Missions

Ministering in the International Community

One of the most potentially exciting things happening today is that the world is coming to America. As I walk down the streets of my hometown, I see women in saris with golden bangles, leading snappy-eyed children. I see women in traditional black Muslim dress with their families at the mall. I see Japanese and Chinese. I see peoples of the world in my hometown, in whose countries I am not welcome. And if I were able to go to those countries, I could not legally share Jesus with them. America is worried about this trend, but I believe God is sending the world to America. I don't have language or legal barriers in sharing the gospel with them. In 1990, 800,000 Hindus, 2.5 million Buddhists, 3 million Muslims, and 1/2 million international students, who will return to their home countries, were all living in America.

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news" (Mark 16:15). Ninety percent of the people who come to Jesus come through being touched by another life. Women are the ones who build relationships. Women are gifted in touching, reaching, and sharing.

We can't begin reaching internationals by inviting them to church. Muslims and Hindus, as well as others, would not attend our churches because they wouldn't understand our worship style. I would like to offer some keys for reaching internationals in your community with the gospel. Jesus started in the marketplace, and in homes. We need to follow His example.

Help Meet a Need

The first key to reaching internationals is to help them meet a need. If they are new to the community, show them the grocery store, the school system, the doctor's office, and other institutions they need to know about. A man our family helped in this way later said to us, "You have taken my problem as if it were your own." By meeting needs we can say, "I want to be your friend in Jesus' name."

Show Hospitality

Another key is hospitality. Feminism has given hospitality an ugly, archaic, repressive definition. But internationals prize hospitality because it is sharing from the heart and sharing of ourselves, which is an important part of many other cultures. The gift of your time and sacrifice is important to them. It's not the same to say, "Let's meet at a restaurant for coffee."

We may want our homes and entertaining skills to be perfect, but the world needs to see we are real people with real struggles. Whoever we are, problems and all, we bring to Jesus Christ and out of His love and out of the power of the Holy Spirit, He begins to work in us and transforms us and helps our kids with their problems. The most valid message we have is that we have a relationship with Jesus.

Reach Out to the Children

Another key to reaching internationals is to reach out to their children. In India, the population is 950 million. The greatest treasure in that poverty-stricken nation is to have a child. When you genuinely, and not manipulatively, reach out to the children of an international family, you will touch the parents.

Find Shared Values

Non-westerners are concerned about the negative value system they find in America, which is more liberal than the culture they came from. They worry about what they see being shown and taught to children, including the violence, open sexuality and immorality, materialism, and lack of respect for authority—the same things Christian parents worry about. Another key to reaching internationals is the shared values they have with us. When they understand that we share the same concerns, they will ask, "Why are you different?" and the door will open to share the gospel.

Greatest Hindrances to Reaching Internationals

Assuming that satanic warfare is a given, what are some of the greatest hindrances to reaching internationals in our communities?

Inside Myself
For much of the world, give and take is part of building a relationship. But we in America are afraid of "being used" or being "taken advantage of." The Lord spoke to my heart about this when He said, "But Beth, good servants always get used." God help us not to avoid reaching out because of the few who might take advantage of us. Do we mean it when we say we want to be good servants?
My American Cultural Bias
Everyone in the world is born with a cultural bias—the one we are born into. It is easier for Americans to feel compassion for Russians today than it was 30 years ago during the Cold War. If we are not careful keepers of our heart, our cultural bias will color our Christian perspective and how much we love people. We can't defend everything our country does, but we can show the Prince of Peace.