April Showers
Welcome everyone! May is upon us, and with abundant showers we’ve received lately, we should be in for an EXPLOSION of flowers. Thank you for stopping by the blog. This month, please enjoy some sharing of scripture, a feature on one of our terrific hospitality ministry leaders, as well as a brief clip about what I’ve been reading. I’ll look forward to seeing many of you at the Hospitality Ministry Celebration, and I’d like to pose a challenge specifically to those of you serving in this ministry. What could be another title for “Hospitality Ministry?” Something that would be more description of what we do? Let me know your thoughts. Blessings to all!!
From the Word
1 Peter 4: 10-11
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies,so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen
Having just finished leading our Gifts and Service class with Mark McKnelly, this scripture has been top of mind and heart for me in the past few weeks. What strikes me most about this passage is the directive that as we serve one another, we aren’t to do it with our own strength, but rather with “the strength that God supplies.” So often, I catch myself leaning into my human desire to power ahead and muster on with whatever work is at hand by my own strength. When I do this, I quickly become exhausted, demotivated, and frustrated. This scripture is a reminder that when we serve with the strength that God supplies, He is glorified!! Not us…and in that glory, we are drawn into a closer relationship with him. Others are then able to truly see God’s glory, and are drawn to him also. When I think of how I spread the message of the Gospel to others, I see that only if I’m serving with God’s strength will I be an effective witness. In what ways do you focus on leaning on God’s strength and not your own?
Leader of the Month: Bethany Boaz
- Name: Bethany Boaz
- Hometown: Marionville, MO (yes, white squirrel country)
- Family? Husband-Keith Boaz. He is the director of Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex and JQH Arena-super proud of him for all that because he was put into that position at a young age! He loves baseball, football, and golf, and he LOVES taking the family on little trips. He’s an ultra-planner/organizer. 
Kids-Averie, she will be 4 in a mere 2 weeks, and Brady, he will be 2 in July. They are absolutely hilarious, and Averie has a crazy memory and is super smart (of course I’m biased) and she loves to play dress up and pretend. I’m pretty sure Brady is going to be the class clown, he is hilariously funny and is always happy and easy-going.(If that’s too much, you can edit, ha!)
- In what ministry do you lead/serve? I lead the hospitality ministry as the ministry leader and a team leader in Guest Services.
- How did you happen upon this ministry? Stephanie and Jim asked me to serve on the ministry and possibly co-lead a team. I quickly became a team leader, then kinda got suckered into leading the whole ministry, haha! Just teasing, I love it!
- What’s your favorite thing about serving in this ministry? I love interacting with people and helping them. I worked in a similar capacity at Hammons Student Center in college, and that is why I teach!! I get to meet such a variety of people.
- Any frustrations? No frustrations with the ministry, but if you mean in life, I’m frustrated with seniors who don’t want to work for their last 15 days of school.
- What would you tell someone who is thinking about possibly giving this ministry a try? That it is a GREAT way to serve if you enjoy people! It’s important to have a joyful personality and welcoming attitude, but you could be the one who gives a newcomer a wonderful first impression of our church, which could in turn lead them straight into a relationship with God.
- Favorite food or type of food? I love food! My favorite is probably various pastas and pizza! (No carb diets are definitely not for me.)
- Hobby? Chasing my kids, does that count? I LOVE to read, and I used to love to scrapbook but have not found time recently and it’s turned into blogging and then printing my blogs into books. My ultimate goal is to be a published author, but I can’t really call writing a hobby b/c I never seem to find time to do it! Oh, and napping, napping is my ultimate hobby.
What I’m Reading
I’ve been rereading a great book by Mark Waltz recently entitled First Impressions. Mark is a pastor at Granger Community Church in Indiana, a large congregation that has an exceptionally fantastic hospitality ministry. I’ve had the privilege of attending conferences there twice, and have truly been wowed by the focus they place on the guest. In his book, Mark really encourages us to remember that “everyone matters to God, and therefore they matter to us.” I highly recommend this book, particularly for all those serving and leading in hospitality.
