today there is an unprecedented 65 point three million forcefully displaced
three million forcefully displaced
three million forcefully displaced people in the world about 20 1.3 million
people in the world about 20 1.3 million
people in the world about 20 1.3 million are refugees half of them under the age
are refugees half of them under the age
are refugees half of them under the age of 18 in 2015 out of 20 1.3 million
of 18 in 2015 out of 20 1.3 million
of 18 in 2015 out of 20 1.3 million refugees only 107 thousand people were
refugees only 107 thousand people were
refugees only 107 thousand people were resettled so who are these refugees
resettled so who are these refugees
resettled so who are these refugees refugees are people like you and I there
refugees are people like you and I there
refugees are people like you and I there are people who had homes they had jobs
are people who had homes they had jobs
are people who had homes they had jobs they had dreams they had plans for their
they had dreams they had plans for their
they had dreams they had plans for their future and all of a sudden they lost
future and all of a sudden they lost
future and all of a sudden they lost everything that they had worked for they
everything that they had worked for they
everything that they had worked for they lost them to circumstances that were
lost them to circumstances that were
lost them to circumstances that were beyond their control to oppressive
beyond their control to oppressive
beyond their control to oppressive governments war and famine civil war
governments war and famine civil war
governments war and famine civil war religious war and they end up sometimes
religious war and they end up sometimes
religious war and they end up sometimes here in this country and what is our
here in this country and what is our
here in this country and what is our response about 19 years ago my family
response about 19 years ago my family
response about 19 years ago my family and I left our home country through a
and I left our home country through a
and I left our home country through a very difficult and dangerous path and
very difficult and dangerous path and
very difficult and dangerous path and eventually came to the u.s. we walked
eventually came to the u.s. we walked
eventually came to the u.s. we walked through the river and applies for asylum
through the river and applies for asylum
through the river and applies for asylum here in the US and when we got to Dallas
here in the US and when we got to Dallas
here in the US and when we got to Dallas a church reached out to us and that made
a church reached out to us and that made
a church reached out to us and that made all the difference in the world for us
all the difference in the world for us
all the difference in the world for us they loved us and they cared for us they
they loved us and they cared for us they
they loved us and they cared for us they became our family so when I went to
became our family so when I went to
became our family so when I went to seminary and finished my assignment at
seminary and finished my assignment at
seminary and finished my assignment at the church where I was serving I started
the church where I was serving I started
the church where I was serving I started a ministry called gateway of grace when
a ministry called gateway of grace when
a ministry called gateway of grace when my husband and I were thinking about a
my husband and I were thinking about a
my husband and I were thinking about a name for this ministry we thought what
name for this ministry we thought what
name for this ministry we thought what is the one thing that really changed my
is the one thing that really changed my
is the one thing that really changed my life and that was grace
life and that was grace
life and that was grace you see grace is undeserved unearned
you see grace is undeserved unearned
you see grace is undeserved unearned unmerited favor right people from the
unmerited favor right people from the
unmerited favor right people from the church that helped us they didn’t have
church that helped us they didn’t have
church that helped us they didn’t have to do that they did us a favor right we
to do that they did us a favor right we
to do that they did us a favor right we received these favors all the time the
received these favors all the time the
received these favors all the time the reason that you and I are sitting here
reason that you and I are sitting here
reason that you and I are sitting here and enjoyed this beautiful surroundings
and enjoyed this beautiful surroundings
and enjoyed this beautiful surroundings is because of the favours the
is because of the favours the
is because of the favours the opportunities that life has provided for
opportunities that life has provided for
opportunities that life has provided for us right we didn’t decide where to be
us right we didn’t decide where to be
us right we didn’t decide where to be born what nationality’s to have what
born what nationality’s to have what
born what nationality’s to have what race or religion those were just given
race or religion those were just given
race or religion those were just given to us through our families or through
to us through our families or through
to us through our families or through our circumstances but because we have
our circumstances but because we have
our circumstances but because we have had those opportunities it doesn’t mean
had those opportunities it doesn’t mean
had those opportunities it doesn’t mean that we are better than those people who
that we are better than those people who
that we are better than those people who haven’t had those opportunities hungry
