Team Spotlight: Guest Central by Marni Arnold

In having the privilege to sit down with Patty MacManamy, it was evident her heart is for connecting with people to help foster an atmosphere that encourages people to grow into their God-gifted potential. Declaring her heart, she expressed, “I love seeing people connect and develop.”

What better place for to serve than in Guest Central–Freedom House’s new connection hub for newcomers. With our church’s focus on “equipping people to experience Christ’s freedom in their everyday lives,” it’s no wonder leadership honed in on Patty’s strength: connection.
Though Guest Central is fairly new to the scene (it kicked off during the fall of 2013), the concept of this team truly reflects the heart of Freedom House. With a emphasis on connection with people, and a heart focused on “loving people and wanting to give people and opportunity to learn about Freedom House,” Guest Central’s success is being found through the high-touch approach: Not only intentional connection at our church’s entrance, but also through personal contact outside of Sunday mornings with new people.

This high-touch approach, focused on a mindset of excellence, emanates from Patty’s heart to truly serve others and help them feel warmly welcomed. She focuses on two intentional questions: “What do we want others to take when they first come in [to Freedom House]? How do we host them?”

In her own words, her desire and that of the Guest Central team is to, “make people feel important.” It’s evident Patty sees people as God does: important. She truly wants to see the mission and vision of Freedom House lived out through Guest Central, with a consistent focus on not only connecting people with other people, but above all, with God.
As a wife of 32 years along with her husband John (and serving in ministry for this length of time as well), Patty has enjoyed living out the vision for connecting with God’s people–all while raising five children who are also very active in ministry locally and around the world. Along with leading Guest Central’s team, she’s also a full-time nursing student, relishing in being a grandmother to two, and serving in other areas of Freedom House such as the events, production and creative teams, and she also hosts guest speakers.

Interested in connecting with first-time guests? Learn more about volunteering!