MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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NEXT STEPS FOR ENGAGING WITH DISPLACED PEOPLE
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PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
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SEEING DISPLACED PEOPLE THROUGH GOD’S EYES
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RICHARD HANEY
Immigrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, migrants, diaspora...
there are many words to describe displaced people—those who leave home behind out of necessity or opportunity. Whether driven away by conflict, natural disaster, economic upheaval or persecution, or drawn away by the prospect of economic or educational opportunities, people around the globe are on the move today at unprecedented levels*.
Frontier Fellowship Mission Advocate Uchenna Anyanwu, born and raised in Nigeria, is helping our mobilizers build bridges between Christians and Muslims while he completes a graduate program in the US. He recently shared, “It is the Lord of mission who determines the seasons and boundaries where people may dwell in any given age. Christians should view the current scattering of people on the move as one of the ways the God of mission is gathering those whom He would into His fold. Followers of Jesus in every era ought to be sensitive to understand what the Spirit of mission is doing and to surf with the wave of the Spirit, like ‘the men of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32, ESV).”
So, how then is the Church called by the God of mission to respond to displaced people among us? In this edition’s feature article, ministry friend and consultant Dr. Mary Lederleitner offers a biblical overview of displaced people, helping us see displacement through God’s eyes. You’ll hear updates from some of our partners about how they are responding to displaced people in their regions, and you’ll also find resources for reflection and action.
We invite you to read with an eye toward the displaced people within reach of your home and church community.
We would love to hear how God has called you to respond to displaced people. And if we can be of assistance, our team of mobilizers is ready to help answer your questions, make connections and encourage your next steps.
Amidst unprecedented levels of human migration today, how is the Church called to respond to people on the move? Our friend and consultant Dr. Mary T. Lederleitner shares a biblical overview of the ways God works in and through displaced people.
Most people do not aspire to being “displaced.” The very word can induce anxiety and a sense of being out of control. Yet God has always worked in profound ways in and through the lives of displaced people. It might be the act of obeying Him that leads to one’s displacement. Sometimes, displacement is caused by the egregious actions of political leaders, sinful personal behaviors or other types of human unfaithfulness. Natural disasters or extreme weather can also force people to leave their homes for more stable environments. As we consider the role of displacement in frontier mission, we can learn a great deal by exploring the ways God interacts with displaced people in Scripture.
Because we are so familiar with certain aspects of many Bible stories, we might not notice other key issues they also address. For example, the theme of displacement is often intertwined with the stories of God’s people in the Old Testament.
It is interesting that before sin entered the world, God already seemed to want people to be on the move. He created a beautiful garden designed for profound human flourishing, but God’s desire was never for humans to stay in that geographic place. Instead, God urged Adam and Eve to be fruitful and fill the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). After the fall, we see that humans tried hard to avoid displacement. They wanted to build a city and tower, and make a name for themselves so they would not “be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:1-9). But God worked against their efforts, creating diverse languages and hindering their ability to communicate with one another. Through that action, the Lord furthered His original plan.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God called Abram to leave his country, his people and his father’s household and follow God in faith. God promised to make Abram into a great nation and that all the peoples on the earth would be blessed through him. God later changed Abram’s name to Abraham, reminding him that he would become a father to many nations (Genesis 17:4-6). It’s hard to fathom what was going through Abraham’s heart and mind during these conversations with God. It’s so easy to overlook that becoming a displaced person was integral to God’s calling and promises.
Later in Genesis, we see another story of displacement playing out. Joseph, one of Jacob’s 12 sons, became displaced because of the jealousy and betrayal of his brothers. As a result, Joseph became a victim of human trafficking, sold as a slave to a caravan of Midianite merchants on their way to Egypt (Genesis 37:12-28). Scripture provides us with a glimpse of some of the trauma and disappointment he endured through no fault of his own (Genesis 39-40). Though Joseph was displaced and seemingly forgotten, God intervened, giving him favor with Pharaoh. He was put in charge of Egypt (Genesis 41), and later we see his displacement was actually what led to protection and provision for God’s people (Genesis 42-47).
