Etiquette and Advice on Holy Merriment

Party develops and sustains the communal life of the community and it is the foundation of spiritual movement. If people find friends, great conversations, a safe place to be themselves and to bring others to, then you have the makings of a kingdom movement. If someone finds you through the party, then finding God will be much easier for them because they will already have a community of people to walk with.

Hugh Halter

All good missionaries know the power of social engagement.

Whether you are called to Spain, Italy, Iceland, or Portland, Oregon, we now live in a pure mission field, and people won’t move spiritually until they are connected socially. In other words, the Gospel will not be heard until our front doors open, our tables are set, and we practice the art of hospitality, celebration, and party.

Why has this ancient art of party been lost?

Because the church has defined holiness as “exclusion” from the world, abstinence from food and drink and separation from real people. In Jesus, we get to be holy as He was holy. Our inward commitments to Him remain intact while at th same time we are deeply entrenched in the life and customs of those around us.

Party is sacrament and we must relearn and reorient our lives around friends, food, and celebration if we are going to have any influence upon the culture right next door.

In Happy Hour, Hugh will unpack the theology of party as well as give you practical etiquette and ideas for making merriment a way of life and a way of mission.

According to author Hugh Halter, the one skill every believer must develop is the discipleship skill of throwing a great party.

No, it’s not just about outreach to lost friends. It’s really about our discipleship after Jesus. If He did it, and we claim to follow Him, then we must stretch past church attendance and Bible studies to learn how to be great human beings like He was.

Happy Hour is a book for missionaries in a missionary context.

Which is all believers.

inspired and adapted from Happy Hour: Etiquette and Advice on Holy Merriment, by Hugh Halter

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