What if hospitality wasn’t just about opening your doors but about stepping outside to meet people where they are, reflecting love and grace through every action?

Abundant hospitality is far more than a passive welcome; it’s an intentional act of love and service reflecting the heart of the gospel. The churches of Lake County regularly show warmth, hospitality, love, and service.

One such church, Village Church of Gurnee, has sought to intentionally weave abundant hospitality throughout every aspect of its ministry with humility, putting self-interests aside. More likely than not, you’ll see them striving to reach out to the community outside of the church walls throughout the week just as much as you’ll see them welcoming people inside their facility. No matter where they are, they desire to be part of God’s strategy to reach Lake County–reflecting God’s love through intentional acts of kindness and service.

“We’ve inherited a rich legacy of mission and outreach, and by God’s grace, we want to keep the momentum going,” says David Giese, who joined the church as lead pastor in the fall of 2019. As the pandemic changed everything, the people of Village Church worked harder to live out its mission. “We’ve been intentional about building on the past while continually reaching for a vision that highlights God’s mission for the world—reaching our neighbors, serving them, and living out the gospel every day.”

An Outreach Legacy in Gurnee

Planted out of Lakeview Church in Zion, the church grew alongside the Gurnee community. Pastor Brandon Smith, who has been part of the church since 1988 when he came to faith as a teen, recalls those early days. “Outreach has been part of the DNA of Village Church for as long as I can remember,” says Brandon, who now serves as pastor of outreach and administration. “As the area grew from cornfields to suburbs, we wanted to be intentional about reaching out and sharing the love and truth of Jesus with our neighbors.”

This intentionality is reflected in their partnership with Love INC, which has spanned decades. “Our partnership with Love INC goes back to the late nineties,” Brandon explains. “It’s been incredible to see how God has used that relationship to connect us with the community through ministries like furniture deliveries, the Loved Twice Thrift Boutique, and hosting the Love INC National Gathering.”

Outreach isn’t just a program at Village Church—it’s core to who they are. “We want to be God’s tools and instruments, ambassadors for the gospel so we can minister to the whole person in Lake County,” says Pastor Brandon.

Many Hands: A Foundation of Abundant Hospitality

Abundant hospitality at Village Church extends far beyond the church walls. The “Many Hands Project,” an initiative started in 2009, reflects this commitment to meeting the community where they are. The project began with Village Church leadership sensing the value of teens serving the needs of their neighbors rather than traveling internationally. By 2011, multiple local churches had joined the summer mission program, and the impact has been lasting.

“Our students loved the personal experience of seeing how their service impacted the people they helped,” shares Leo Barnes, pastor of youth ministry at Christ Community Church in Zion, as he reflects on his youth ministry’s partnership with the Many Hands Project. “They loved the connection with kids from other churches,” he said, “they had a sense of being part of something bigger and broader and building relationships within the larger Christian community. …they felt like what they did mattered.”

The Many Hands Project was more than just a service opportunity—it created lasting connections and meaningful relationships, allowing students to experience God’s love firsthand through both service and community. It also became the foundation for a new iteration of how Village Church of Gurnee reaches out to its neighbors who live right next door.

Meeting Needs Locally

Within the last year, the church has sought in a fresh way to serve Northlake Farms, the apartment complex next door, regularly offering resources and events for the residents.

John, a church elder, reflects on the easy decision to serve their neighbors, “Where would Jesus be ministering in our communities?” He continues by saying they didn’t have to look far, and he’s been blessed by his conversations with people he’s met in the neighboring community. He shared, “We are still trying to answer the question, ‘How can we serve them well?’ and we will keep looking for ways to show God’s love in how we show up.”

In the fall of 2024, church members coordinated a Trunk or Treat for the apartment complex to create a safe, fun celebration for families. With more than 20 cars decorated and passing out candy, it was so successful that church leadership hopes to make it an annual event.

Building this foundational relationship through fun opportunities with Northlake Farms was particularly important recently, as 16 apartments and their residents were deeply impacted by a structural fire that left nearly 25 people displaced from their homes. Serving as the local connection for the complex and Red Cross, the people of Village Church of Gurnee stepped in to resource their neighbors in need, even opening their doors to serve as a short-term stay for the displaced.

