They were the first words we heard from our dear host, Enoch, when he picked us up from the airport.
“You are welcome.” After two eight hour plane rides, these words were sweet to our ears. Throughout our time in Uganda, this phrase was spoken to us again and again – when we met church leaders, when we entered schools, when we arrived at restaurants, when we visited people in their homes.
“You are welcome.” We say this in America in response to a thank you. Here, they say it differently. When they say it, what I hear is, “We want you here. We value your presence with us. Feel at home.”
How to make people feel welcome seems to be a frequent topic of discussion in churches in America. Everyone knows someone who left the church because they never felt noticed there. People sometimes say, “New people need to put forth some sort of effort and try to get to know people.” That’s easy to say – until you’re the new person.
I’m as guilty as anyone. At church, I stay with my family or with people I feel comfortable around. I’m not the first person to go up and greet somebody new. And you know what? That makes Jesus sad.
Jesus was the definition of welcoming. Although he didn’t really have a home to welcome people into, he was constantly welcoming others into his presence. To the lowly fishermen, he said “Follow me.” To the sick and the demon possessed, “Be healed.” To the harlots and loose women, “Your sins are forgiven. Be at peace.” To a tax collector, “I must eat at your house today.”
Jesus is still welcoming others into his presence today. He welcomes us into His family through which we have brothers and sisters all over the world. He says to us, “I want you here. I value your presence with me. Please, feel at home.”
To the street kid, the orphan, the needy;
You are welcome.
To the disabled and those cast away;
You are welcome.
To the unwed mothers and deadbeat dads;
You are welcome.
To the church people who fear falling short;
You are welcome.
To the ones who spend their Sundays preaching and teaching and the ones who spend their Sundays recovering from their Saturdays:
You are welcome.
And to you. Yes, even you.
You are welcome.
You are most welcome here.
