By Darla Oksnevad
OUR CHANGING COMMUNITIES
Have you noticed people from around the world in your neighborhood, schools, city, stores, or restaurants? They may work at local gas stations or own ethnic restaurants. Children from other nations probably attend your local schools. Some internationals are professionals who are well educated and have highly skilled jobs, especially in the medical and technology fields. Students come from around the world to study in American universities. Families immigrate to the U.S. to provide a better life for their families and to seek opportunities that they don’t have in their own countries. Waves of refugees flee to our shores from war-torn and oppressive countries in order to survive.
How many nationalities live in your community? For whatever reasons they have come, God has a divine purpose in moving the world to our doorsteps! He is bringing the “mission field” here to us. Many immigrants are Christians, seeking a new home and a place to belong, while countless others have never heard of Jesus or read the Bible.
OUR REACTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD INTERNATIONALS
How do you react or respond when you see people from other nations living and shopping near you? What attitudes do people in your community and church have toward immigrants from other regions of the world? Perhaps you’ve experienced some of these reactions:
Blindness--Some people don’t notice internationals or believe they live among them, especially if the internationals keep to themselves.
Indifference—Others pretend not to notice internationals and believe that “They have their friends and shops, I have mine.” “They have their religion and culture, I have mine.” “If I leave them alone, they’ll leave me alone.” “They can stay on their own side of town.”
Curiosity—You wonder what the people are like, where they come from, if they speak English, what their religion is, why they dress the way they do. You may like to eat in their restaurants and enjoy going to ethnic celebrations. Reading about their country and culture and asking questions are good ways to find out more about them.
Anger and hate—Some Americans are angry that immigrants are moving to our nation and our communities; the assumption is that they take our jobs and live off our tax money. Refugees sometimes come from enemy countries. Immigration continues to be a “hot” political topic. Feelings of anger, resentment, and hate may build up toward immigrants.
Fear, feeling invaded—Perhaps you feel fearful or that your community is being “invaded” by immigrants, especially as an immigrant community grows and expands. Your neighborhood doesn’t “feel the same” anymore. Media reports about potential terrorists and drug dealers living among us scares many people. Immigrants who have become citizens are being elected to local, state, and federal government positions. We may be afraid that other nationalities are taking over our city, state, or nation.
Not my problem--We have heard some Christians say, “We send missionaries to their country, so we don’t need to reach out to them here.” This attitude is very puzzling, since Jesus told us to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). That includes people in our own neighborhoods, no matter where they have come from.
Burdened—Numerous Christians are burdened for immigrants of other religions, who don’t know Christ and have never read the Bible. But they may not know what to do about it, how to build relationships with them, or how to share the Gospel with people from other cultures.
Welcoming heart--Many welcome immigrants to their communities and churches, to their new home. They express empathy for refugees and help them settle in to begin their new lives, assist refugee organizations, and teach English as a Second Language.
Desire to build friendships and share Christ—Thankfully, there are Christians who are reaching out to newcomers in friendship, building relationships, and sharing the love of Christ. They may seek information and resources to be equipped to share Christ with immigrants who are not believers. They have begun “reaching the world around them”, on their own doorstep, in their own community.
What are your reactions and attitudes toward internationals who live and work in your community? Do you welcome them in the name of Jesus or ignore them? Are you building friendships or are you indifferent or even angry?
GOD'S VIEW AND HEART
God’s view of immigrants and His heart that all people across the world find salvation through Jesus is found in Acts 17. The Apostle Paul preached a sermon to people from many nations who did not know the true God. Paul included these words in his sermon:
“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27)
God is moving people around the world for a purpose—that they “would seek Him, reach out for Him and find Him.” He is bringing the “mission field” to our doorsteps, to our neighborhoods. Our Sovereign God controls world events and borders of nations, as well as when and where people live, so that they might seek Him and find Him.
Whom has God brought to your neighborhood? Where in the world have they come from? Were they able to seek God, read His Word, attend church, and become a follower of Jesus in their home country? Or have they never heard the Gospel of becoming a child of God and having eternal life? (John 3:16) You and your church can become God’s instrument in helping internationals hear the Gospel and respond to the love of Jesus. We should seek God’s view and heart for immigrants and refugees, to build bridges, give a warm welcome, make friends, help them settle in, and share Christ and His love. God will prepare them to hear His message as they seek a new life.
Resources: Comma Network and Comma Network YouTube channel
Darla Oksnevad and her husband Roy serve with the EFCA All People/Immigrant & Muslim Ministry