Home and Hospitality
At the core of Canterbury we understand ourselves to be about the work of hospitality.
Hospitality – [hos-pi-tal-i-tee] Def. – the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.
Every day people come on the campus, some come as strangers but leave as friends. Many are returning to the campus for a variety of reasons: to take a class, to have a meeting, to study or pray; some just to be still amidst a noisy and chaotic world. All of them are welcomed and served.
This word also embraces Hospital: a place where people come for healing, where sick, wounded, hurting people receive care and needed intervention to bring comfort, release and peace. Canterbury is not only a retreat and conference center. It is often a hospital for those in need of restoration, recovery and renewal. We see broken things; broken hearts and lives mended and made whole.
People come from: churches and para-church ministries, institutions and civic organizations, businesses and marketplace folks. As a Christian ministry we are daily reminded of this verse from Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Amy Carmichael, Christian missionary to India wrote, “You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.” Love is defined by giving. We take what we have and share it with others. Love is at the center of every home and is at the center of Canterbury.
This life is a journey in which we glimpse and experience the comforts of home. There are stops along the way where we see more clearly and sense more deeply the depth of what home is. I believe and know with all that I am, that Canterbury is such a place in this world. Ultimately there is a heavenly home, a final destination where we enter a place prepared for us; a home where we belong, as family connected, rooted, engaged and anchored.
But until then, you and I exist in this crazy world. My challenge to you as we conclude our 40-day Journey Home is that you make every place you find yourself- be it a home, a church, in school, a job- a place where you extend hospitality. You’ve got what the world craves. You’ve got love, courage, faith, hope, compassion, kindness, peace – all incredible gifts to offer. As you give these things away, may you discover the reality of Home flourishing in your own heart and mind.
Thank you for walking this 40 Day Journey Home. It does not end today: it goes on in everyday. May we all carry a deep sense of this and make the world in which we live a healthy, vibrant, compassionate, generous Home.
We’ve designed these 40 Days around 3 levels of giving. Choose a level that’s right for you:
Join us at $1.00 per day ($40.00)…Canterbury Friend
Join us at $10.00 per day ($400.00)…Canterbury Partner
Join at $100.00 per day ($4000.00)…Canterbury Champion
These contributions go directly to the Annual Fund supporting our daily operation. If you have any questions call me directly. Jon Davis / cell: 321-436-8006. Please pray for the mission and ministry of Canterbury.
Contributions
ONLINE: Click here to give now OR BY PHONE: 407-365-5571 OR BY MAIL to: CANTERBURY / 1601 Alafaya Trail / Oviedo, FL 32765
Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. All donors will receive an itemized tax receipt.