Hospitality at ICF Rotterdam-Noord: The Story of Xavier and Joseph

A Warm Welcome

Joseph has been a valued member of ICF Noord for many years. He meets a lot of people around the city and always invites them to join our Sunday services. That’s how he met Xavier. Since July last year, Xavier has been attending every Sunday, and at the start of this year, he even joined the kitchen team. But what were his first impressions of church? What made him stay? And how does he see hospitality in our community?

You might know Xavier from the city tours he gives. He was once homeless, and his life story is nothing short of remarkable. Yet, he always kept an open mind towards faith. "As a child, my grandma on my dad’s side took me to a cathedral in Brussels. I still remember feeling intimidated by the statues and paintings—all those eyes looking at me. That moment has always stayed with me; it was when I first felt a kind of dislike for the church." Later, in Capelle aan den IJssel, he felt another gap between himself and the well-dressed people attending church. "Not for me," he thought at the time.

A Growing Friendship

Two years ago, Xavier met Joseph at Formaat, a place where people can engage in theatre in an informal setting. Joseph was a host there and later joined in as a participant. They also ran into each other at Leeszaal Rotterdam-West. Over time, they kept meeting in different places. "Joseph and I clicked immediately," Xavier says. Joseph adds, "I don’t believe in coincidences. We kept running into each other—and funnily enough, even on Josephstraat!"

Joseph invited Xavier to the Wijkrestaurant (Neighbourhood Restaurant). The night Xavier walked in, the Alpha course was mentioned. "I had invited so many people to Alpha," Joseph says. "About ten of them said they would come, but they never did. Xavier said he wouldn’t come—and yet, he was the one who showed up!" Joseph still finds it hard to describe how happy he felt when he saw Xavier walk through the door.

Xavier joined the Alpha course, even though it was already halfway through. "But I quickly noticed," Xavier recalls, "that I was easily accepted into the group. Even though I felt like such an outsider, it was very welcoming. That made it easier to be part of it."

                                                                                              

Sunday Services

Xavier also joined the Alpha weekend in Hoek van Holland. There, he got to know some of the volunteers better. Looking back, he took small but steady steps toward becoming part of our community. First, he met Joseph. Then, he joined the Wijkrestaurant. Then, he joined Alpha. The next big step was attending a Sunday service.

At first, Xavier hesitated and took his time observing things. But eventually, he found his place in our church. Now, he faithfully attends every Sunday and serves in the kitchen team. We are so grateful for his journey, which is far from over.

Joseph looks back with gratitude at Xavier’s path. "He is now part of our church, and every day I see God at work. In ICF Noord, we come from different backgrounds, cultures, and languages, and I can see how each person is unique—created by a unique Creator."

An Invitation for You

Joseph also has some advice for anyone who wants to invite others to church and introduce them to faith. "Keep it simple. When I invite people, I always say: ‘Just come one Sunday and experience it for yourself. Just once. If you never taste something, you won’t know if it’s sweet or salty.’ So come and see for yourself."

He also prays that we, as a church, will truly understand what Immanuel—God with us—means. "We can think about it, preach about it, and listen to sermons, but you have to experience it yourself. Being part of a church allows you to feel and experience God’s presence. That is truly a gift from God. Why should I be able to understand and experience this? I have done nothing to deserve it. I feel privileged to have received this gift from God through His church, even though I am no better than anyone who hasn’t experienced it yet."

                                                                                              

Help ICF stay welcoming

Do you have a heart for a welcoming church and were you already thinking of buying René van Loon’s new book? Then this is a great opportunity!

By becoming a friend of ICF-Noord, you help create a place where people from ‘every tribe, nation, people, and language’ feel at home. With a monthly donation from just €5, you support this wonderful work. As a thank-you, you’ll receive René van Loon’s latest book, Te Gast in de Kerk, for free.

Want to know more or become a friend right away? Click here.