As Scripture continues to unfold, we see God working through the life of Moses. After surviving the infanticide decree enacted by Pharaoh, Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:1-8). Raised in Pharaoh’s household, he was deeply schooled in Egyptian culture. Yet it seems that as Moses grew he struggled with his cultural identity, one day killing an Egyptian who was beating a fellow Hebrew. That action ultimately resulted in Moses having to flee, forcing him to learn a new career and adapt to a wholly different lifestyle (Exodus 2:11-21). Eventually, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to a totally unfamiliar land. Through that time in their history, they frequently navigated intense and bewildering experiences. This included forty years of wandering in the desert as a result of their disobedience and lack of trust in God. Only when that disobedient generation died did God fulfill His promise and give possession of the land to their descendants (Numbers 32:13). Moses’ whole life appears to have been a perpetual journey of displacement.
There is simply not enough time to reference all the passages that speak about displacement in the lives of God’s people in the Old Testament. Whether it arose for positive reasons (Joshua’s story as the Israelites took possession of the promised land) or because of sin (as warned by prophets like Jeremiah), whether people sought to live faithfully while being displaced (Daniel), rebuilt after captivity (Nehemiah) or returned after personal and economic tragedy (Naomi and Ruth), over and over again displacement was a frequent experience for the people of God.
Perhaps that is why God so regularly commanded His people to care for foreigners who were living among them. Leviticus 19:33-34 says, “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. I am the Lord your God.” Many laws that were designed to heal and protect people from abuse were to be applied equally to the Jewish people and the foreigners living among them (Exodus 23:12, Leviticus 16:29, Numbers 15:15, Ezekiel 47:22). Scripture shows that God is passionate about foreigners who reside among His people. He defends them (Deuteronomy 10:18) and He holds His people accountable when they do not treat them as He desires (Malachi 3:5).
Displacement continues to be an ongoing theme throughout the New Testament. So many passages could be referenced, but here are a few examples.
One might think that the Son of God, of all people, would be protected from displacement. However, from the earliest days of Christ’s life, we see that displacement was an integral part of His childhood. After encountering the Magi, King Herod ordered all male children under two years old to be slaughtered, hoping to kill any future threat to his reign. God warned Joseph in a dream to take his young family to Egypt and remain there until God revealed that it was safe to come back (Matthew 2). It was only after Herod died that they returned to the region and settled in Nazareth.
Jesus taught His disciples about the realities of displacement. In Luke 9:58, Jesus told a would-be follower that “foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Following Christ would often mean traveling to new areas and being away from home.
Before His ascension, Jesus explained to His followers, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Peter’s first message that birthed the Church was preached to “God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:1-41). The Church seems to grow as followers of Christ are displaced or willing to reach out to others who are displaced—a truth seen frequently throughout the New Testament.
(continued on page 8)
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Through Jesus, God became “flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14 MSG). Immanuel (God with us) sets a powerful example of voluntary displacement for the sake of the Gospel. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). Jesus was clear about what He wanted His followers to do: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:1820). The nations were always on Christ’s mind. His willingness to “come down from heaven” out of obedience to God’s plan inspires us to move beyond the boundaries of our familiar geography or comfort zone to share the love of Jesus with others.
As we’ve seen throughout Scripture, displacement arises for many different reasons: profound economic hardship, the evil actions of political leaders, faithful obedience and more. Whatever the cause, in today’s era of heightened migration, human displacement is a reality that we cannot overlook. In our response, as Christians, we can learn to attune our attention to God’s larger redemptive purposes.
In Revelation 5:8-10 we see that people from every tribe, language and nation are purchased for God through Christ and united in a diverse Kingdom community to worship the Lord for all eternity. Hebrews 11:8-10 explains that Abraham didn’t know where he was going when God called him. He lived in tents “like a stranger in a foreign land” as he looked for the city whose architect and builder is God.
May we, too, be faithful like Abraham and Frontier Fellowship’s global partners, many of whom are serving displaced people or are ministering as displaced people themselves. You can read some of their stories in the following pages. As “strangers in a foreign land” ourselves, may we fix our attention on our heavenly home and begin to grasp how displacement provides powerful opportunities for loving others and sharing the Good News.
Explore the following resources to learn more about the theme of displacement and ways the global Church can engage in creating avenues of Gospel access for the millions of displaced people around the world.
This free online video course was created by Lausanne and can be streamed on demand in part or in full to help you learn more or train others.
