Hospitality: Life in a Time of Fear

Since the events of September 11, 2001, we have been living in a time of greatly increased fear. Even before that fateful day, we were bombarded with news of threatening and disconcerting events, including crime, school violence, political scandal, and rapid societal change. Now we live with the threat of terrorism as well.

In this book, the authors show that the answer to fear is not turning inward but turning outward. Learning to recognize the presence of Christ in others can have a liberating impact on all that we do and can enable us to move past the fears which threaten to immobilize us.

This book explores: the biblical and spiritual roots of hospitality as a way of life; how hospitality can pull us through the loneliness and fear of our time; how a life of prayer is essential to a life of hospitality; how hospitality can help us cope with increased security; how hospitality affects our family life and friendships; how hospitality affects what we do in the workplace and in the community; how hospitality relates to the suffering of the world.

Steve Clapp and Fred Bernhard collaborated on the highly popular book Widening the Welcome of Your Church. Steve Clapp is the president of Christian Community and has authored or coauthored over thirty books. Fred Bernhard is pastor of Oakland Church and conducts seminars around the country on hospitality.