haven’t had those opportunities hungry
haven’t had those opportunities hungry children in in South Sudan right now
children in in South Sudan right now
children in in South Sudan right now right it just means that we’ve had more
right it just means that we’ve had more
right it just means that we’ve had more opportunities we’ve had more grace but
opportunities we’ve had more grace but
opportunities we’ve had more grace but the thing about grace is that it’s given
the thing about grace is that it’s given
the thing about grace is that it’s given to us so that we can share it with
to us so that we can share it with
to us so that we can share it with others grace is not given to us so that
others grace is not given to us so that
others grace is not given to us so that we become these self-absorbed people you
we become these self-absorbed people you
we become these self-absorbed people you know who work all their lives for just
know who work all their lives for just
know who work all their lives for just their well-being and their betterment in
their well-being and their betterment in
their well-being and their betterment in the in life right they have been given
the in life right they have been given
the in life right they have been given to us these Grace’s have been given to
to us these Grace’s have been given to
to us these Grace’s have been given to us so that we can share them with those
us so that we can share them with those
us so that we can share them with those who are less fortunate so when I started
who are less fortunate so when I started
who are less fortunate so when I started getting to have grace I wanted to share
getting to have grace I wanted to share
getting to have grace I wanted to share the same kind of grace that had been
the same kind of grace that had been
the same kind of grace that had been shown to me and my family with others
shown to me and my family with others
shown to me and my family with others who were in the same situation or in
who were in the same situation or in
who were in the same situation or in similar situations so Gateway of grace
similar situations so Gateway of grace
similar situations so Gateway of grace is a ministry that mobilizes the church
is a ministry that mobilizes the church
is a ministry that mobilizes the church to reach refugees with compassion our
to reach refugees with compassion our
to reach refugees with compassion our goal is to bring hope to bring joy to
goal is to bring hope to bring joy to
goal is to bring hope to bring joy to being restoration and healing into the
being restoration and healing into the
being restoration and healing into the lives of refugees and into their
lives of refugees and into their
lives of refugees and into their circumstances by meeting their practical
circumstances by meeting their practical
circumstances by meeting their practical needs but also their emotional needs by
needs but also their emotional needs by
needs but also their emotional needs by furnishing their apartment but also
furnishing their apartment but also
furnishing their apartment but also with them and listen to them when they
with them and listen to them when they
with them and listen to them when they are lonely and those are important
are lonely and those are important
are lonely and those are important issues right doing those little things
issues right doing those little things
issues right doing those little things matters so much but as we do serve
matters so much but as we do serve
matters so much but as we do serve refugees it doesn’t mean that we have it
refugees it doesn’t mean that we have it
refugees it doesn’t mean that we have it all figured out and those are only the
all figured out and those are only the
all figured out and those are only the recipients of these favors we are
recipients of these favors we are
recipients of these favors we are transformed by the love and mercy and
transformed by the love and mercy and
transformed by the love and mercy and the grace that is shared we have seen
the grace that is shared we have seen
the grace that is shared we have seen stories of healing and transformation
stories of healing and transformation
stories of healing and transformation all along one of the greatest stories
all along one of the greatest stories
all along one of the greatest stories that I have witnessed is when we had a
that I have witnessed is when we had a
that I have witnessed is when we had a gathering and we had a group of Iraqi
gathering and we had a group of Iraqi
gathering and we had a group of Iraqi refugees and a group of Iranian refugees
refugees and a group of Iranian refugees
refugees and a group of Iranian refugees and we were having a meal and one of the
and we were having a meal and one of the
and we were having a meal and one of the ladies from Iraq she had lost the baby
ladies from Iraq she had lost the baby
ladies from Iraq she had lost the baby during an air raid during the war
during an air raid during the war
during an air raid during the war between Iran and Iraq and very clearly
between Iran and Iraq and very clearly
between Iran and Iraq and very clearly she hadn’t dealt with that because that
she hadn’t dealt with that because that
she hadn’t dealt with that because that was heavy on her heart and as she shared
was heavy on her heart and as she shared
was heavy on her heart and as she shared that she started weeping and at the end
that she started weeping and at the end
that she started weeping and at the end of that gathering the Iranians and the
of that gathering the Iranians and the
of that gathering the Iranians and the Iraqis embraced and they started
