Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64AGRM often uses the phrase “offering radical hospitality in the name of Jesus” when describing what the association promotes and what our mem- ber missions do. But what does radical hospitality mean, and what does it look like at rescue missions? Digging deeper into what this means for our members, who both define and exemplify the practice, a set of six characteristics seems to shape the kind of radical hospitality essential to programs that are restoring communities and transforming lives. 1. Giving Grace and Love…First “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” Dietrich Bonheoffer, The Cost of Discipleship J ason Hynson, executive director of Victory Mission in Springfield, Missouri, agrees with Bonheoffer’s quote: “Neighbors who come through our doors don’t deserve anything. But I don’t deserve anything either. Truth hurts when it’s not wrapped with grace…and grace is loving those who don’t deserve it,” Jason says. “Radical means grace and love first, with the truth of undesired consequences and unwise life decisions coming after the love.” The order is important: Grace and love first, before all else. Micheal Woods conveys the impor- tance of seeing people as the sons and daughters of God…first. As CEO of Western Carolina Rescue Mission, Micheal is concerned with loving people in the moment, no matter their situations. “We show true love and help find solutions. Some of the solutions they may not agree to, but the solutions will be packaged in love and lined up with the truth of God’s Word,” he says. “We are always looking for ways to serve a hurting community. We make sure that everyone knows that they are loved and accepted. We do this by pointing them to Jesus. We tell them not just how much He loves them, but why He loves them so much. We never focus on the sin and we never compromise the Word of God.” Faith City Mission in Amarillo, Texas, literally 8 WWW.AGRM.ORG MARCH/APRIL 2017