GDN’s vision is “fulfilling God’s redemptive purpose for people on the move.” Their website has many diverse, easily-accessible resources, including book recommendations, blogs, podcasts and more.
According to this flagship report from the United Nations, the number of people displaced by war, persecution, violence and human rights abuses at the end of 2022 stood at a record high of 108.4 million people. Download this report, or browse it online, to learn more about the state of displaced people in the world today.
Research indicates that a hurdle for American churches effectively engaging nearby displaced individuals is members’ discomfort in sharing their faith. Rick Richardson’s two books offer training to help individuals discover their own voice and a comfortable approach, making outreach a natural part of their lives:
• Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey
• Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News
For an in-depth look at the historical and missiological perspective on displaced individuals, consider these two books by Andrew Walls (1928-2021), a British scholar and pioneer of the study of world Christianity:
• Crossing Cultural Frontiers: Studies in the History of World Christianity
• The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith
In today's world, many cities and urban centers have become homes for displaced people. In the midst of this reality, our mobilizers are frequently approached for guidance on how individuals, small groups and congregations can become more deeply engaged with these communities.
To assist you in this journey, we’ve created reflection questions for personal or congregational use, along with a list of ways followers of Christ can identify and connect with displaced individuals within their localities.
+ Which Scripture stories of displacement resonate most with you and why?
+ What role has displacement had in your story or in the lives of people you know?
+ What scares or concerns you about displacement?
+ Why do you think displacement matters to God?
+ Why do you think the role Christians play is important in furthering God's purposes?
+ What opportunities arise with displacement that might not be possible otherwise?
+ If you were displaced, how would you like others to treat you?
+ Who are the displaced people you have the opportunity to relate with?
+ What role might your congregation play in the lives of displaced people in your community? Or, how is your congregation already involved?
+ What frontier mission stories highlighted in this magazine from Frontier Fellowship's global partners intrigue you the most and why?
Educators and school staff often know which families are struggling and in need of support. This can be a great place to start if you have school-aged children and want to come alongside members of your community.
In one church a person said, “I had no idea there were so many people from different cultures in my own neighborhood! Over the years I had gotten in the habit of shopping at the same grocery store. I recently shifted to a different one run by an immigrant family and am meeting people from so many different nations.”
Each year, more than one million international students study in the US, and many come from nations with very few Christians. Offer to take international students out for meals or have them over for dinner. Often those friendships can open up future opportunities to meet their parents and relatives, either in person or more likely via virtual technologies.
Many churches are helping displaced people by offering things such as ESL courses, art classes, trauma recovery programs, training to get driver's licenses and job placement training.
Displaced people are all around us, working in every sector of the economy—from entry-level service roles to leading medical, research and tech professions (and everywhere in between). Ask God to help you see them as you go about your regular routine. There are many ways to reach out and care for displaced people, either as an individual or together with your congregation.
From Central Asian migrants in Russia to the Iranian diaspora in the UK; from Sudanese refugees in Egypt to Afghan refugees in South Asia ... across the globe, Frontier Fellowship’s partners (some of whom are refugees and migrants themselves) are engaging people on the move. The following stories are a small glimpse of the ways they are serving displaced people with the hope, love and compassion of Christ.
Two years ago, Nasrin* and Sami* were living in Edinburgh, Scotland. Originally from Iran, they were students at Pars Theological Centre (Pars) and volunteering at a local Iranian church. As they received mentoring from Pars’ staff and attended conferences that helped deepen their understanding of the world, their desire to be vessels for God’s mercy and compassion grew. They fervently prayed, asking God to use them to bless Iran— even from afar.
Not long after, the two embarked on a three-month trip to a nearby European nation where they came across a community of newly displaced Iranians, many of whom were disoriented and distressed. Nasrin and Sami had an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus, and a number of those present expressed a desire to learn more. After discovering that there were no Farsi-speaking fellowships in the area, they began to wonder if God had a bigger purpose in bringing them to this nation.
After returning to Scotland, they prayed and felt God leading them to sell their home, leave their jobs and return to the same country they had just visited—this time with a dream to establish a house church for Farsi speakers. Today they lead that church, alongside five other Iranian followers of Jesus, in their predominantly Muslim neighborhood. The congregation has doubled in size and includes Farsi-speaking Muslims who are eager to learn more about Jesus.
