Hospitality & God’s Abundance

Yesterday morning as I surveyed Jesus’ teachings about the inbreaking presence of God’s kingdom, it becomes clearer to me how the images of God’s kingdom are associated with stories about provision of life’s necessities, generosity, neighborly and enemy love, controversial (subversive) inclusion, the liberating joy of reconciliation, and forgiveness—all practices of hospitality based upon God’s abundance as One who loves with open hands and a surprisingly welcoming embrace. It also becomes clearer to me that those who see God’s abundance and gracious hospitality with clear eyes offer thanks to God for it, and do to others what God has done, and promises to continue to do, for them.

See Mt. 6:25-34/Lk. 12:22-31; Mt. 5:13, 43-48; 7:16-20; 13:3-9, 24-30, 32, 44-48; 14:16-24; 18:23-35; 20:1-16; 22:1-14; 25:1-13, 14-30; Mk. 2:22; 4:26-30; Lk. 6:37-38; 10:30-37; 12:16-22; 13:28-30; 14:7-11; 15:3-10, 11-32; 16:1-9, 19-31.

About Fred

Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience. Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas. Fred serves on the advisory boards of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Bacon Street Youth & Family Services, and FreeKind. He is also a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
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