Come to the Table

In my 25 years of evangelism, I have never seen such response!” says evangelist Steve Wingfield.

The prematurely white-haired southerner with a distinct and smooth Virginia accent describes the new ministry of Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association (SWEA) as “radical hospitality.” The Harrisonburg, Va., based ministry has two major goals: (1) to share Christ and (2) to recapture the heritage of hospitality ministry that began in the first century church (Acts 2:42– 47).

Hospitality as Evangelism

Steve has preached the gospel to multiplied thousands of people in over 100 area/citywide festivals, in outdoor stadiums, under huge tents, or in the small churches of such countries as Romania, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. But the setting for his latest evangelism outreach is an elegantly decorated auditorium where as many as 600 women will be served breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or dessert while the music of a live string quartet plays in the background.

A former Wesleyan pastor in Roanoke, Va., and now a general evangelist in The Wesleyan Church, Wingfield has developed the hospitality evangelism ministry, which he says focuses on both churched and unchurched women. (Events for couples and Hispanic events are also held.) Come to the Table is the name of the event, and it also is the title of a coffee table book he co-authored with Benita Long that is in its fifth printing, selling over 60,000 copies so far.

Thanks to book sponsors, the attractive book of recipes, historical highlights, Scripture and inspirational quotes, and fine art photography is given free to each attendee. It is also available nationally in major retail bookstores and gift shops, including the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain.

From the invitations and programs to the decorations, every part of the two-hour event, called a gala, emphasizes the themes of love, joy, and celebration to share Christ. Organized by SWEA staff and local planners, their goal is for guests to leave the gathering “encouraged and energized to use their inherent relational, nurturing, and giving qualities to cultivate a lifestyle of hospitality.”

A Dynamic Event

A typical gala will include Wingfield’s introduction of his co-author Benita Long, who usually works Charles Spurgeon’s quote, “Joy is God’s missionary” into her evangelistic and encouraging message. An elegant meal or dessert is served. Steve then does the wrap-up, asking attendees to be a blessing through hospitality. At the end he shares a story, such as the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15, and asks audience members if they know Christ as Savior.

The evangelist says on average, ten percent of the attendees make a decision for Christ. At a recent gala with 350 in attendance, 45 ladies accepted Christ and 160 attendees committed to using hospitality as a means of evangelism.

Wingfield has always had a heart that burned for evangelism. During his seminary education, he served as a teaching assistant to Master Plan of Evangelism author Robert Coleman. Currently, he teaches evangelism as an adjunct faculty member of Tyndale Theological Seminary in Amsterdam, along with hosting his SWEA galas, evangelism seminars, and conferences worldwide.

Changing Our Witness

Wingfield says hospitality is a vital and yet forgotten part of our Christian witness. Wingfield remembers a seminary professor’s words, “Jesus never turned down an invitation to dinner.” He adds, “Many of the accounts of Jesus’ ministry, as recorded in the Gospels, center around meals shared in the intimate setting of people’s homes.” Wingfield also says Come to the Table events help to change the perception of Christians among the unchurched, who often see Christians as boring, judgmental, and hypocritical. Learn more at www.stevewingfield.org. •

Jerry Brecheisen is Managing Editor of Wesleyan Life, Indianapolis, Ind.