*Nameschangedforreasonsofprivacyorsecurity
"THEY FERVENTLY PRAYED, ASKING GOD TO USE THEM TO BLESS IRAN—EVEN FROM AFAR."
Since the beginning of the war in Sudan last April, nearly 250,000 Sudanese refugees have flooded into Egypt. Tight border control restrictions and slow processing times left many refugees stuck and suffering for several days, lacking essential provisions like water, food, cash and medicine. As refugees arrive in Cairo and other large cities, they are confronted with the same difficult economic situation that impacts everyday Egyptians. It is difficult for them to find jobs or schools for their children, and many remain unemployed. Egyptian churches and mission organizations are responding, providing resources like food, medicine, train tickets from the border to Cairo, housing and support for emerging medical needs. Jossour, one of Frontier Fellowship’s partners in Egypt, shared this story:
“We visited a Sudanese refugee woman at her new home in Egypt. We brought her a food package, trying to ease the pain she is experiencing. She shared with us that her son was ill, so we brought him to a local hospital. At the hospital, she looked at us and asked, ‘Why are you doing this? Why this love?’ One of our team members then had the opportunity to share about Jesus and His love for her. The woman replied, ‘I need to know more about the love of Jesus. Can you tell me about it?’ Our team explained more about Jesus, the Bible and God’s Good News for all peoples. They provided her with her own copy of God’s Word, and she decided to pray and follow Jesus!”
TW, our new Middle East Coordinator (see page 19), invites the prayers of the global Church for Sudan:
“The church in Sudan faces a very critical time. Some of the churches in Khartoum and other places were burned and many of the church ministers and leaders had to leave the country because it became dangerous. We pray that the war will stop in Sudan and that the country will have peace. We pray for the church in Sudan to hold steady in its faith and to serve the needs of the Sudanese community. We pray for Middle Eastern churches to be able to extend the merciful hand of Jesus to those who are in need. Please pray for the Sudanese refugees to find jobs, shelter, food, schools and medicine. We trust that the Lord will provide!”
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The Afghan Refugee Academy (ARA) is a secondary school in South Asia serving Afghan refugee students and their families. Some of ARA’s students are Christians, but the majority are Muslim. ARA’s work is holistic, reaching out to refugees with Christ’s love while also helping to disciple Afghan followers of Jesus.
Walda, a Frontier Fellowship vision trip participant, shared this impression of her time serving with ARA:
“Have you ever had eight pairs of eyes looking at you intently, eager to hear all about your home country? Have you listened as they poured out their hopes and dreams to you? Have you experienced the classroom grow silent as you spoke words of encouragement and hope to them? The teachers and staff are an inspiration. They make you feel part of a warm, loving family; their calling to serve at ARA is evident in their words and actions.”
Afghans fled their homeland for many reasons: unrest, religious persecution, the hope of better economic opportunities, and education for their girls. Some Christians in Afghanistan were pressured or threatened by family members or neighbors to renounce their faith. In South Asia, there are in-person and online options to participate in fellowship gatherings, including a Bible study ARA hosts for students who want to learn more about Jesus.
Earlier this year, ARA partnered with a local church to take four Christian high school students on a spiritual retreat—their first ever. While on the retreat, Yusa* shared that he was encouraged by the lovingkindness shown by South Asian brothers and sisters in Christ. Qira* expressed a freeness in worship that she had not experienced before—dancing, singing and raising her hands in praise.
One of the key verses for the retreat was James 1:2-4, which exhorts believers to have joy when they face trials and temptations. At the end of the retreat, the students made commitments to have a personal devotional time daily and to share what they learned with their community—both Christians and Muslims. Each student also accepted an invitation to read Scripture in both English and their native language to enrich their understanding of the Bible. Amidst the many challenges of life as a refugee, and with ARA’s support and care, displaced Afghans in South Asia—many of whom might not have had the opportunity to hear about Jesus in their homeland—are finding abundant life in Christ.
"BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
—ACTS 1:8
In June, the World Food Programme and USAID suspended all food aid to Ethiopia after widespread theft of donations was reported. Following years of war and a terrible season of drought, more than 20 million people are now experiencing food instability and desperately require assistance.
