Send Us Out

Send Us Out

The Church on Mission through Hospitality

by Kathy Hulin (Trinity Anglican Seminary)

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This book blurs the line between spiritual formation and mission. Hulin shows that practices like noticing, listening, praying, and sharing meals are not preliminary to the "real work" of ministry—they are the work. Rooted in Scripture and parish life, 'Send Us Out' offers a robust spirituality of hospitality that can reshape how churches in any tradition understand their calling in the world.
In a time when so many churches are scrambling for the next program to "bring people back," 'Send Us Out' gently but firmly redirects our attention to the front porch, the dinner table, and the sidewalk. Kathy Hulin weaves theology, parish experience, and practical exercises into a vision of mission that any congregation can actually live. This is the book I want every church member to read.

Prof. Dr. Robby Waddell
Southeastern University

People who are faithful and committed to their church often have a longing for others to feel the same way. They have a palpable hope for the church to be full and a desire for others to be spiritually enriched by God. 'Send Us Out: The Church on Mission through Hospitality' connects the reader with that desire for the church to be a vibrant, hospitable, and growing body of believers in Christ. The reader will be taken on a journey to consider those who have not fallen in love with the church and to grow awareness and compassion for connecting with them as God does with humankind. Inspired by texts such as 'Incarnational Ministry' by Samuel Wells and 'Surprise the World' by Michael Frost, 'Send Us Out' stirs passions for mission and evangelism through presence and intentionality, learning how to be with strangers. The journey includes a practical theology that clergy and laity alike can incorporate into daily living. The practical nature of 'Send Us Out' teaches a spiritual understanding of Christian hospitality through language, biblical study, ministry examples and models, reflection, and action. Readers may wish to form study groups for sharing in the end-of-chapter activities and discussions. The church will be strengthened in a call for each member to be sent out, revealing God as Host to a world learning to be reconciled as guests.

Foreword
Jack Gabig
Trinity Anglican Seminary

Introduction
Prelude: Context and defining church
Who is the church?
Focusing our thoughts about the term church

Chapter 1 Maturing the members of the church
Maturing spiritual understanding
Challenges to spiritual maturation

Chapter 2 Who can be reached and why?
To reach and teach those outside the church
How and why are people “leaving” the church?
Why does this matter

Chapter 3 Hospitality that comes from God
Why hospitality?
Why should hospitality be pursued as a Christian practice?
How is hospitality defined?

Chapter 4 Interpreting Scripture through hospitality language
Hospitality in Creation
God hosted Abram
God chose Moses to host his people as leader and prophet
Instructions for a tabernacle
The First Temple built by King Solomon
The Incarnation
Mary journeys to her cousin Elizabeth
A thread woven throughout Scripture

Chapter 5 Hospitality and Jesus
Sermon on the Mount
Feeding the 5,000
In the home of sinners
Parable of the wedding feast
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
Jesus and Zacchaeus
Palm Sunday
The Passover Meal
Seven Last Words
Appearing to his disciples after his resurrection
This leads to greater revelation

Chapter 6 The roles of guest and host
What it means to be a guest
The role of a host
The interplay between guests and host
Openness to various people as host and guest

Chapter 7 Hospitality as spiritual practice
Abiding in Jesus as a mindset and goal
Silencing one’s thoughts
Learning to be silent and the benefits that follow
Being present
What comes next

Chapter 8 Hospitality as mindset for mission
The mechanics of listening
Holy listening
Behind the small group
Being with others
Meeting Christ in others

Chapter 9 Expanding the vision to make application in the community
The local church
Art of Neighboring
Priests on the Streets

Chapter 10 Encouragement for the mission
The unfolding narrative
Overcoming inherent challenges
Transaction to transformation

Works Cited
Works Consulted
About the author
Abstract
Index

The Rev. Dr. Kathy Hulin has been involved in Christian ministry since her baptism as a young adult in 1996. Reaching out to peers and neighbors to share the gospel was encouraged while she was a member of Lee Street Memorial Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD. Meeting people in their homes, workplaces, and community was modeled by the pastor and leaders in the church, and she has embraced developing a similar model for ministry as a priest in The Episcopal Church. Through more than 27 years of parish ministry, Dr. Hulin has seen the need to equip and empower laity and other pastors to be evangelists among family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Through formal theological education, professors and peers from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Southeastern University, and Trinity Anglican Seminary provided spiritual formation for a life-long journey with Jesus. Added to that, conversations with colleagues in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida and studies led by members of the Anglican Communion have led her to consider how she welcomes and embodies Christ’s love and light for all the people she meets. Most significantly, Kathy’s husband Charles continues to be a helpmate for life where presence, dialogue, respect, creativity, contemplation, and pilgrim travels lead to encouragement, reflection, and inspiration for following Jesus.

Christian hospitality, Being with, Incarnational presence, Mission, Evangelism, Host and guest, Reconciliation, Spiritual formation, Spiritual direction, Listening, Nones, Dones