Pastors Edge

"Reaching Refugees" by Jonathan Merritt

-Courtesy of Outreach Magazine-

Prior to seeking asylum in America in late 2006, the Remunde family survived in a refugee camp in Namibia for 10 years. Luckily for this family of five, they connected with 121 Community Church in Grapevine, Texas. Since then, over 300 refugees from countries such as Somalia, Cuba, Burma and a host of sub-Saharan African countries have entered the refugee adoption ministry offered by 121 in conjunction with World Relief.

The church is encouraging involvement in their refugee ministry through their small groups and included an "Adopt-a-family" promotion this past Christmas. Out of the church's 700 members, over 50 have volunteered with the ministry. Now that's what you call buy-in!

Many refugees have come to Christ through the ministry, some on the very first night they arrived. Rodney Howell, the Mission Pastor at 121, attributes this to the program's servanthood approach. Volunteers are required to visit their family at least once a week, and services may include donating furniture or clothing, teaching them to use a telephone, taking them grocery shopping or helping them attain a job. Howell says the volunteers "meet a family at the airport, literally coming off the plane, help them set up an apartment, help with English or other daily needs, sharing about and showing Christ all along the way."

That is why servanthood evangelism is so effective--Christian service is a language everyone understands. Looking back, refugee Bernardin Remunde says, "It was like I was dead, and now I am alive."

Copyright (c) 2008 Outreach, Inc. Used by permission.

______________________________________________

Jonathan Merritt is a faith and culture writer and Senior Editor of PastorsEdge.com. You can connect with him at jonathanmerritt.com.

Keep up to date on the latest issues that affect the Christian life. These articles will give thought provoking coverage and insight into these issues as well as what can be done about them.