You...a missionary to the nations on our doorstep
In Christ there is not East or West,
In Him no North or South;
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide Earth.
“Welcomers” are cross-cultural missionaries in their home countries who welcome international students, refugees, immigrants, tourists and diplomats in the name of Christ. If welcoming is your post-Perspectives volunteer role or if you’re exploring a vocation in welcoming, browse through:
1. YOUR POP QUIZ
How well do you know the welcoming ministry?
Check out the good news and bad news below, the answers may suprise you.
The Good News: Advantages of a Welcoming Ministry
1. Your Role: You can serve cross-culturally as a missionary without the added expense, risk, travel and foreign-culture stress of missionary life in another country.
So what’s the downside of this role? Think through your own ideas of the disadvantages of this role; see how it compares with our response below under THE BAD NEWS.
2. Your Ministry: A fruitful ministry among internationals is relational. Events and information are helpful, but it’s genuinely befriending and responding to the needs of internationals that guides them to Christ.
So what’s the downside of this ministry? Think through your ideas and then consider ours under THE BAD NEWS (below).
3. Your Ministry Environment: You get to stay in your home culture.
So what’s the downside? Think through your own ideas and then consider ours under THE BAD NEWS (below).
4. Your Sending Team: You’re living among your sending team— including potential financial supporters, so you can consistently keep in touch.
So what’s the downside of this advantage that “overseas” missionaries don’t have? Think through your own ideas and then consider ours under THE BAD NEWS (below).
5. Your New Student Believers: Internationals—especially students—are more open to new ideas, new behavior, and are more open to the Gospel than they would be on their home turf. New believers realize the significance of their coming to Christ, and often speak of getting training and serving Christ full-time.
So what’s the downside of this chance to minister unhindered to international students? Think through your own ideas and then consider ours under THE BAD NEWS (below).
6. Your New Immigrant Believers: It’s legal to openly share your faith here. Extended families and whole neighborhoods can be introduced to Jesus Christ! You can see a people movement—a church-planting movement among an unreached people right here in North America!
So what’s the downside of seeing churches of immigrants or refugees form in North America? Think through your own ideas and then consider ours under THE BAD NEWS (below).
7. Your Impact: Students return to their home countries—often in positions of leadership and influence. Immigrants have extended family ties that reach back into the relational networks of their people group in their homeland. A changed life here as you welcome these foreigners can impact the nations!
So what’s the big challenge in seeing foreigners come to Christ in North America? Think through your own ideas and then consider ours under THE BAD NEWS (below).
To continue reading this unit download the PDF
Download the entire study guide
Make a donation...and help us continue providing free or below cost resources to our students and alumni
| 
