The Compassionate Neighbor

June 3, 2019

DAILY READING

Today’s reading: Acts 8:26-40
This week’s challenge: CONNECT

FIELD NOTES

According to the Tennessee Office for Refugees, Nashville received 67 refugees between October 2018 and January 2019. Scripture is full of commands to take care of the immigrant residing in your land:

• When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
• He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:18-19)
• Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exodus 23:9)
• Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)

This week’s challenge: Connect. This coming Sunday, BUMC has the privilege of hosting many of these refugee individuals and families in worship and in our classes. Your challenge is to make an intentional effort to connect with an individual or family this week.

Ideas to complete this challenge:

1. Write a welcome letter to give to a refugee family on Sunday. Consider sharing a prayer for them in the letter.
2. Invite a refugee or refugee family over for dinner at your home. Introduce them to a favorite board game.
3. Host a refugee in your Sunday school class, then take them to lunch after church.
4. Don’t forget to stop by the Neighbor Wall outside of Haney Hall on your way to worship this weekend to mark your progress and how you were able to pray for, communicate with, and invite your neighbors into deeper relationship this week! And if there’s a particular story of impact from the week, would you share that with Rev. Shelby Slowey?

Ministry Spotlight: Refugee Life Ministry

Greater Nashville has become one of the nation’s top destinations for refugees from all over the world. Our newest neighbors include refugee families that need welcoming locals to journey with them as they settle and assimilate in their new homes, schools, churches, jobs, and country. Our international partners are strengthened by our partnership and count on our continued prayers, friendship, and support.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have the mandate to walk alongside our brothers and sisters. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says we are one body. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Learn more about our Refugee Life Ministry at our “Beautifully Broken” movie showing on June 5.