Every Saturday I teach at a local Lutheran (SELK) church in Hamburg: first, a new member class for a German baptismal candidate and then three hours of German for Persian migrants. And every Saturday I find the fellowship hall spotlessly clean, with the table set with various kinds of sparkling water and snacks. During each class an elderly Lutheran lady putters in, asking whether we would like coffee or other refreshments. What would our classes be like without Frau Schmidt [not her real name]!? I recently asked her how long she had been a member of that church. “My whole life,” she replied. “I was born in 1941. One of my earliest memories was of our pastor at the end of the war. He was so wonderful with us children,” she recalled wistfully. “I see you here every week. Are you a pastor?” “Yes,” I replied. “And a missionary.” “A missionary—here in Germany? “Yes. I tell everyone I can about Jesus—mainly migrants from Iran and Afghanistan but also regular Germans.” “Tell people about Jesus…” she repeated softly. “I could never do that… I wouldn’t know what to say. I’m 82 and I don’t think I have ever told anyone about our Lord…” “And yet, you are doing His work,” I replied. “How so? All I do is clean up here and make coffee and provide snacks for the people.” “St. Paul in the New Testament compares the Christian Church to a human body,” I suggested. “Some people are the hands, some people the feet. Some the eyes, some the ears, some the mouth [1 Cor 12:4-21]. God has blessed all of us with certain gifts and He wants us all to use them to serve others. Your gift, Frau Schmidt, is hospitality. And it is a huge gift. You make everyone who comes here feel welcome—no matter who they are. You are doing the Lord’s work, using the gift He gave you: hospitality.” “Really…” I noticed that her eyes had welled up a bit. “I never knew that. I am doing the Lord’s work. Who would have thought…” she muttered as she shuffled back to the kitchen to get more cookies.
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