As a linchpin of service in this crisis, Village Church connected dozens of volunteers, workers from the Red Cross, staff from Love INC, and others to ensure their neighbors had what they needed: a place to stay, clothing, personal hygiene kits, emergency medication refills, and much more. Pastor Brandon credits the teamwork of all local partners in showing Christ’s love in this moment of great need saying, “You all have stepped up to serve in a way that many don’t often have the chance to see. Jesus has been honored through your ministry, and we are grateful for your partnership in serving our neighbors.”

Caring for the community exactly where they are is a gift in a world full of cynicism, broken trust, and church hurt. Churches–and Christians–that do this well show Jesus’ heart clearly; a refreshing experience for those weary in a hostile and emotionally-charged culture.

Abundant Hospitality in Action at the National Level

Among the local outreach and community support Village Church of Gurnee offers, the church also hosts the annual Love INC National Gathering, a significant example of how its people serve the national and international community as well. Each year, the church welcomes 160-200 guests from across the U.S. and as far away as Kenya. Over four days, Village Church opens its doors to Love INC affiliates, providing a central location for Love INC National to provide training, worship, and fellowship.

Lora Petitt, senior director of program development for Love INC National, shares how vital Village Church has been to the success of this event. “The church’s team helps us plan our gathering, ensuring that training rooms, hospitality spaces, and worship areas are ready before we even arrive. During the event, they are constantly serving, making sure technology is running smoothly, snacks are stocked, and lunches are served on time,” Lora explains. “They anticipate every participant’s needs, and they always have a listening ear for anyone who needs one.”

Lora describes the people of Village Church as having “servant hearts, always smiling, and ready to help.” She adds, “As the point person for the gathering, the team always looks for ways to make my load easier throughout the week. For all our participants, they provide a place of respite, treating them with love and care. Our relationship is a treasure to me, and returning to Village Church each year feels like coming home.”

Facilities as a Tool for Ministry

The church’s commitment to hospitality extends to how they steward their physical resources. Dan Null, Village Church’s facilities manager, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the church building is a welcoming and functional space.

“A well-kept building communicates that people are cared for,” Dan says. “It would be a shame if we let our resources sit empty. The more we use our building for ministry, the more valuable it becomes as a tool to serve God’s people.”

Dan has seen firsthand how creating a welcoming space can impact both church members and visitors. “I know the vision of the church, and everything we do here has to help us reach that goal,” he adds. “That’s why we invest time and energy into maintaining the space—it’s about creating a place where people feel loved and cared for.”

As they looked to create opportunities to use their facilities as a tool for ministry, the church piloted hosting an annual prom for teens and adults with disabilities. “Our first year, we served over 30 guests, pairing each guest with a buddy,” Pastor Brandon explains. “This year, we’re hoping to serve at least 80 guests – in fact, we’ve already outgrown our church! There’s something so special about watching these young people experience the joy of the prom—it’s just one way we’re showing God’s love.”

The Heartbeat of the Church: Serving Through Abundant Hospitality

For Village Church, abundant hospitality is a reflection of God’s deep love. Pastor Brandon sums it up well: “It’s not just about meeting physical needs, but about showing people that they matter to God and to us. That’s what we aim to do every day.”

As Village Church of Gurnee continues to serve its community, it’s clear that abundant hospitality is more than a program or a seasonal initiative. It’s a way of life that reaches deep into the hearts of everyone who enters its doors, leaving a lasting impact that stretches far beyond Sunday services.

Embracing Abundant Hospitality Where You Are

While this post highlights how Village Church of Gurnee embodies abundant hospitality, each person at the church would humbly state that they haven’t arrived yet. Each day brings an opportunity to learn and grow as we all strive to become more like Christ, endeavoring to be his hands and feet in our communities.

Does this story stir something in your heart to begin displaying abundant hospitality to your community? Reach out to the Love INC team! We’d love to connect you with others, share resources, and be a part of your journey.

Learn more about serving through Love INC here, or email us to start the conversation!