Iraqis embraced and they started
Iraqis embraced and they started apologizing for what had taken place
apologizing for what had taken place
apologizing for what had taken place during war so these are the kind of
during war so these are the kind of
during war so these are the kind of healings that we are after we want to
healings that we are after we want to
healings that we are after we want to bring hope and to communicate that
bring hope and to communicate that
bring hope and to communicate that refugees have Worth and dignity we want
refugees have Worth and dignity we want
refugees have Worth and dignity we want them to know that we acknowledge that
them to know that we acknowledge that
them to know that we acknowledge that they are somebody right Gateway of grace
they are somebody right Gateway of grace
they are somebody right Gateway of grace has started with nothing and after six
has started with nothing and after six
has started with nothing and after six years today it’s the largest refugee
years today it’s the largest refugee
years today it’s the largest refugee ministry in North Texas with over 70
ministry in North Texas with over 70
ministry in North Texas with over 70 partner churches and we are really
partner churches and we are really
partner churches and we are really excited about that
excited about that
excited about that but it wouldn’t have been made possible
but it wouldn’t have been made possible
but it wouldn’t have been made possible this success had it not been for the
this success had it not been for the
this success had it not been for the faithfulness of all the people who came
faithfulness of all the people who came
faithfulness of all the people who came alongside with care and love and love
alongside with care and love and love
alongside with care and love and love the refugees and serve their refugees
the refugees and serve their refugees
the refugees and serve their refugees all the faithful partner churches right
all the faithful partner churches right
all the faithful partner churches right it’s not about me it’s not the name
it’s not about me it’s not the name
it’s not about me it’s not the name about the name of Gateway of grace it’s
about the name of Gateway of grace it’s
about the name of Gateway of grace it’s about people who serve
and you all can be you know one of those
and you all can be you know one of those people you can be you can take part in
people you can be you can take part in
people you can be you can take part in what’s happening in the lives of these
what’s happening in the lives of these
what’s happening in the lives of these refugees here in North Texas or across
refugees here in North Texas or across
refugees here in North Texas or across the world no matter where you are in
the world no matter where you are in
the world no matter where you are in your life and as successful as that this
your life and as successful as that this
your life and as successful as that this ministry has been there has been
ministry has been there has been
ministry has been there has been challenges and I want to share with you
challenges and I want to share with you
challenges and I want to share with you a few of the issues that I face as I go
a few of the issues that I face as I go
a few of the issues that I face as I go about my work every day one of the main
about my work every day one of the main
about my work every day one of the main issues that I face is fears and
issues that I face is fears and
issues that I face is fears and prejudices and hatred that some people
prejudices and hatred that some people
prejudices and hatred that some people have toward refugees and immigrants so
have toward refugees and immigrants so
have toward refugees and immigrants so where do these fears and hatred and
where do these fears and hatred and
where do these fears and hatred and prejudices come from part of it has to
prejudices come from part of it has to
prejudices come from part of it has to do with media right the media outlets
do with media right the media outlets
do with media right the media outlets that provide the news the problem with
that provide the news the problem with
that provide the news the problem with with the media is that all media outlets
with the media is that all media outlets
with the media is that all media outlets are biased there is no such thing as
are biased there is no such thing as
are biased there is no such thing as objective news whether you listen to Fox
objective news whether you listen to Fox
objective news whether you listen to Fox or CNN or BuzzFeed or whatever a slit
or CNN or BuzzFeed or whatever a slit
or CNN or BuzzFeed or whatever a slit that you use you get a slice of the
that you use you get a slice of the
that you use you get a slice of the reality it’s like cheesecake imagine a
reality it’s like cheesecake imagine a
reality it’s like cheesecake imagine a cheesecake that has different problems
cheesecake that has different problems
cheesecake that has different problems different two slices right and someone
different two slices right and someone
different two slices right and someone who has never had cheesecake before and
who has never had cheesecake before and
who has never had cheesecake before and you offered that person is slice of
you offered that person is slice of
you offered that person is slice of chocolate cheesecake right if you don’t
chocolate cheesecake right if you don’t
chocolate cheesecake right if you don’t offer that person anything else because
offer that person anything else because
offer that person anything else because the flavor of chocolate is so strong
