What does a welcoming heart look like to you? Is it an extra chair at the dinner table, a text message sent at just the right time or a quiet willingness to listen? And more importantly, how do we extend the radical grace of Christ right where God has placed us?
The good news is that biblical hospitality doesn’t require a masterclass in hosting. It simply requires a willing heart. Scripture reminds us that true hospitality is much greater than what we do. Our heart posture towards Christ’s love flowing through us shapes the ways in which we reach out to others, making “Hospitality as a Way of Life”.
This was the essence of the Making Room Conference on 15 August 2026, organised by Wesley Small Group Ministry, where some 631 participants came to learn more about Christian hospitality. Many came to the conference with their small groups, not only looking forward to learning more about hospitality but also seeking encouragement and spiritual rejuvenation in their walk with God. About 95 volunteers, including those from the Small Group Ministry, served in various roles as ushers, food servers and members of the registration team, cultivating a welcoming environment from the moment attendees first stepped into the church.
The good news is that biblical hospitality doesn’t require a masterclass in hosting. It simply requires a willing heart.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT HOSPITALITY
Key speakers for this conference were Rev Dr Isaac Lim, Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming, Rev Ian Tan and Wesley’s Pastor-in-Charge Rev Raymond Fong, all of whom have served as pastors of Wesley Methodist Church at different points in time. Together, through a series of talks and workshops, they challenged preconceived notions of what making room for others looks like by diving deeper into Scripture.
Based on John 3:16, Rev Dr Isaac Lim introduced the four pillars of hospitality: unconditional Love, valuing People, cheerfully Giving and offering Hope. He drove home the point that hospitality is more than a programme to be run and is instead a pathway to be paved.
There were also two workshop sessions. Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming led the “From the Door to the Living Room: From Welcoming to Belonging” workshop, emphasising the importance of unity and belonging in the Body of Christ as described in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Introducing belonging as a fundamental human need, he underscored how intentionally helping people find genuine belonging in the body of Christ mattered far more than merely extending welcoming gestures.
“Hospitality is more than a programme to be run and is instead a pathway to be paved.” – Rev Dr Isaac Lim
Meanwhile, in the “Welcoming the Unfamiliar” workshop, Rev Ivan Tan identified the strangers and foreigners in our midst who need to be reached out to, using the Parable of the Good Samaritan as an anchor text.
Participants were also encouraged to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by reaching out to the Samaritan woman in John 4, which Rev Raymond Fong used in his closing keynote. He outlined God’s pattern of welcome – seeking, accepting, challenging, renewing and sending – while stressing that personal security in God’s welcome is the foundation for authentic hospitality.
“God’s pattern of welcome – seeking, accepting, challenging, renewing and sending – while stressing that personal security in God’s welcome is the foundation for authentic hospitality.” – Rev Raymond Fong
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAKING ROOM CONFERENCE
The conference included breakfast and lunch, during which attendees were encouraged to embody sincere hospitality by sharing tables and having conversations with people unfamiliar to them. Initial silence slowly gave way to an atmosphere filled with warm smiles, chatter and hearty conversations, truly reflecting Jesus’ example of hospitality over a shared meal.
Another highlight was the panel session, where all the speakers came together to answer questions on “Hospitality as a Way of Life”. These questions addressed the practical aspects of living out Christian hospitality in the modern digital age, emphasising the need to slow down and truly connect with one another through meaningful rather than perfunctory interactions.
MOVING TOWARDS MISSIONAL HOSPITALITY AS A CHURCH
A question was posed to attendees at the start of the conference: “Making room is more than physical actions; it’s about making space in our hearts. If we open up our spaces only when it’s convenient, are we really making room?” Oftentimes, we prioritise staying within our comfort zones, choosing to shy away from reaching out to others. We imagine what hospitality could look like without taking steps beyond our comfort zones.
However, God’s exhortation to us as Christians is to be missional in our hospitality, as written in Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (ESV)
At the heart of Wesley’s Vision 2035 is the vision for our people to be a Welcoming, Missional and Caring Church. Beyond physical spaces, it is a call for each of us to make room in our hearts, relationships and communities, extending Christ’s welcome to those around us. The Making Room Conference is therefore not merely an event or programme but a cultural shift for our church body towards missional hospitality. To quote Pastor Raymond in his closing keynote, “[The] vision for hospitality must be embodied now, not postponed; visions are to be lived, not merely imagined for the future.”
(Photos by William Choo, Julian Wee and CJ Goh)
View and download more Making Room Conference photos here.
Read also: To be inspired and equipped in becoming a missional disciple of God: Outreach Conference 2025
