Category Archives: Cross cultures with love

Young American couple prepares for African life

Cross cultures with love, Treks

One indicator of a healthy church is whether or not cross-cultural missionaries are being raised up from within the congregation (whether to serve locally or overseas). Here is a newsletter of one young couple I know. They tell of their preparation process in their plan to move to Africa. Get a flavor of their experience!……

ugali
Photo credit: Krystal Thiel/Pinterest

“Recently we have enjoyed African friendships near our hometown. Anne* from our church was born and raised in Kenya and immigrated to the states over 25 years ago. She invited us over to her home to meet some of her family and friends. While there Stephanie had the opportunity to learn how to make stew and ugali which is a popular Kenyan dish. When adding spices to the stew she asked Anne which measurements to use. She said, “Oh, Stephanie, just put it in the pot.” They both started laughing as they realized how much Stephanie had to learn.

“Around the dinner table we were able to hear stories about growing up in Kenya. Our friends also shared about some of the adjustments that they had to make while first living in America. For instance, it took some time getting used to purchasing packaged chicken in the store since they were used to slaughtering it themselves at home. Packaged chicken even had a different flavor to what they were accustomed.

” We also asked for advice in how to relate well with Africans. They shared that Americans are much more time-oriented, and Africans tend to be more relational. We felt humbled later on when individuals intently thanked us for going to Africa as missionaries. It was so encouraging when one friend sincerely said, “You are going to do fine. You are going to make it.” We ended our evening standing in a circle. Jeff and I were told that we are a part of their family even though we have different skin colors. We held hands and fervently prayed together as a unified body in Jesus Christ.

“Our African friends are an inspiration to us. They have moved far away from home and have adapted to a different culture. As Josh and I have started going through our belongings, our move to Africa is becoming more of a reality. It is our prayer that we will be effective learners and transition well to a new way of life in Africa.

*names changed throughout

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It was thrilling to see our refugee family!

Cross cultures with love, ,

A friend of our ministry had her first experience welcoming a refugee family at the airport. It’s cool to feel her excitement! Another #NearFrontiersTREK. Read on!

refugee welcome
[Photo credit: Foxnews.com]

“Yesterday I had one of the most meaningful and moving evenings ever. Some friends and I are part of a “Welcome Team”  at our church that has begun to welcome people who have lost everything and are coming to LA to start their lives over. “Our” first family arrived last night. They are Kurdish refugees from northern Syria. We had to wait about three hours after the plane landed as they went through customs. Some of our group members had made a sign with their names on it in English and Arabic. When the family came up the ramp from the customs area, bewildered and exhausted, they saw the sign. They were confused and stunned. We had brought some flowers for the mom and little toiletry bags for all of them, and gifts for the kids (five of them, ages 15 to 5).

“It was incredible. They were so thankful to be greeted warmly. Some in our group speak Arabic, and the mother kept telling them, “I was so afraid, I was so afraid of what we would find when the plane landed.”

“They do not have an easy life ahead of them. They are receiving limited assistance from a non-profit organization for 90 days. They will receive government assistance for a limited time as well. Our goal is to help them attain independence as quickly as possible – help them find jobs, enroll their kids in school, figure out public transportation, get library cards, things like that. We also hope to become friends by sharing meals, going to parks together, and exploring their new home in Los Angeles with them.

“It is so hard to describe the beautiful connections and the hope that were created right there in the airport. I cannot imagine the losses they have experienced, nor the overwhelming task of starting over in a completely foreign country. They were in a refugee camp for three years, I think, as they went through the screening process to enter the US. One of the teen boys had shaved a star into his hair — for the USA, like the American flag, he explained.

“I understand that not all of my friends think that the US should welcome refugees. I also understand that there are many Americans who need help too. But I am so grateful that I got to be part of such a profound act of love and grace. Tweet This We got to live out the words on the Statue of Liberty, and it was amazing.

