Evangelical leaders are calling on American Christians to welcome
Syrian refugees in their communities despite anxieties over differences
of religion — arguing that it is an opportunity to preach the gospel.
“We are having the wrong conversation about refugees,” Richard Stearns,
head of the aid group World Vision, told a meeting of evangelicals. “We
have managed to make the suffering of millions all about us. God wants
us to share their pain.”
Around 500 people attended the GC2 Summit at the Community Christian
Church, a Chicago-area megachurch. GC2 is a reference to the Great
Commandment and Great Commission in the New Testament, which require
Christians to love God and their neighbors, and to evangelize.
Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research, an evangelical
polling organization, called it “the largest gathering of evangelicals
on refugees ever.” He said his latest survey of Protestant pastors
indicates that 45 percent sense fear in their churches over refugees and
immigration, yet 85 percent believe Christians should “care
sacrificially” for this group.
The aim of the summit was to spark a new church-based outreach to the
physical and spiritual needs of refugees similar to the faith-based
outreach to people with HIV/AIDS that began about 15 years ago.
Evangelical groups involved include World Vision, World Relief, the
Willow Creek Association, Saddleback Church, the Southern Baptist
Convention and the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College.
The 5-year-old civil war in Syria has sent millions of refugees into
neighboring nations as well as Europe. The Obama administration has
announced plans to resettle 10,000 Syrians in the U.S. this year. The
U.N. estimates that there are 59 million refugees worldwide, an all-time
high.
Surveys show many American Christians remain anxious about taking in
refugees. On Wednesday (Jan. 20), the Republican majority in the U.S.
Senate tried to scuttle the resettlement plan, though Democrats
filibustered it.
At the conference, most speakers avoided politics and mapped out what
local churches can do to care for refugees overseas as well as the
relative handful allowed to resettle in America. Jenny Yang of World
Relief said every state except Wyoming has resettled refugees, and
pastors should start by building relationships with them.
“The real enemy is fear. God is allowing us to encounter people different than us,” Yang said.
In the audience, Raed Awabdeh, pastor of the Arabic Church in
Sacramento, Calif., said the GC2 message resonated with him. A Syrian
immigrant, Awabdeh established an Arab-American Learning Center in
Sacramento, where up to 30 Muslim families per day come to the center
for assistance with school supplies, transportation, housing and
employment.
“Invite the Muslim to sit with you. Make true friends. Be the gospel
and preach the gospel,” he said, adding that Christians should not
engage Muslims in theological argument. He also said attitudes toward
Muslims change when churchgoers get to know refugees.
“Christians no longer see the head covering or a Muslim, but a person,” Awabdeh said.
Another pastor at the event, Greg Holder from Crossing Church in
Chesterfield, Mo., said Christian leaders will lose an opportunity if
they don’t engage with these newcomers.
“Refugees are precious in God Almighty’s sight,” he said. “This movement needs us to get in the game.”
Timothy Morgan is a contributor to RNS
Courtesy: Religion News Service
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