The Purpose Hotel: Intentional Hospitality

Purposeless Hotels

Most of us have stayed in a hotel before. Maybe it was for a vacation, during a move, or while on a road trip. But that hotel was nothing more than a utility to us; it was just somewhere to stay. There are thousands of hotels in America and around the world that only serve a utility and product. You probably could not tell the difference, besides grandeur. They are almost purposeless hotels.

The Purpose Hotel

Jeremy Cowart asks the question, “what if hotels could be used to improve the world?” The Purpose Hotel is a for-profit company that fills its hotels with products from third-world countries that need jobs. Each product is intentional. Faster wifi goes to stopping human trafficking; each room supports a child’s education; the list goes on and on. The Purpose Hotel provides intentional hospitality to build up those in need. The dream is that these hotels will salt the Earth and remain long after we’re gone.

Christian Hospitality and Redemption

As Christians, we should seek to provide intentional hospitality and redemptive transformation. James asserts, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (2:1). We are to welcome all into our midst and love the broken, poor, lost, weird, pagan, rough, gross, and outcasts. And through this hospitality, we can share the joy of the Good News of Jesus Christ and transform the culture around us. Jesus lived with and loved the outcast, He died on a cross for our sins, and He rose from the dead to give us life and an eternal relationship with Him. Hallelujah!