the flavor of chocolate is so strong
the flavor of chocolate is so strong that becomes the reality of cheesecake
that becomes the reality of cheesecake
that becomes the reality of cheesecake for that person right that person
for that person right that person
for that person right that person identifies cheesecake with chocolate so
identifies cheesecake with chocolate so
identifies cheesecake with chocolate so that’s what the media outlets do for us
that’s what the media outlets do for us
that’s what the media outlets do for us they give us the slices of reality with
they give us the slices of reality with
they give us the slices of reality with different flavors and those flavors form
different flavors and those flavors form
different flavors and those flavors form our reality and therefore our opinion
our reality and therefore our opinion
our reality and therefore our opinion about different issues another issue
about different issues another issue
about different issues another issue that I have that’s another struggle that
that I have that’s another struggle that
that I have that’s another struggle that I face
I face
I face all the time is when I go to churches
all the time is when I go to churches
all the time is when I go to churches and I see Christians who don’t like
and I see Christians who don’t like
and I see Christians who don’t like refugees or immigrants and that is hard
refugees or immigrants and that is hard
refugees or immigrants and that is hard for me I know some of you may not be
for me I know some of you may not be
for me I know some of you may not be Christians and I respect that I’m just
Christians and I respect that I’m just
Christians and I respect that I’m just sharing from my perspective what’s my
sharing from my perspective what’s my
sharing from my perspective what’s my experience you see in Christianity if
experience you see in Christianity if
experience you see in Christianity if you have if you haven’t read the Bible
you have if you haven’t read the Bible
you have if you haven’t read the Bible the main thread that goes from beginning
the main thread that goes from beginning
the main thread that goes from beginning to the end of the Bible it’s about
to the end of the Bible it’s about
to the end of the Bible it’s about humans losing what they had becoming
humans losing what they had becoming
humans losing what they had becoming refugees over and over and God reaching
refugees over and over and God reaching
refugees over and over and God reaching out in love and mercy and grace over and
out in love and mercy and grace over and
out in love and mercy and grace over and over and God becoming our ultimate
over and God becoming our ultimate
over and God becoming our ultimate refuge and not only that but God calling
refuge and not only that but God calling
refuge and not only that but God calling us to be like that in the world for
us to be like that in the world for
us to be like that in the world for other people right so it’s very
other people right so it’s very
other people right so it’s very difficult when you see people who don’t
difficult when you see people who don’t
difficult when you see people who don’t understand these main concepts there are
understand these main concepts there are
understand these main concepts there are hundreds of verses in the Bible about
hundreds of verses in the Bible about
hundreds of verses in the Bible about refugees and immigrants and and helping
refugees and immigrants and and helping
refugees and immigrants and and helping the poor and the stranger and oppressed
the poor and the stranger and oppressed
the poor and the stranger and oppressed all those verses are there but most
all those verses are there but most
all those verses are there but most importantly it’s the whole theme of the
importantly it’s the whole theme of the
importantly it’s the whole theme of the scripture of the Christian scripture
scripture of the Christian scripture
scripture of the Christian scripture it’s about reaching the poor so the
it’s about reaching the poor so the
it’s about reaching the poor so the question is why is it that some
question is why is it that some
question is why is it that some Christians don’t see that part of it has
Christians don’t see that part of it has
Christians don’t see that part of it has to do it with it which is what we just
to do it with it which is what we just
to do it with it which is what we just talked about the media outlet right and
talked about the media outlet right and
talked about the media outlet right and then another part of it is our
then another part of it is our
then another part of it is our affiliation psychologists are telling us
affiliation psychologists are telling us
affiliation psychologists are telling us moral psychologists are telling us that
moral psychologists are telling us that
moral psychologists are telling us that the way we form our opinion about
the way we form our opinion about
the way we form our opinion about important issues has to do with our
important issues has to do with our
important issues has to do with our social political groups and affiliations
social political groups and affiliations
social political groups and affiliations right they can be our religious groups
right they can be our religious groups
right they can be our religious groups they can be our political parties or our
they can be our political parties or our
they can be our political parties or our guild or social clubs whatever they are
guild or social clubs whatever they are
guild or social clubs whatever they are because as human beings we want to fit
because as human beings we want to fit
