The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Interaction within the local church

The recent post about pastoral interaction with their flocks got me thinking about just how much personal interaction goes on within our churches, regardless of the participation the pastor. While many elements contribute to such interaction, I think home visiting among members of a church is a vital aspect, since it normally allows and fosters the deepest communication. Please answer the 2 following questions about the degree to which such visiting goes in your church, and comment on how you feel about that level of interaction!

Over the past year, how many member families of your church have had you in their home for any reason? single choice
	0 families/None
	1 or 2 families
	3 to 4 families
	5 to 9 families
	10 to 14 families
	15 to 24 families
	25 or more families
	Does not apply/Not a member of a church
Votes accepted starting: Mon May 01, 2006 12:00 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Over the past year, how many member families of your church have you had in your home for any reason? single choice
	0 families/None
	1 or 2 families
	3 to 4 families
	5 to 9 families
	10 to 14 families
	15 to 24 families
	25 or more families
	Does not apply/Not a member of a church
Votes accepted starting: Mon May 01, 2006 12:00 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

We've had a large number of families in our home--usually for dinner. Part of this is because my husband is an elder and part is because I love to entertain.

Our goal is to have every family in the church to our home for dinner this year.

I can count on one hand the number of homes we have been invited to in the same period of time, though.

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Oh, I didn't comment on how I feel.

I enjoy having people in our home and look forward to getting to know them better over a meal.

I do wish that other's would reciprocate more. It used to hurt my feelings when we didn't get invited in return, but now I just realize that not many people have the time or inclination to do it and it isn't personal.

I think they are missing out on a blessing. I especially think their children are missing out on the stimulation and social training that inevitably go along with opening one's home to friends, neighbors and family.

Paul,

This is another good point. We certainly should be working to develop community or fellowship with each other as members of the church in which we participate--and fellowship in our homes is a way to develop such. I unfortunately live 25 miles from where I attend church (a very long story) and have not done a very good job of this. But my wife and I will certainly be trying harder to have fellow church members over for fellowship in the months ahead.

Thanks for another edifying post.

Theo

I wanted to add with my vote, although I've visited relatively few homes, I have had a lot of interaction with a number of households through a weekly Bible study. I myself have not hosted anyone, being a poor college student. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/broke.gif" alt="" />

Hey there, poor college student! Some of our favorite guests are college students! The conversation is always very stimulating and it's fun to be able to "be a Mom" to kids who are far away from home and miss their mom's home cooking and dinner around the family dinner table.

Folks, invite college students to your homes for dinner. They appreciate it so much and they are delightful dinner companions. (And no matter WHAT you serve, it's home cooking and they'll love it--I've got one boy who dropped in while we were having hot dogs with homemade coney sauce and he loved it so much that we never fail to invite him when we have that for dinner!)

Paul,

This is a good observation on your part. Not only is the relationship with the pastor/elders in the church an important thing both for them and the congregation but having close relationships with in the church is essential as well. The life we share in the body of Christ is not a private thing but should be shared.

In our experience my wife and I are very involved in many aspects of the church's life. I am a charter member of a church that is now going to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Because of the long standing relationship we have with the church we know the people well and they know us well. We not only visit with members in their homes and in ours but frequently with prayer meetings, Bible studies, committee work, and various other opportunities.

My daughter and her husband are the Young People leaders in our church and they love to come over to our house for their meetings, fun and games, as well as an occassional sleep over. These young people love my dear wife and many of them call her Momma Faye. She has gone on mission trips with them and she has become their mom away from home.


Wes

The fact that you are a poor college student shouldn't inhibit you from having people over to your home. Just don't tell them that your grades aren't that great!