet timely topic: Building a Hospitable Church. His message helped unpack what it truly means to live out our church camp’s theme for the year, “Giving the Lord Jesus a cup of cold water”/给主一杯凉水, through practical love and hospitality.

Reverend Tan began by grounding hospitality in Scripture, referencing Hebrews 13:1–3. The passage commands believers to show hospitality to strangers, noting that in doing so, some have unknowingly welcomed angels. True biblical hospitality, he explained, involves welcoming strangers—both within and outside the church—with warmth, care, and the same love shown to fellow believers. These “strangers” may be new visitors, people on the margins, or those seeking connection and belonging.

He emphasized that for many, stepping into church isn’t about religion at first—it’s about human connection. Before a newcomer can grasp the gospel, they often need to experience love and warmth in action. Without hospitality, the church’s proclamation of a loving God may feel hollow. Reverend Tan warned against artificial hospitality, which centers on the host rather than the guest. True hospitality is guest-oriented, making others feel safe, welcomed, and valued. A touching testimony from a church member illustrated this: when she first joined, the church community’s genuine care and ongoing support helped her family stay and eventually become committed members of Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church (QCMC).

Reverend Tan introduced the concept of the “threshold place” drawn from Genesis 18:1–15, where Abraham welcomed three unknown guests at the entrance of his tent—later revealed to be the Lord. That moment of hospitality brought a life-changing blessing: the promise of a son. The “threshold place” represents a space between public and private life where safe, meaningful encounters can occur. Churches today, he suggested, can cultivate such spaces, for example, a café ministry that invite strangers to rest, share a coffee, and begin relationships in a low-pressure setting.

This concept inspired a lively discussion during the camp. Participants proposed practical steps like opening their homes to newcomers, personally inviting them to church events, and organizing casual gatherings that ease people into the community. These ideas reflect the spirit of Acts 2:42–47, where the early church not only fellowshipped together but also showed hospitality to outsiders. Their love in action led to daily growth as “the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

Reverend Tan concluded by noting that churches in Singapore which maintained hospitality during COVID-19 saw remarkable growth. This shows that God honors churches that genuinely open themselves to others. In essence, hospitality is not a mere program or personality trait, it is an expression of discipleship. It is how we love like Christ and invite others to experience that love. The aim is not to be a perfect church, but a hospitable one—where people can encounter God through the open doors, warm hearts, and shared lives of His people.