As a Wesleyan European pastor how does your faith influence your perspective on the refugee crisis?
God’s heart is with those who are alone, who are persecuted, and who have had to escape from their own land. We all are refugees and have been accepted by God. So if I’ve been accepted and cared for and loved, my faith tells me that what I have received for free I should give for free.
We all are refugees and have been accepted by God.
Some people in Europe are fearful of Muslims destroying European culture. What is your response?
We can’t put our fear before love! I would say that the main reason we are afraid is that Europeans are not sure of our basic values anymore; we have lost our identity. When I am secure in my beliefs it makes it easier for me to welcome others. We need to be sure of our own faith and not be afraid of what someone else believes.
There is one more thing. Jesus told us to go and make disciples. Today, with refugees, they are right here among us, seeking love, care, peace, and understanding. Who, if not the church, will love them? And so we love them, care for them, in the name of Christ.
What would you like to say to the church in other parts of the world?
Our great task given by God is our mission to the world, to the “least of these.” We have many reasons to be thankful. We have much to offer, but as a European I can see how important it is not only to support missions, but to BE missionaries. Missions is much more than charity, it is life-changing ministry. To change lives we need to give our lives. We need to become truly his and then we will have something to offer.
Our great task given by God is our mission to the world, to the "least of these."
How should we be praying?
The opposite of fear is trust! So I would like us to pray about trusting God and trusting him with whatever we have. Pray that we will trust him, let God’s Spirit work within us, and be transformed.
Is there anything else we can do in a tangible way?
Prayer is essential, but no excuse for not doing something tangible as well. We should give financially. We can organize groups of people who can serve in places where people are in desperate situations. And every one of us needs to turn to God, to his Word, making our churches more trusting and fearless!