Pat Ennis - Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others

Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock have served a rich fare of biblical teaching and practical application. With comprehensive scope and depth, this book provides tremendous motivation for obeying the biblical commands to practice hospitalitymotivation that is rooted in the character and ways of God himself. Each chapter concludes with insightful questions and Bible studies, as well as practical tips and recipes. PracticingHospitality will help readers grow in understanding and carrying out the biblical mandate of Christian hospitality in ways that honor the Lord.

Bruce and Jodi Ware, Professor of Christian Theology; and his wife, Instructor in the
Seminary Wives Institute,The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

When we read Gods Word, there is a resounding theme when it comes to hospitality. Those who practice this ministry will not only be a blessing to others, but they too shall be blessed. This book will not only be a valuable tool for those starting out, but also for those who have already mastered the beauty of hospitality. Most assuredly, they will gain new tips and insights. Highly recommended!

Donna Morley, Faith & Reason Forum

Long overdue is a careful study of the biblical teaching on hospitality. Practicing Hospitality will help believers recover the practice of welcoming those in need into their homes and lives, providing significant implications for the household of God.

Mark Tatlock, President, The Masters Academy International; Professor of Missions, The Masters University

In a world where its easy to focus on my needs and my wants, Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock draw the reader away from self and toward others. Practicing Hospitality inspires you to model biblical love and then equips you with practical, easy-to-apply advice.

Glynnis Whitwer, author, Work@home: A Practical Guide for Women Who
Want to Work at Home; Executive Director of Communications, Proverbs 31 Ministries

I realized quickly while in the Home Economics program that Dr. Ennis and Dr. Tatlock practice the kind of hospitality they teach. Through Practicing Hospitality the authors offer us a rich biblical and practical volume, and its principles will prove to be a blessing to christian women who seek to implement them.

Robin Contreras, wife of a missionary pastor;
homemaker

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Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others

Copyright 2007 by Patricia A. Ennis and Lisa Tatlock

Published by Crossway Books
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design and illustration: Jessica Dennis
First printing 2007
Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture references marked NKJV are from The New King James Version. Copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ennis, Pat.
Practicing hospitality: the joy of serving others/ Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock.
p.cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-58134-942-9(tpb)
1. HospitalityReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Tatlock, Lisa. II. Title.

BV4647.H67E56 2007
241'.671dc22

Hope Lian Tatlock
and
Olivia Sarah Tatlock

May you grow into women who personally understand the depth of Godslove for you and his compassionate heart for the nations of the world. Because of this, may you desire to practice biblical hospitality with enthusiastic joy, dedicated hard work, empathetic kindness, and gracious character. You are both precious gifts to our family.

Contents

We are indebted to the many individuals who supported the creation of Practicing Hospitality. Among them we offer special gratitude to:

Dr. Tim LaHaye and Dr. John MacArthuryour vision to develop a character-based home economics curriculum and perpetuate it made this volume possible.

Dr. Barbara Schuchyour unselfish sharing of your editorial skills, thought-provoking comments, and belief in PracticingHospitality provided momentum to keep the project in process.

Our endorsers, Robin Contreras, Donna Morley, Mark Tat-lock, Bruce and Jodi Ware, and Glynnis Whitwer, who supported not only the content of Practicing Hospitality but also the character of the writers.

Rhonda Kelly and Dorothy Patterson, who reviewed the manuscript and provided helpful editorial suggestions. Special thanks to Dorothy for crafting the Foreword.

Practicing Hospitality Publication Teamyour commitment to excellence made this partnership in the ministry of the written word a joy.

Dr. Mark Tatlock, my [Lisas] husbandthank you for your consistent encouragement, dedicated love, and unshakeable belief in my giftedness. Your support allows me to participate in ministry to women in a variety of ways; for this I am sincerely grateful.

Carella DeVolyour moral support, enthusiasm, and consistent prayer on all aspects of my ministry is a constant source of blessing.

Bethany Brannon, who diligently tabulated all of the surveys used in Practicing Hospitality.

Jill Carter, our liaison at Crossway Booksthank you for the myriad of kindnesses you have extended to us.

Al Fisheryour enthusiasm for Practicing Hospitality was evident from our initial contact. Thank you for presenting our proposal to the Publication Committee, preparing the book publishing agreement, and for seeing the project through to its completion.

Lydia Brownbackwhat a privilege to have a published author as our editor. Your keen eye for details and editing skills have clarified the content and message of PracticingHospitality.

Shannon McHenryyour careful work on the detail portion of Practicing Hospitality allowed us to present it to Crossway Books in a polished format.

Bailey Haigh,