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A Journey Toward Understanding
During my time working at World Relief Upstate, I experienced a profound shift in my attitude toward immigration and refugees. Before this experience, I held an indifferent stance on the issue. I neither felt strongly for nor against immigration and refugees in America. The topic, often discussed in the media, seemed distant from my daily life, and I failed to understand its deeper implications. However, through my work with refugees and immigrants, I came to realize that my indifference was misaligned with the Christian values I held dear. My perspective changed as I understood the necessity of loving my neighbor, particularly the foreigner, as the Bible calls Christians to do.
From Indifference to Awareness
When I began my role at World Relief, I viewed it as a way to contribute to a worthy cause. Immigration wasn’t a topic I felt passionate about—it seemed like another social issue. I had grown up in a community where refugees and immigrants weren’t at the forefront of concern or were sometimes thought about negatively. The people around me were generally not immigrants or refugees, so I had little direct experience with their struggles.
At first, I found it difficult to relate to the experiences of refugees and immigrants. Their challenges felt distant, and I often viewed them through the lens of the political conversations surrounding immigration. I had heard arguments from both sides but didn’t engage deeply with them. Media coverage often framed immigration as either a crisis or a noble humanitarian effort, but it wasn’t until I worked directly with individuals that I realized it was a much more complex, human issue.
Stories That Changed My Perspective
Although my position at World Relief dealt more with volunteers, the more time I spent in a context that fully engaged with refugees and immigrants, the more personal stories I encountered. I learned that many refugees had fled violence, persecution, and extreme poverty to come to America. Their courage, resilience, and hope for a better life were humbling.
One family I interacted with closely had traveled for days before being resettled in the United States. They had uprooted their lives because of a broken world—their survival and gratitude for the opportunity to start over left a lasting impact on me. It made me reflect on my own life and the privileges I often take for granted.
This direct engagement marked a significant shift in my perspective—a narrative change. Immigration and refugee resettlement were no longer abstract issues or political debates; they were real, human experiences that directly affected real human beings. As I listened to their stories and interacted with refugees, the faces behind the statistics and media headlines became more than just “others” to me. I now desire to be their neighbor, realizing the call to love and serve them.
Challenges and the Role of the Church
Despite their evident contributions to American society, refugees and immigrants face significant barriers such as discrimination, language difficulties, and a lack of access to essential services. While World Relief provides critical support to help them resettle and navigate these challenges, I noticed that the Church was often failing to welcome these individuals into their larger community. This failure stood in stark contrast to the compassion and respect we often desire for ourselves and our families.
A Biblical Call to Action
This shift in perspective was greatly influenced by my growing understanding of what it means to love one’s neighbor and the foreigner—an important biblical teaching. I have always known that Christians are called to love others, but I didn’t fully grasp the significance of loving the foreigner until I worked with refugees and immigrants.
In the New Testament, Jesus spoke about loving Him through our care for the hungry, the sick, the poor, and the stranger. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This passage, along with many others, makes it clear that God’s people are called to care for those who are strangers, displaced, and in vulnerable situations. By welcoming refugees and immigrants, I realized that I was not just serving them but also serving Jesus. These biblical teachings highlighted that my earlier indifference was incompatible with my faith.
A Moral and Spiritual Responsibility
Through my time at World Relief Upstate, I came to understand that caring for immigrants and refugees is not a political issue but a moral and spiritual responsibility. My calling as a Christian extends beyond my immediate community to those who are new to the country and in need of help. This calling is not limited to providing material assistance but also includes extending hospitality, showing empathy, and being a witness to the gospel through my care for these people. These actions, when rooted in love and compassion, are not just acts of charity but expressions of the Christian faith.
A Narrative Change
This narrative change—from indifference to active empathy—fundamentally reshaped how I engage with refugees and immigrants. I no longer see them as outsiders or “others.” They have become part of my community. I realize that welcoming refugees and immigrants isn’t just about helping them—it’s about recognizing their inherent worth as human beings made in the image of God. It’s about acknowledging their dignity, their stories, and their rights to live with hope, security, and opportunity.
Embracing the Call
In conclusion, my time working at World Relief Upstate deeply impacted my views on immigration and refugees. What began as indifference gradually transformed into a sense of responsibility and compassion. The narrative I once held—seeing refugees and immigrants as distant or burdensome—shifted into one that recognizes the urgency and necessity of welcoming the stranger.
Loving my neighbor is not limited to those who look, think, or act like me but extends to the foreigner as well. The Bible’s call to love the foreigner and care for the stranger is a command that Christians cannot ignore. My work with refugees and immigrants, and the volunteers who serve them, has reminded me that I am called not just to serve those in my community but to actively seek out and love those who are different from me. This experience has shown me that welcoming the stranger is a spiritual calling—a calling I now embrace with deeper understanding and commitment.