Earlier this spring, Eglise Evangélique de la République du Niger (EERN) completed the construction of a new school building in a least-reached region of Niger. Through quality education, EERN has the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with their least-reached neighbors.
Our South Sudanese partners recently welcomed the first female student into one of their Bible schools. We're grateful for the ways God is calling women and men to share the Good News of Jesus in this least-reached region.
War continues to rage in Sudan and its effects are reaching into many villages and towns. One of our partners' Bible schools was overtaken by the militia, ousting the students and damaging all of its facilities.
Two women in the Women’s Shelter: City (WSC) job training program recently decided to follow Jesus. Praise God! WSC staff members are praying for more opportunities to tell at-risk women and children about the Good News of Jesus.
Three new international workers recently moved to Central Asia to join Rise Development (Rise), focusing on key project areas. These individuals will join Rise in sharing the Good News of Jesus with least-reached peoples through a variety of ministry expressions, including community health, access to education and more.
Women's Shelter: Mountains (WSM) recently received a letter from a highranking government official in their country, thanking them for their good work in helping to prevent domestic violence. They hope this letter helps open more doors for the Good News of Jesus to be shared with other members of the government.
Over the summer, Central Asian Bible Translation completed the translation of the New Testament into a key Central Asian language. Alongside languagespeakers of this people group, they are now working to distribute copies of God's Word in both digital and print formats.
To help create avenues of Gospel access for rural Egyptian communities, the Bible Society of Egypt recently launched "Mobile Bible World," a program that provides an engaging environment for children to have the opportunity to learn about Jesus.
The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) recently graduated 70 students who are now preparing to enter various ministry roles. Pray that through their work many people will soon hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus.
In June, Jossour hosted its annual mission conference, with nearly 450 church leaders and ministry workers in attendance. It was an incredible time of worship, fellowship and planning for the future of mission across the region.
Synod of the Nile’s Pastoral, Outreach and Missions Council (POMC) is expanding its work throughout the Middle East and Africa, sending church planters into more least-reached communities.
In Pakistan, several severe storms have broken down the barrier walls around one of Schools in the Sand’s buildings. Repairs have begun in accordance with the government’s rules about security walls for schools.
New Life South Asia (NLSA) sent thousands of ministry teams this summer into least-reached villages, sharing the Good News of Jesus with over one million people. They are now following up with those who want to learn more about Jesus.
Many Christians in South Asia are experiencing persecution, repression and violence. The Organic Ekklesia is working to bring medical care, food and temporary shelter to members of these persecuted communities.
Two people recently joined Light of the Islands’ team as field workers—an answer to prayer! They continue to ask God to grow their church planting team.
Our newest project, Empowering Rohingya Women, is providing practical care, vocational training, Bibles and other forms of Gospel access to significantly at-risk women at a refugee camp in South Asia.
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We are excited to share that God is expanding our mobilization efforts around the world through a new initiative in the Middle East. Longtime ministry friend TW has joined Frontier Fellowship's team as Middle East Coordinator. Serving in collaboration with our staff, TW's work will be focused on helping increase frontier mission engagement among followers of Christ in the Middle East.
TW's depth and breadth of experience enriches this initiative. He earned a 2009 Ph.D. from London School of Theology, Brunel University. For 22 years, he was a missions professor at a prominent theological seminary in the Middle East, teaching evangelism, church planting, Islam and more. An ordained Presbyterian minister, he chaired a Synod outreach council for nearly a decade, fostering six missions, sending Arab-speaking church planters across the Middle East and planting 100+ churches. Through his vast networks and gifts as a teacher and encourager, he has helped develop numerous partnerships between Middle Eastern churches, international churches and organizations in the US and Europe. He's written several articles on mission in the Middle East and authored a book on mission history in a region of the Middle East.
TW travels around the world teaching, speaking and connecting with Arabicspeaking partners to work together in God's mission in the Middle East. He and his wife have three adult children. He loves "real" football and coffee.
Join us in welcoming TW to his new role as Middle East Coordinator with Frontier Fellowship. Ask God's Spirit to invigorate this new initiative, moving through it to inspire many more followers of Christ in the Middle East and beyond.
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