Testimonies from You

The Hospitality of Need is all about caring for one another and seeing our needs, not as barriers or burdens, but as tools to grow deeper in fellowship with one another and with God.

We would love to hear from you! If you have read the book, please take some time to consider how you have experienced the hospitality of need in your own life and community. Then share your story with us here in the comments, and see what others have said as well. If you haven’t read the book yet, we would love for you to pick up a copy and join the conversation. In the meantime, please feel free to read through the comments below. We hope you are encouraged by these testimonies.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a comment.

Please use only your first name in the “NAME” field.

Thank you for being a part of the story!

From your friends,

Kevan Chandler and Tommy Shelton
Authors of The Hospitality of Need

34 responses to “Testimonies from You”

Eric

May 23, 2025

A few years ago, Kevan asked me if I would be interested in helping him get ready of for the day. This wasn’t a tough question to answer. I was humbled to be invited in to such a sacred place. He lives around the corner, he is my friend, and this is the way of Jesus.
So, over the past three years I have been getting my friend out of bed every week. I leave my house, take a few turns, and I am there. Upon walking through the front door, I am greeted by his and his wife’s voices as they welcome me with a good morning. I respond with, “what it is”. Like a good cup of coffee in the morning, the warmth of hospitality and depth of friendship is waiting for me. When I walk through the threshold of their bedroom door, updates begin to fire back and forth. We share life. We share it deeply.
After about thirty minutes of reciprocal downloading, Katie leaves and I begin to prep him for the bathroom. I pick him up and sit him down on his morning throne. I ask him if he is balanced, comfortable, he replies with a yes or no, we make adjustments and then I make their bed and then take a seat… on the edge of the bed. From lifting him up, to helping him to the restroom, we engage in a practical and deeply personal routine that reflects the beauty of Jesus’ Kingdom.
Then move to the 2.0 version of conversation which is now just him and me. We talk about our ministries, our personal problems, our desires and our dreams. It’s a reciprocal dance of support and encouragement that has unfolded weekly for the past three years. In these moments, our lives intersect in ways that reflect the profound beauty found in giving and receiving as neighbors who love one another. I have to believe that our friendship reflects the promise of John 13:34-35; “they will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.”
When our babbling is done, I pick him up and lay him back down on the bed to dress him (where I try not to forget the deodorant) and then put him in his wheelchair. After completing our morning routine, we transition to the living room, where our conversation continues to flow, wrapping up our time together with an embrace.
It’s here that the simplicity of the Kingdom touches earth.

LikeLike

Share Your Story

Through engaging real-life stories, Kevan Chandler and Tommy Shelton share what can happen when we invite others into our lives—hardships and all. Ultimately, this is a book about friendship . . . the kind that God has called us to live in . . . friendship that goes deep and flourishes, not in spite of our needs but actually through them.

Resources