About the Hospitality Center
Sharing the love of Jesus through hospitality with international students and scholars in the Twin Cities is the mission of The Hospitality Center.
Their vision is seeing international students transformed by the love of Jesus.
The Hospitality Center provides outreach events that set the table for volunteers from local churches to practice hospitality—showing the unconditional love of Jesus during these events and in ongoing connections/relationships with the students.
When a student like Vivian (see her story below) asks, “Why do you do this for me?” that opens the door for volunteers to share about Jesus—reaching and loving the nations, right here in our own backyard!
Each year, on average, The Hospitality Center reaches 1,000 students from 50 nations. This year, 14 of those nations are considered unreached people groups.
Transformed by Jesus’ love
Vivian, a student from China, struggled to find a job in the U.S. after graduation; she sank into depression, isolation, and poverty. Ashamed to reach out to her own family, Vivian spent a year trying to generate income, but the high rent exhausted her savings quickly, and she began owing the apartment complex money. Vivian was told she had to leave within a week, and she thought she’d be on the street, homeless. Even her university couldn’t do anything to help her.
After learning about her situation, The Hospitality Center volunteers Kyle and Kambria became burdened for her and generously gave her a home and welcomed her into their church family who embraced her with unconditional love that she feared would not be offered within her own family. She began meeting with a Christian counselor weekly and exploring Christianity with an open heart.
Through these relationships, she accepted Jesus into her life. Now back in China, Vivan is grateful for the community that invested in her and now has a story to share about the love of Jesus with her atheist family.
Vivian’s story is a great example of how God can use anyone, anywhere, with any situation, point them to Jesus, and transform their lives.
At the Hospitality Center, anyone can live on mission by sharing Jesus’ love through hospitality, transforming lives like Vivian’s.
The nations at our doorstep
Each year, the Twin Cities welcomes one of the largest groups of international students in the country, bringing the nations to our doorstep. These students often face culture shock, loneliness, and unfamiliarity, but The Hospitality Center connects them with local volunteers from churches, fostering genuine friendships. Many students ask, “Why do you offer free housing or airport rides? Why extend such hospitality?” This is our chance to share our “why”: because Jesus loved us first, we show love to international students.
Explore the mission at the annual Friendraiser
Join The Hospitality Center at their 17th annual Friendraiser to see how Jesus’ love, expressed through “A Heart of Hospitality,” transforms the lives of international students and those who care for them!
April 26 | 5–8 pm | Calvary Church of Golden Valley
