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May 28, 2007

ARE WE CROSSING?

The Immigrant and Refugee community comes from a lot of poverty and suffering. Sadly, but truly when the new comers arrive they are not welcomed by a hospitable American church. Instead they are exposed to the unfortunate part of the culture in the US. To many churches, the Immigrant and Refuge community here in the US is too far to reach than the Shamans in the Jungles of Africa, because many American Churches are located in Suburbia America. While the Churches here are continually contribute financially, in prayer, and in many other ways, to the work of missions in Africa and beyond; they find it hard to meet the need of the Africa and beyond they see in their own neighborhoods. I do not think the last century of missionaries or the pioneers before them would be happy if they see their churches are willing to send them across the oceans but fail to touch the lives of those who are 20 minutes drive away. I am sure mission historians never expected to see that it would be easier to do missions across the ocean than across the streets. But this is the reality of the day we live in. Let me tell you what I am trying to say in numbers:

Fewer than 10% will be befriended by an American…let alone Christians
They are truly hidden from the life and ministry of most believers
Many are perplexed by the lifestyle displayed by the “Christians” around them
Unless pressured, most are quite open to discussing Spiritual things.
(Ethnic Workers Summit Dallas, Texas 2005)

Even the churches in the cities of the US are far from reaching the Immigrant and Refuge community, because they are walled with the walls of culture, security and their own inner struggles. Because of the lack of invitation from the Churches in the US many Africans have been living in their own closed community for the church in America has shown a high degree of “unreachablness.” sorry for creating a word-but I think it express what I was trying to say.

I understand the insulating character of the Immigrant and Refuge communities are not doing well to themselves, actually I think it is foolish. But I am wondering if the Church here has contributed to their restrictedness’ by being too high to be reached or did not even attempt to cross and touch lives of these communities.

Can something be done? The only way to relate to the Immigrants and Refuges who lived in a Refugee camp and in unfathomed pain is to learn to cross, to go where they are at. There are only few, very few churches who are trying to apply the principle of incarnation to the Immigrant and Refugee community. The Surprising fact is even those few churches are trying to cross mostly on own terms not on the terms of the kingdom.

Crossing and trying to reach is a requirement of a choice of humility and sacrifice to go down to the lowest in order to be lifted up together. No one expresses this concept than Paul in 1Cor.9. Are you really willing to cross? Jesus Crossed from heaven to earth. Crossing is an act of choice that will say, “I am willing to come to where you are” in a very tangible way. Crossing means going to their dirty homes and scary neighborhoods; crossing means taking an initiative to create programs that will meet their needs where they are at; crossing means a willingness to take it slow so that they can grow.
Crossing means dealing with people who run over dead bodies to escape death. Crossing means dealing with teenagers who have seen death in their early years and help them to be better parts of society. Crossing means dealing with kids who do not understand a lot of family concept for the situation at refugee camps is not conducive to have a healthy family. It is a hard work but it is where God’s heart is.

I have tried to cross many times to the lives of my American friends in many ways I can. Americans Christians amaze me what they did in my continent. They built hospitals, built schools, put water lines, and built latrines. American Christians are amazing people who brought the gospel message in the worst parts of Africa. I believe many Christians want to help and heal, But I believe they do not know or understand what is going on in their own neighborhoods. There are many times I agonized and still agonizing, people who are loving and meant to love, with the approach and decision they make which prevents them from crossing.

When you cross and reach down, people do not have any choice except loving you! If you get a contact point willing to pay a sacrifice to relate most Immigrants and Refugees would be a blessing and a discovery that will be a joy from the Lord. How can people come to you if you are too high to be reached or too pretty to be touched?

Many people here think that just because there is a church or a beautiful building people come. I can tell you many Immigrants and Refugees have found many church buildings too clean to walk in, and the community is too leveled and closed to come in.

If we mean business about reaching the nations then we need to get to work and get our hands dirty. Many of the people who came here came with a broken heart and empty hand. Our Level of intellect and elegant beauty buildings will never heal their broken heart or fill the empty hand.

I really have learned a lot about Jesus since I came to America. I am committed to redeem every opportunity to cross and do the work of reconciliation. Mine or others sin sometimes make less of an opportunity to cross that has broken and still continues to break my heart. I am in a battle at so many fronts right now because of what God has put in my heart. Whatever happens I know God will get the ultimate glory. But to me it will break my heart not being able to cross and not to be identified with the less fortunate. I want to bless those who are broken and empty and together lifted up with them. Because that is exactly what Jesus did for me. I think the Church in this part of the world need to learn to cross if it is serious of reaching nations. For the crossing is not as hard as it used to be; it is really crossing the street for many of us. Because God’s heart is in it I believe it is worth the risk. If I have to take a risk it is better for me to take it because of God than anything.

Posted by kishawork2 at 12:35 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack