Hospitality Pantry Program

About a year ago, I was asked to embark on a ministry at St. Paul’s that I felt very equipped for. After all, with twenty years as an event manager in the corporate world, I had extensive training and experience in the planning and execution of employee, customer and board events all over the world for as many as 5,000 people at a time. And at each event, the welcoming of guests and strangers (Webster’s definition of hospitality) was always the primary goal. Each event had a budget, an action plan and well-defined objectives to be met. Having had a successful career in this “business of hospitality”, I felt confident that the Hospitality Pantry Program was the ministry for me.

With my understanding of St. Paul’s Mission . . . “to worship God and to bring all into loving relationship with Jesus Christ”, and having experienced personally the spirit of hospitality that brought me into fellowship at St. Paul’s just three years ago, I was ready. Or so I thought.

What I discovered through this year-long process is that the “business of hospitality” and the “ministry of hospitality” must be carefully balanced for the results to bring about “true hospitality”. I tell you this because much trial and error has taken place to produce a balanced plan for a Hospitality Pantry Program which meets the needs of our guests, strangers and parishioners. And, unlike any single hospitality event, with a specific date, time and conclusion, this hospitality ministry must be ongoing, adaptable and relevant to the challenges of our growing and expanding Church.

To that end several processes have been developed, or are in development, to provide a means for the culture of hospitality that exists at St. Paul’s to be consistently demonstrated at each and every event held within the church’s facilities. Though these processes do change the way we are accustomed to doing some things at St. Paul’s, they are all meant to provide clean, organized and useful resources for the many wonderful hospitality events held at St. Paul’s.

These changes and processes are available to you when you reserve space at St. Paul’s for an event. Or, if you are simply interested in learning how to go about using these resources in your particular ministry, they are on our St. Paul’s website. You may also call or email me with any questions or clarifications you might have.

Also, I’m looking for an Intern to serve with me in 2010 and take on the “pantry queen” crown in 2011! I know you’re out there – give me a call.

In His love, Cheryl Beasley