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The Welcoming Table

Mission, Values, Vision & Structure

Mission & Values Statement

The Welcoming Table is a nondenominational Christian ministry dedicated to creating a sacred and inclusive space where all individuals can explore spirituality with love, grace, and compassion. Rooted in love, authenticity, and radical acceptance, we foster a community where everyone is seen, valued, and empowered on their spiritual journey. At The Welcoming Table, all are invited to share in grace, growth, and belonging, without fear or exclusion.

The Welcoming Table's Mission and Values find their foundation in the Word of God, as recorded in The Holy Bible. No matter what an individual's personal beliefs (or lack thereof), The Welcoming Table strives to embody our name, by welcoming all who seek a rest at the table.

Scriptural Foundation

The following is a listing of Scripture supporting The Welcoming Table's Mission and Values. This is NOT an exhaustive list, but a sampling of Scriptural Justification for our Mission.

Supporting Inclusivity & Radical Acceptance

"All are invited," "without fear or exclusion"

Romans 15:7 (NLT)
"Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, so that God will be given glory."
Relevance: Directly speaks to accepting others as Christ accepted us, forming the foundation for radical acceptance and inclusivity.
Galatians 3:28 (NLT)
"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Relevance: Emphasizes the unity and equality of all people in Christ, transcending traditional divisions, which strongly supports the "all are invited" and "without fear or exclusion" aspects.
Luke 14:23 (NLT)
"Then the master said to his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.'"
Relevance: This parable illustrates a divine desire for the inclusion of many, even those from the margins, to join the "feast" or community.

Supporting Love, Grace, & Compassion

"Explore spirituality with love, grace, and compassion"

1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)
"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
Relevance: Establishes love as fundamental to knowing God and interacting with others, aligning perfectly with the ministry's emphasis on love.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast."
Relevance: Highlights the central role of God's grace, which the ministry invites people to "share in."
Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
"Since God chose you to be holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
Relevance: Encourages embodying qualities like tenderhearted mercy (compassion) and kindness in our interactions.

Supporting Community, Being Seen, Valued, & Empowered

"Foster a community where everyone is seen, valued, and empowered"

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
"All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it."
Relevance: Speaks to the interconnectedness and value of each individual within the body of Christ, implying that each part is "seen" and "valued."
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
"He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
Relevance: Reinforces the idea of individual empowerment ("does its own special work") contributing to collective growth and health within a community.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
"Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a needless desire to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."
Relevance: Encourages valuing others, putting their needs and interests forward, which fosters a community where everyone feels seen and valued.

Supporting Growth & Belonging

"Share in grace, growth, and belonging"

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
"Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen."
Relevance: Directly calls for spiritual "growth" in grace and knowledge.
Psalm 133:1 (NLT)
"How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!"
Relevance: Celebrates the beauty of unity and harmony within a community, speaking to the desire for "belonging."
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."
Relevance: Encourages gathering together and mutual encouragement, which are vital for fostering belonging and shared growth within a spiritual community.

The Great Commission & Relational Evangelism

The driving force of The Welcoming Table is found in The Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We want to show Christ's love, first and foremost, hoping to spark a desire in others to know God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit better. Ultimately, we aim to give everyone we encounter the opportunity to become followers of Christ, but never the mandate. The Welcoming Table views this approach as "relational evangelism."

Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT)
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

Goals & Vision

At The Welcoming Table, we are building more than a gathering—we're building a movement of healing and hope.

Short-Term Goals

Long-Term Vision

Every chair at The Welcoming Table is sacred — whether someone is arriving with heavy grief or deep hope, there is a place here for them.

Weekly Gathering Structure

Duration: 2 Hours

Purpose: A space where faith, recovery, mental health, and community care meet in authenticity, grace, and support.

What Will Be Offered at Each Gathering

1. Welcome & Centering (10 minutes)

  • Greeting, shared prayer or moment of silence
  • Brief introduction to the day's theme

2. Faith & Recovery Discussion (30 minutes)

  • A focused reflection tying together faith and the realities of recovery (from addiction, trauma, grief, or mental illness)
  • Includes shared reading, testimony, or open question
  • Grounded in compassion and spiritual honesty

3. Mental Health Check-In (20 minutes)

  • Group share around mental health challenges and wins
  • Peer-led, non-judgmental, optional participation

4. Small Group Connection (30 minutes)

Breakout into smaller support circles:

  • Recovery
  • Mental health
  • Grief or loss
  • Spiritual questions

Safe space for deeper conversation and prayer

5. Rest & Reflect (20 minutes)

  • Optional Guided Meditation or Breathing Exercise
  • Quiet time, journaling, creative art, or light snacks
  • Space to breathe, rest, and just be

6. Closing Circle (10 minutes)

  • Regather for a final blessing, announcements, or a grounding exercise