EMQ » January–April 2024 » Volume 60 Issue 1
Summary: Church leaders and organizations are grappling with the changing dynamics of the American church. However, the fields remain – calling for tilling, sowing, and harvesting. And the nations are here at our doorstep. Global workers who have already lived and served cross-culturally are uniquely equipped to help churches engage these nations and serve cross-culturally here in the US.
By Sara Miller*
I prepared many years to serve overseas, expecting to serve for decades if not for life. Instead, I served for two years in Asia working with a refugee population and learning language and culture. There is a bigger story there, but the short version is one that is remarkably common – the Lord’s plan for my life looked different than my plan for my life.
The journey that the Lord brought me on continued when I returned to the US and moved into an immigrant neighborhood outside of Washington, DC. I met with families who had not been allowed to ask questions about Jesus or to access Scripture in their homelands.
They had significant practical and relational needs. Almost invariably I heard that they had not met any American friends, wanted to learn English, and had never been in an American home. The spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of these neighbors are great.
Church leaders and organizations are grappling with the changing dynamics of the American church including leaner times and smaller churches post-COVID. However, the fields remain – calling for tilling, sowing, and harvesting. And the nations are not only across oceans. They are literally at our doorstep.
Many people think our newly arrived neighbors have access to the gospel because they now live in the US. But major barriers exist mainly due to lack of relationships and language skills. A tremendous opportunity exists, but those who want to see their churches engage cross-culturally with these communities are often not sure how to begin.
Global workers who have already lived and served cross-culturally are uniquely equipped to help churches engage these nations and serve cross-culturally here in the US. They have skills that can help effectively bridge the tangible needs of immigrant communities with the resources of local churches.