There may be organizations in your area who assist with refugee resettlement.  Check out: 
www.WorldRelief.org,
www.rescue.org,
www.usccb.org,
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All Lives Matter – John Perkins

Cross cultures with love, Uncategorized,

Thanks to Mosaic Church in Little Rock Arkansas for sharing this video clip. Dr. John Perkins is a statesman and a prophet for today’s church in America. His suffering as a black man in a white man’s world, his encounter with the love of Jesus Christ, and his calling believers to long-haul reconciliation make him one of the great leaders of this time. Here is a 6 minute segment well worth watching. Please do

2016-01-10 Dr John Perkins Clip from Mosaic Church on Vimeo.

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Former refugees give back

Cross cultures with love, Treks, ,

We don’t often hear about refugees who make significant contributions to their homelands, but it happens….often.

Our friend Dr. Gregg Detwiler, of Emanuel Gospel Center in Boston is working with others to host meetings entitled 2016 Peacemakers Lecture Series “From There To Here & Back.”

Refugees return home to blessGregg writes, “In fact, right now we are hosting four former Boston-area refugees who have since returned to their home countries to serve the Kingdom and their people. Each of them has a compelling story. One of them came to Boston from her war-torn nation of Sierra Leone as a Muslim woman, came to faith in Christ and was nurtured in her faith in Boston, worked at John Hancock for several years, and felt called to return to her Muslim village to start a school and the first Christian church.”

Ruth Jappah-SamakaiAnother of those four interviewees is…

Ruth Jappah-Samukai – A member of the New York State Bar Association, the Liberian Bar Association, Ruth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Cuttington University, Liberia, Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Liberia and Masters in International Law from Howard University. Ruth was granted political asylum in the United States of America. She served as Executive Director of the Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) in Boston, Massachusetts. After the Liberian civil war ended, Ruth voluntarily returned to Liberia, where she served as a Commissioner for Liberia Telecommunications Authority. She is currently a Commissioner at the Governance Commission, Republic of Liberia.

FRIEND, THE WORK GOD IS DOING THROUGH THE DIASPORA IS THRILLING!

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Thanksgiving feast beyond the food

Cross cultures with love, Treks, ,

In my ongoing effort to bring you to places where followers of Jesus are engaging the nations here in America, I offer you another escapade to the mission frontier. This one adds another level of gratitude to our Thanksgiving holiday.

Picture this scene. Two young families, each with two children, sitting around a dinner table in an Thanksgiving mealAmerican home, having enjoyed a full turkey dinner. The hostess had explained each dish as a part of American tradition. Both families are refugees, one from Iran the other from Afghanistan. Sitting around the table are six American Christians.

Now the group enjoys tea and dessert. The host announces that we are going to have a brief story about the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. A friend has prepared an account of the coming of the pilgrims, the help of native Americans in growing crops, the spread of disease, the harvest and sense of gratitude.  He tells of the declaration by Congress of a day for thanking God. The story is appreciated by all.

Then the friend passes around verses from the Bible printed nicely on paper slips and invites each person around the table to read the verse and, if desired, to share something they are thankful for. The refugees are working on their English, so there is some assistance given on more difficult words (like “ceasing,” and “petition”).  Since holy scripture is respected, all seem to take the words of the Bible with seriousness.

Surrounding this event ring the laughter of kids and cries of babies. Side conversations develop, brief stories told, geographical and sports questions answered. But as I sit in that place, the wonder of the evening is alight in my heart.  Tweet This  I am joyful that God is bringing the nations to us, not in dribbles but in droves. The words of the prophet seem true again:

“Look among the nations and watch — be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkuk 1:5)

 

 

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Mission strategy hidden in plain sight

Cross cultures with love, Treks, , , ,

Jesus-followers in America can engage the Near Frontiers right in our own cities when we share the ministry vision of an immigrant. This is a strategic mission opportunity which is hidden in plain sight.

girma sharesI met Girma Desalegn several years ago in Seattle. We both showed up at a local conference attended by people of different ethnicities. In such settings, I gravitate toward those who are of different background than myself (I am caucasian).

