Refugees and Immigrants
As Ukraine has dominated headlines, you may have heard that six million people have left the country as refugees. Estimates are that 100,000 of them will come to the U.S. In addition to this, approximately 76,000 Afghan refugees came to the U.S. last year.
When refugees come here, we have a wonderful opportunity to reach them with the love of Christ. Zack has finished editing a new video series for EveryInternational to train Americans to reach refugees and immigrants.
Some of the new topics:
- Befriending a Refugee Family
- Biblical View of Immigrants
- Partnering with Christian Immigrants
- Understanding and Reaching African Immigrants
- Journeying with Your Friends
- Three Stages of an Immigrant’s Experience
- Using ESL Classes Effectively
- Understanding and Reaching Hispanic Immigrants
If you are interested in viewing any of the training videos, everything is free on the website everyinternational.com. You just need to create a login to access them. I (Naomi) just watched Biblical View of Immigrants, and it was wonderful. I was literally tearing up at the end of the video.
Because Zack and I are not currently on a campus team, the majority of our interaction with internationals is with immigrants. Through our kids’ school, we have been blessed to befriend immigrants from Vietnam, Honduras, Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa, Kashmir, and Ethiopia. Pray we can reach them with the love of Christ.
New Friends
People from the Middle East have become even more near and dear to our hearts, as the Lord has placed us at a school where all of our kids have friends in their classes who come from this part of the world.
With Cassia’s upcoming baptism, I (Naomi) have had the opportunity to talk to three Middle-Eastern moms: “Faye,” “Allison,” and “Molly” about the meaning of baptism and the free gift of forgiveness that Jesus offers us through his death on the cross. (They believe that Jesus never died, but that he was an honored prophet who was taken to heaven like Elijah.)
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, ended in early May. This period follows a lunar calendar so the exact date of the last night, called the Night of Power, is uncertain. Most devout followers will stay up praying all night the last ten days of Ramadan to make sure they don’t miss it. They deprive themselves of food and sleep to gain Allah’s favor.
“Faye” and her husband “Ferris” are extremely devout. At the end of Ramadan, I spoke with Faye. She said they were up all night for the last few days, praying and hoping that they will be accepted and forgiven.
What this mom of young kids puts herself through in an attempt to earn God’s forgiveness! I shared Bible verses with her about the rest and free gift of forgiveness that Jesus offers, but she responded with a common belief that the Bible has been corrupted. Please pray that Jesus would speak His truth to her.
UPCOMING
- Cassia’s will be baptized on Sunday 6/5
- Zack is taking a virtual seminary class on Church History this summer.
PRAISE REPORTS
- The new video series on refugees and immigrants has been released!
- Our kids are gaining a heart for Middle Easterners through friendships at their school.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- God to use Cassia’s baptism to lead others to Christ.
- Zack would be refreshed spiritually by his Church History class.
- The new EveryInternational video series would train many to reach immigrants and refugees with the gospel.
- Our kids would continue to pray for and share Christ with their friends.
- Faye, Allison, and Molly would long for the freedom and rest that Christ provides
- Ferris and Faye would know the Bible is not corrupted.