Hospitality
"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9
Last week I had the privilege of attending the Mainstreet Summit in Columbia, Missouri, hosted by my friend Brent Beshore, the founder of Permanent Equity. It was a fantastic event with exceptional speakers and content. But honestly, what made it truly memorable was not the programming; it was the feeling of genuine community and connection that Brent and his team created through an extraordinary spirit of hospitality. They took every detail to the next level: the warmth, the intentionality, the genuine care for every person in the room, and it made all the difference. People left not just informed but genuinely connected. That is the power of hospitality done well.
Hospitality is something that comes naturally to me. Growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Cajun country, I was surrounded by some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The Cajun culture is legendary for making strangers feel like family, welcoming them, feeding them, and loving them without hesitation. That spirit of open-handed hospitality is one of our Donner family values and has shaped how I live and lead today. It flows into the DNA of everything I do and lead, including Founders, Abide & Lead, and in our home.
Over the past several weeks, I have been building on the theme of culture, how Integrity, Humility, and Commitment form the interior foundation of a leader and the organizations they lead. This week I want to add what may be the most visible and immediately felt expression of a great culture: Hospitality, because culture is not just what we believe on the inside; it's how people feel in our interactions with them.
Three Principles of Kingdom Hospitality:
Warmth That Breaks Down Barriers: Hospitality begins with something remarkably simple: a smile, a warm greeting, a genuine expression of welcome that communicates to another person that you matter and I am glad you are here. That kind of warmth does something powerful in a room. It lowers defenses, creates safety, and opens the door to real connection and trust. In a business context, this is profoundly strategic. Clients, team members, and partners who feel genuinely welcomed and valued do not just do business with you; they become advocates for you. They trust you faster, engage more openly, and stay longer. The firms and leaders who master the art of genuine warmth are the ones who build the most loyal and enduring relationships over time. And it costs nothing but intentionality. "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings" Romans 16:16.
Personalization That Honors People: Our God is remarkably personal. He does not just know our names; He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He knows our fears, our dreams, our deepest needs, and He meets us there with precision and care. That personal love of God is the model for how we are called to treat the people in our sphere of influence. Remembering someone's name, asking about their family, recalling a detail from a previous conversation, or anticipating a need before it is expressed these small acts of intentional personalization communicate something powerful: I see you. You are not just a client or a colleague or a contact. You are a person who matters to me. At Founders, we talk about becoming the Gold Standard in our industry, the Chick-fil-A of M&A advisory. Chick-fil-A does not just serve great food; they make every single customer feel personally welcomed and genuinely valued. That level of personalized hospitality is a significant part of what has made them one of the most beloved brands in America. It is a standard worth pursuing in everything we do. "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves" Romans 12:10.
Service That Reflects the Heart of God: Biblical hospitality goes beyond making people feel comfortable. It extends to strangers, to those who are hurting, and to people who cannot repay us. Hebrews 13:2 gives us a remarkable reminder: do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. That verse alone should expand our vision of what hospitality can be and who it is for. The deepest expression of hospitality is service, giving of ourselves for the genuine benefit of another person with no expectation of return. Jesus modeled this perfectly. He fed the hungry, welcomed the outcast, and invited Himself to the home of a despised tax collector because He saw a man who needed to be seen and loved. His hospitality was not reserved for the deserving or the influential. It was extended to whoever was in front of Him. That is the kind of hospitality that builds cultures people never want to leave and communities people travel across the country to be part of. I saw it at the Mainstreet Summit last week. I see it at Church of the Highlands. And I want it to be the defining mark of everything we build at Founders and Abide & Lead. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it" Hebrews 13:2.
John Maxwell famously said that people will forget what you said and forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Hospitality is one of the simplest and most powerful tools a leader has to build a culture where people feel genuinely valued, deeply connected, and completely at home. It is also one of the most natural expressions of the Gospel, because God Himself is the ultimate host who welcomed us into His family through Christ and invites us daily to His table.
Integrity forms us. Humility postures us. Commitment sustains us. And hospitality is how all of that becomes visible and felt by every person who comes into our orbit. It is culture made tangible. And it is available to every one of us starting this week.
Challenge Question: Who is one person inside or outside your circle that God is putting on your heart to intentionally welcome and honor this week? A client, a team member, a neighbor, or someone new to your community, what would it look like to extend genuine Christ-like hospitality to them this week?
Prayer: Father, thank You for being the ultimate host, for welcoming us into Your family through Christ and inviting us daily to Your table. Help us to reflect Your heart by showing genuine hospitality to everyone You place in our path. Give us eyes to see the people around us who need to feel valued and welcomed, the courage to open our lives and our tables, and the love to make every person feel seen and at home in You. May our hospitality build cultures and communities that reflect Your Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.
People will never forget how you made them feel. Make them feel genuinely welcomed, deeply valued, and completely at home this week. Have a great week!