because as human beings we want to fit in we want to belong and as close to as
in we want to belong and as close to as
in we want to belong and as close to as cause these clubs and these affiliations
cause these clubs and these affiliations
cause these clubs and these affiliations so do our opinions
so do our opinions
so do our opinions now as a Christian for me and these are
now as a Christian for me and these are
now as a Christian for me and these are mostly harmless right harmless topics
mostly harmless right harmless topics
mostly harmless right harmless topics but when when our social of affiliations
but when when our social of affiliations
but when when our social of affiliations take precedence over what God had told
take precedence over what God had told
take precedence over what God had told us to do to love and to serve refugees
us to do to love and to serve refugees
us to do to love and to serve refugees then that becomes a problem we want to
then that becomes a problem we want to
then that becomes a problem we want to bring healing and restoration into the
bring healing and restoration into the
bring healing and restoration into the lives of refugees we are all part of one
lives of refugees we are all part of one
lives of refugees we are all part of one big human family I’m going to share
big human family I’m going to share
big human family I’m going to share another story from the Bible with you
another story from the Bible with you
another story from the Bible with you there is a story in the first book of
there is a story in the first book of
there is a story in the first book of the Bible it’s called Genesis and about
the Bible it’s called Genesis and about
the Bible it’s called Genesis and about these two brothers one of the brothers
these two brothers one of the brothers
these two brothers one of the brothers gets jealous and kills the other brother
gets jealous and kills the other brother
gets jealous and kills the other brother Cain kills Abel and then God comes and
Cain kills Abel and then God comes and
Cain kills Abel and then God comes and God says to Kenny and God says King
God says to Kenny and God says King
God says to Kenny and God says King where is your brother
where is your brother
where is your brother and guess what Cain answers he says am I
and guess what Cain answers he says am I
and guess what Cain answers he says am I my brother’s keeper
am I my brother’s keeper well yes you
am I my brother’s keeper well yes you are if you are not God wouldn’t have
are if you are not God wouldn’t have
are if you are not God wouldn’t have asked you that question we are all each
asked you that question we are all each
asked you that question we are all each other’s keepers regardless of our
other’s keepers regardless of our
other’s keepers regardless of our religion or race or backgrounds before
religion or race or backgrounds before
religion or race or backgrounds before there was a religion there was this what
there was a religion there was this what
there was a religion there was this what we call general revelation there is an
we call general revelation there is an
we call general revelation there is an order in – in the creation and part of
order in – in the creation and part of
order in – in the creation and part of that order is that we are each other’s
that order is that we are each other’s
that order is that we are each other’s keepers right so when our affiliations
keepers right so when our affiliations
keepers right so when our affiliations our religious affiliations our political
our religious affiliations our political
our religious affiliations our political affiliations they cause us to forget
affiliations they cause us to forget
affiliations they cause us to forget that very basic thing we not only lose
that very basic thing we not only lose
that very basic thing we not only lose our closeness to God but we lose what it
our closeness to God but we lose what it
our closeness to God but we lose what it is to be a human
so today
so today my challenge to you is what is it that
my challenge to you is what is it that
my challenge to you is what is it that you are going to do to be your brother’s
you are going to do to be your brother’s
you are going to do to be your brother’s keeper your sister’s keeper right no
keeper your sister’s keeper right no
keeper your sister’s keeper right no matter what field of study you’re in and
matter what field of study you’re in and
matter what field of study you’re in and what life is going to have for you what
what life is going to have for you what
what life is going to have for you what opportunities you are afforded you can
opportunities you are afforded you can
opportunities you are afforded you can use all those opportunities to serve
use all those opportunities to serve
use all those opportunities to serve others grace is not about being
others grace is not about being
others grace is not about being self-absorbed or becoming self-absorbed
self-absorbed or becoming self-absorbed
self-absorbed or becoming self-absorbed it’s about sharing the sharing that with
it’s about sharing the sharing that with
it’s about sharing the sharing that with other people and that is what life is
other people and that is what life is
other people and that is what life is all about is about making each other’s
all about is about making each other’s
all about is about making each other’s lives better and it’s about being our
lives better and it’s about being our
lives better and it’s about being our brother’s keeper and yes we are our
brother’s keeper and yes we are our
brother’s keeper and yes we are our brother’s keeper thank you
”
Be First to Comment