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Introducing an innovative ministry tool for reaching refugees:
A PARK BENCH.
WHEN THE GOSPEL IS KEPT FROM NATIONS
the Lord of the Harvest will often use the ravages of war, economic struggles, and unprotected borders to BRING NATIONS TO THE GOSPEL.
The LORD sees and loves the refugees and immigrants among us.
Do we?
“THE FOREIGNER RESIDING AMONG YOU
must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself,
for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)
ROCK International, with gospel/discipleship multimedia resources in 100+ languages, can equip you to be always ready to sow indigenous gospel seed into the minds and hearts of the foreigners living among you.
[For specific info, click here to download and print ROCK's Reach Refugees Flyer.]
This week, we received this update from Brian and Michelle who invested many years into the Senegalese people (in the same city where we had raised our family, saw a church planted, and The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS radio series produced in the Wolof language).
Today, Brian and Michelle work in New York City, building relationships and sharing God's love and truth with West Africans who live there.
Brian's report from Harlem
November 20, 2023
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As the leaves on the trees changed colors, there was also a change in who was arriving in New York City seeking asylum. We started to notice growing groups of young West African men in Harlem and in shelters all over the city. We discovered that they were coming across the Mexican border by the thousands, with many of them making their way to NYC.
So September and into October found me spending lots of time sitting on park benches outside shelters talking with asylum seekers and sharing Café Touba, a strong Senegalese coffee. During those months, another colleague from a likeminded organization started teaching ESL on the park benches.
Imagine 15-25 young West African men all circled around a bench, hungry to learn some English. More and more men seemed to be coming every day… I've been also teaching ESL at a local church every Thursday morning, as well as one day a week at a West African community center where 30-50 young men are coming to learn English. Because many of the young asylum seekers are from Senegal, I am also helping at another church that provides immigrant advocacy services. I am listening to these young men's stories in Wolof or French and translating them into English for their asylum applications. It's been sobering and heavy to hear of the hardships and difficulties each has faced. By sitting with them in their story and tears, I've had countless opportunities to pray with them for God to bring healing and hope . . .
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