Girma and I talked for a couple of years about different ways we could partner together. Early in the process he began sharing his vision to bring practical Biblical training to church leaders in his homeland. His concept was  a “mobile Bible school” that would take the training to leaders who could not afford one of the in-country Bible schools. He would bring mature believers from the States once a year to cities in different regions, closer to where the pastors, elders, and women’s leaders lived. There would be no charge for the training, but high demands for faithfulness were required for graduation from the two year program which Girma designed. The vision captured me.

But it wasn’t just the vision. I had been able to get to know Girma as a man of integrity and passion for Ethiopia. And he had a network of friends and leaders in Ethiopia ready to partner with him.  In God’s planning, the diaspora which exists today makes possible this convergence of invaluable factors: Vision, Integrity, Passion.

Tweet This The diaspora which exists today makes possible the convergence of Vision, Integrity, Passion.#nearfrontiersTREK

ethiopian gatheringRecently we had a fund-raising dinner to bring together friends of Ethiopia to celebrate what God has done over the last five years of training. Hundreds have graduated from the program. We made the financial need known, and many people shared of their resources.

One of the most important aspects of what Girma has called the Vision Leadership Institute is that every Saturday local, trusted Ethiopian leaders with more training meet with all the trainees and take the subjects deeper. They require assignments, score results, and keep attendance.

Ethiopia 2014 150 At the end of the two years there is a graduation that is a high point in their ministries.

This is yet another way in which God is making mission available to more believers today. God gives vision and brings resource to fulfill it. May I encourage you to pray that God would bring such visionaries into your sphere of influence that you might partner with them!

Tweet This  Share strategic mission by coming alongside a visionary immigrant leader. #NearFrontiersTREK #Ethiopia

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7 Reasons your Christian community needs a mission focus

Cross cultures with love, Prayers, ,

By “mission focus” I simply mean an intentional and continual emphasis on bringing the message and life of Jesus to those who do not yet know Him.

  1. A mission focus keeps you connected to God’s heart of love for all people.
  2. A mission focus raises awareness of people around you who need Christ.
  3. A mission focus connects you to brothers and sisters worldwide who need your prayers.
  4. A mission focus prevents your group from becoming overly focused on members’ needs.
  5. A mission focus expands your prayer life to include God’s plan for the nations.
  6. A mission focus enables your group to see current events through the lens of the Great Commission (Mt. 28)
  7. A mission focus enlivens your own faith and appreciation for your salvation.

Tweet This  7 Reasons your Christian community needs a mission focus.

Here is a written prayer you may want to use in praying about the immigrant crisis today.

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Iranian women, longing hearts

Cross cultures with love, Treks, ,

arab mealHere is a report and prayer request from one of my female colleagues here in a U.S. city:

Monday evening outreach for international students was drawing to a close when I saw a Middle-eastern couple. Walking over to them, I introduced myself asking in the process where they were from. S. and her husband were from Iran and they had only been in the states for a month and a half.

The next statement was obvious, “S., you need a friend and I can be your friend.” She didn’t object to my statement and two days later we went on a walk.
As we walked and talked, I asked her if she was Muslim. Quickly words spilled out. She is Muslim. After she shared for a good long time, I asked her how her heart was since she was having such a conflict of religious belief. She held her fist up in front of her body and twisted it. “My heart is twisted like this.” she said with deep sadness.

Will you pray with me for the heart of my new friend?

She also writes:

Two weeks ago M. came over and cooked an Iranian meal for us as a way to express her gratitude for a bed we delivered to her apartment. We had a deep conversation and she too has a great spiritual struggle. She is from Iran. Today we went for a walk and talked about God, Jesus, and faith. She says she is afraid to die and she thinks about this at least ten times a day. She said, “If Jesus is God, why did He never prove it to me?
I have been searching for years and He never came to me.” I answered, “Maybe it wasn’t time or you weren’t ready. Maybe that is why He brought me to you now.“

Pray Jesus will reveal Himself to her.

