It’s no secret that in this space, we adore, swoon, drool over, and love the ministry of words and story. We love the way our contributor’s words connect with your hearts, we love your words in the comments and on our social media posts, and we LOVE words on paper pages of good books. Today we want to share some of YOUR words! You’ve been writing and sharing about the ways our next book, Just Open the Door, has been impacting your hearts and legacy, and we can’t get enough. So today, we’re highlighting a few of our favorites!

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You have to experience the awkward in friendship in order to experience the awesome in friendship.
– Crystal Paine, the Money-Saving Mom

We cannot get over this phrase from our friend Crystal. After reading Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation by Jen Schmidt (which releases in just four short days!) Crystal wrote about how the ways she is experiencing hospitality have been changing. Since the start of 2018, the Paine family has opened their door to over 135 people! A little more from her post:

I used to be so scared to invite people into my home. I didn’t think I was any good at hospitality.

In fact, I told myself for a long time that I’m an introverted person who is a homebody and who doesn’t host things or initiate. I had convinced myself that hosting and initiating weren’t my gifts or my personality.

It was safer to wait to let other people do the inviting. It was safer to convince myself I wasn’t the type to step out, step up, initiate, or lead.

But all that changed when I read Just Open the Door by Jen Schmidt. It’s a book written specifically for people like me who feel so awkward about the whole hospitality thing.

If you feel like you aren’t a good cook or you think your house isn’t nice enough or you don’t feel like you’re organized enough or you think you don’t have room to host people or a dozen other excuses… and yet you are also craving deep community and authentic relationships, this book is for you.

Just Open the Door will show you that no matter the size of your home or your budget and no matter your current season of life, there is a way to show hospitality. And, you’ll learn just how big of an impact opening your home and door and life can have — not just in other’s lives, not just in your kids’ lives, but in your own heart and life.

Read Crystal’s full post here — we know you’ll love and connect with her story!

Just Open the Door is not just another book on entertaining or reaching out to your neighbors. It goes deeper, digging into the scriptures and examining the impact and legacy that can happen when we open our physical and metaphorical door.
– Cyndee Owenbee, Women’s Ministry Toolbox

As Jen says, “Biblical hospitality offers our best to Him first, understanding that our best to others will then fall into place…The posture we assume in hospitality is one that bends low, generously offering our heart to another despite whatever interruption to our own plans or comfort.”

Jen pushes readers beyond décor, food, and serving dishes, (though she does share fabulous tips about all three!) to examine the three main purposes of hospitality revealed in Scripture:

• Encouragement to others
• Discipleship
• Evangelism

Whether God’s calling you to open the door of your home or open the door of your heart, this book will encourage and equip you to take steps of faith forward trusting God with the outcome. Because it’s really okay to invite people over to a messy house and use red solo cups.

Read Cyndee’s full post here — we love the ways she relates Jen’s ideas to women’s ministry!

From our precious launch team members:

This book stepped on my toes, convicted me, made me laugh, cry, and want to do better in showing the love of God to others. Jen, thank you for being obedient to the call of God on your life. I have been blessed because you obeyed.
– Susan

This book has been SO GOOD. I am just in love with it. The practical tips are so helpful and actionable — I love them paired with the storytelling!
– Mauri

I just finished the book and it is hard to put into words how much I enjoyed it. Several times I was in tears reading this book. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if people hadn’t opened their doors to me when I was a teenager. Hospitality can change a life. Small acts of kindness often make a huge difference. Thank you Jen for sharing your heart and love of hospitality. Thank you for putting into words how important it is to open our doors to others. I think this will be my new favorite book to give family and friends.
– Lynn

No matter what action you take next, we encourage you to just start. All it takes is one invitation. One open door. Just one step taken towards welcoming in the hearts of others, and you’re on your way to stories like those shared above. We can’t wait to hear what God does with your open door!

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