When people walk through the doors of Mosaic Church, they immediately feel like they belong, says Pastor Anthony Daley. That’s because they’ve taken hospitality to the next level—even making it a focus of their overall mission in the community of Clarksville, Tennessee.
“We’re not going to just be hospitable; we’re going to be radically hospitable,” Daley explains. “And people respond to that saying, ‘It felt like home. It felt like you were looking for me.’”
He believes the hospitality culture they’ve created makes people feel more welcome, connected and comfortable right away when they attend for the first time. And for a large congregation whose majority is made up of military families, connecting quickly and easily can be a difficult task to accomplish. But he argues the diversity within the church is part of what makes that possible.
“You can come to this church and find yourself—in the color of your skin, the language that you speak, your economic standing—we are incredibly diverse.” Daley proclaims. “Diversity is really a winning aspect, and we’ve found unity in that, from the leadership all the way down. It just fits us.”
One teenager, Katelyn Hampton, found a home at Mosaic after struggling with her gender and sexuality. Her mother, concerned for her daughter, prayed and asked for God’s wisdom on how to help, which led her to bring her daughter to the church where she knew she’d feel welcome.
“I love my child,” exclaims Katelyn’s mom Paula Hampton. “I knew that if she didn’t see the love of Christ in the love I showed her, she would never turn back to him.” So, she urged her daughter to attend with her, and after several weeks and leaders praying over her, Katelyn felt God’s presence in her life.
“People say that God isn’t real, but because he’s real I’m still here at 16,” Katelyn testifies. She was baptized shortly after, and her life radically changed because of her experience and acceptance at Mosaic.
Daley says that in addition to radical hospitality and a uniquely diverse congregation, their openness to the move of the Holy Spirit plays a big role in what sets them apart and makes the worship experience feel authentic.
“Our spirituality is the greatest asset we have. I think it appeals to a certain portion of the people in this area. You don’t have to water it down, and we don’t apologize for a higher level of spirituality,” Daley avers.
He says they “plan their services not to have a plan.” There is general structure, but they intentionally leave room for the work of the Holy Spirit to move and govern their time together. If a pastor has a word for the congregation, they lean into that and respond, allowing people to experience God’s presence for themselves.
“There are so many moments where there’s just a thing of God in the room, and we allow that and we respond to that,” he adds. “I don’t think people are looking for any kind of cloaked messaging. We are very passionate in how we worship God, and people feel it and sense what’s happening here.”