She borrowed our book, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.” Please pray that the Lord will draw her.

Tweet This  She says she is afraid to die and she thinks about this at least ten times a day.

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God gave me the story and I watched it work

Cross cultures with love, Treks

Every once in awhile, we get to glimpse the precious intersection of the kingdom of God and the near frontier. What do I mean? You know how the Bible says that unless a person becomes as a child he cannot enter the kingdom of God? I saw that happen.  I saw the Word of God and a true story of our compelling Savior win its way into the hearts of a group of Sikhs who had come to learn how to pass the exam for U.S. citizenship.

bob w immig class

It happened something like this…

I wrote previously about how my friend Wilson asked me to play the role of examiner for the citizenship exam. When that part of the morning concluded, Wilson explained to the group that I was actually a pastor (well, was once) and that I would now be sharing something from the Bible. They were accustomed to this because they regularly practice English using the Bible. As the words left Wilson’s mouth, I shot a prayer upward and a story instantly popped into my mind. I took a deep breath and began…

“I think you all know that Jesus was Jewish. The Jews were upper class people in the region, and they would deliberately avoid the area occupied by a group they considered below them, called the Samaritans.”

As Wilson translated into the Hindi language, I explained that the day in Samaria was hot…that the disciples went into the village, leaving Jesus alone at a historic well…. that a lone woman came to draw water… that he asked her for help (water to drink)…that she wondered why he, a Jew, a male, and a rabbi at that, would even speak to her.

By this time, I see that this story had captured their attention, and that if I stopped they would feel gypped. Heartened, I pressed on:

“Jesus was appreciative of the water, but He said something to the woman that was very curious. He said that this pure water would satisfy for a few hours, but that she would be thirsty again the next day. But there is a living water that satisfies forever. The woman was curious and asked where she could get this water.”

I told them about the five husbands that Jesus knew about… and that she marveled that He knew about her past even though he was a stranger.

Now I was a missionary to Africa, and I have never told a Bible story to a person from India. So at this point in the story, I know I am getting into some heavier themes. Mentally, I’m deciding what to do, and I figure the worst that could happen would be the drawing of a couple hidden daggers. Okay, I’m exaggerating there. But I do wonder, as I move deeper into the story, how they will take it.

I am so glad I didn’t quit…

“The woman informed the holy man Jesus that the Samaritans had this historic well, and they had a mountain set aside for worship. And Jesus added that the Jews also have their holy places for worship. But, Jesus said, anyone who wants to worship the one true God must worship in their heart, for true worship is not external but personal, in our heart.”

Jesus’ winsomeness combined with His authority seemed to blossom as I wrapped up the story. I said that the woman at the well affirmed her belief that the messiah was coming some day, and would explain all these things to them. And Jesus’ disclosure to the woman also widened the eyes of my listeners,

“I who speak to you am He.”

I wrapped up by telling about the large number of villagers who trusted this Messiah. Then Wilson spoke to them in Hindi with words that showed great wisdom:

“All religions are good. They help people to know how to live to bless others. But only one religion forgives all of our sins. Only one gets us all the way over to heaven and keeps us there forever, so that we don’t have to come back as a dog or pig. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except by Me'”(John 14:6).

We concluded the class. Took a picture. Shook hands with smiles on our faces. And I felt that the story of God’s unique love was heard and valued. One man, as he left, said to me, “I have that story in my heart,” and padded his chest softly as if to safe-keep a treasure.

Without a doubt, the experience was a treasure to me. Sharing our faith stirs our own heart to worship. It awakens childlike faith in others. This encounter happened in my home town. I wonder what adventures await in yours?

#NearFrontiersTREK

Tweet This  I saw a true story of Jesus win its way into the hearts of a group of Sikhs.

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