Symbiosis - Refugee missionaries

One of the values we have in refugee ministry is called "symbiosis". By this we mean that refugees are not only people in crisis needing help but they are also people with much to offer. For example we have been helping an African refugee named James. James has started to visit a 50 year old austrian man from one of the local churches who had a stroke 9 months ago and is now an invalid. These visits began when Werner invited James to come along with him. James has so encouraged this severely handicapped man and his wife. James prays for him daily and the woman has said that James is the only one who has recognized her standing with her husband through this difficult trial.

I spent the afternoon with James yesterday. We talked about his experience now in Austria as a refugee. He has been here a year. He had to flee for his life suddenly when his family came under political persecution. James shared that everyday is a gift of God's grace.

"I am here for a purpose and I thank God for bringing me here. I have all I need. I have God's Word and I am so thankful for what God has done in my life. Everyday I tap into God's grace. ...I want to contribute to Austria. This country is so lost. We in Africa think that when we come to the West and to Europe that we will find a strong Church, because this is the Church's home. In reality the spiritual life here has flat-lined. In my country you are looked up to, honored and respected as a Christian."

We talked about how James is a missionary to Austria. The contribution, faith and encouragement he brings is unmatched. In fact there would be no other way for James to come here -as a missionary- except to come as a refugee. He would never receive a visa, and he could never afford the support!

I asked how it is to go through the trials of refugee life. "Do you get down about it sometimes?" James explained, "I don't even go there. I look at all I have in God's Word. There is so much more in the Bible and I remind myself of this. I thank God that I have a room and a bed and something to eat and I remind myself that where I am now is only for a season."

I think that refugees are the next generation of missionaries which God will use in Europe to keep the Church alive. Refugees come from a place of weakness and suffering and this has always been part of God's kingdom strategy.

Flea Market

Werner organized a flea market this past weekend. We raised over 800 euros which we will use mostly for literature and refugee aid. Several volunteers helped out as well as some refugees.

Overseeing FCR

In my regional leadershp role, I am helping a refugee and fellow co-worker in IT named Nana. Nana is a new team leader in IT with the vision to build a new team. We call this team FCR (Fellowship of Christian Refugees). It is a unique team because of its vision to help refugees reach refugees. I love this because, Nana is African, the team is new and the limits for how we minister are being pushed and stretched.

The team will emphasize service and discipleship among refugees. As a team leader Nana has the responsibility to make decisions to build and develop his team. Over the past three months I have spent a lot of time with him to talk and think through some of his decisions and efforts for this. The cultural differences inherent as an African in Europe make this kind of discussion and support absolutely crucial, ...and I found myself facing such issues as racism, prejudice and pride. I believe we have to walk through the issues that come up in order to understand how our work and teams relate to one another and how they can best fit into the local communities.

We approach these things with our own cultural idea of how it should be. It's like the Jew-Gentile issue in the first church... But let's be more personal, it's like marriage! Each of us has our own idea of how things should be done. My experience tells me that the more diverse the two sides are, then the more time it takes for understanding one another and working together.

What do you think? Do you think that God would want us to bull through the issues that come up to do it "my way", or does he want us to seek unity? And, is this unity on the basis of my culture and idea or some other? Surely, the nations streaming to God are not waving an American flag the American way! I might be, but should I expect my Persian or African brothers to be doing the same and vice-versa? So on what basis do we come before the throne of God? We need to get there as quick as possible! These are the issues at heart as I guide and lead Nana in building his team.
(Visiting with Nana in Guntramsdorf as he prepares lunches for some of the homeless refugees that his team brings food to.)

Helping Refugees with German

Our teammate, Werner offered a German class in the month of January to refugees in one of the houses. One of the families had just arrived in Austria and were not even able to spell their names in the latin alphabet. Linda (our new teammate from Australia) has come alongside of this family several times now to help them with some of these basic language needs. Last week I went along together with visitors from one of our supporting churches. ...If you only knew how funny this sounds for english speakers to be teaching German!! ...We are either "fools for Christ" or God is truly using the "weak" in his Kingdom work. Either way, it is amazing how little it takes to reach out to and serve refugees.
(Since posting this the family has been transferred to another house about 20 km away. Unfortunately this will make it harder for Linda to keep up her contact with these refugees.)

Opportunity for understanding mission

Many who read about our life and work through this blog or our other updates
are from churches which support us with their prayers and giving. The
following is information about a conference for those who might be
interested in knowing more about the mission challenge

If you would like more information about this conference please contact me and I
can put you in touch with the right person.

**Becoming a Globally-Engaged Missional Community**

International Teams' MissionCasting Conference

Gain a "big picture" perspective of what God is doing in the world and the
role of His church in it. Engage in practical discussions on what it all
means for your church. Highlights:
Overview of our 21st century world and the current missions landscape. What
does it mean for the local church?

Rooting our missions efforts in the mission of God since creation.
Why and how to move from a scattered missions paradigm to a focused,
mission-purposed paradigm.
Painting a picture of the church with MISSION at it's heart.

The winds of change are blowing...in the world, and in the church. Mission
agencies and local churches are on a journey...together. This conference is
designed to introduce the major realities and concepts with which we much
wrestle, and provide a context for discussion through which we all can
learn.

When: April 21-22
Where: International Teams' Elgin Ministry Center in Elgin, Illinois
Presenters: Dr. David Schroeder and Dr. David Livermore
Dr. Schroeder served for 12 years as President at Nyack College and Alliance
Theological Seminary, providing leadership through tremendous growth and
change. As of January of this year, he now serves as President of
International Teams/USA.
Dr. Livermore is Executive Director of the Global Learning Center at GRTS
(Grand Rapids Theological Seminary) and is Co-Founder of Intersect, a
ministry that provides leadership training and consulting to emerging
leaders in ministries around the world.

RHP Meetings

I have just returned from the meeting of the Refugee Highway Partnershp for Europe (RHP). Leaders in IT's refugee ministry, working through the World Evangelical Alliance 4 years ago helped to start this network. The purpose is to bring together local churches, organizations and missions to encourage one another and facilitate more ministry among refugees. This year there were 11 representatives from Scandinavia, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria.

The meetings take place once a year, and I go in order to keep myself connected at a European level. One of the topics we discussed this year was immigration and asylum law. Most immigrants -including illegals, guest workers, refugees- who live in the West send a lot of what they earn back to their families and countries. I did not know this, but for a lot of these developing countries -if not most- this is the largest source of income. This has far reaching effects. It profits these countries therefore to keep these citizens from returning home -so that the money will keep coming. Likewise when the West denies these people the right to work, we are essentially putting the burden of development on our own shoulders.

New Teammate

We have a new teammate from Australia who has just finished language learning and is currently getting set-up for ministry. I have been helping her to sort out her visa needs with the authorities, as well as helping her to find an apartment. She is beginning to shadow Werner and Debbie in ministry situations (such as language instruction and visitation) in order for us all to see where and how she will best fit into ministry. I have appreciated Linda's heart to serve. Her willingness to fit-in and her patience with all that is required to begin ministry will take her far.