No Longer Strangers (Eugene Cho & Samira Izadi Page) - A Revew

 

NO LONGER STRANGERS: Transforming Evangelism withImmigrant Communities. Edited by Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi Page. Foreword by Ann Voskamp. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2021. Xx + 187 pages.

                The United States claims to be a nation of immigrants, though throughout our history anti-immigrant sentiment has arisen. The groups targeted have changed over the years, but the sentiment and the responses have been similar. We're in one of those cycles now, as a segment of the white, Euro-American population is afraid that recent immigrants (read people with brown and black skin) are "diluting" our cultural (European/Christian) heritage. While Christians might be expected to be welcoming of immigrants, the vanguard of these anti-immigrant efforts tends to be white Christians. For some, it is the fear of non-Christian religions, especially Islam, could gain a foothold here and ultimately replace Christianity as the dominant religious force in the country.  Of course, this isn’t the view of all Christians, but it is the view of a significant and vocal segment of the Christian population. Polls suggest that white evangelicals are the most averse to immigration.

                While white evangelicals can be counted among the strongest anti-immigrant groups, there are those within the evangelical community, who take a different view. In fact, they see immigrants as in need of being evangelized. Evangelicals, as their name suggests, are committed to evangelism, seeking to bring those outside the fold into the fold. But even if that is a hoped-for end, some in this category understand that all forms of evangelism are not the same. They understand that immigrants can't be seen only as targets of evangelism. Ministry with and among these communities may involve overt evangelism, but not at the expense of relationships and compassion for others.

                No Longer Strangers is a response to this perceived opportunity. It offers a collection of essays that tell stories and offer guidance to evangelical communities that are working among or are hoping to work among immigrant communities, especially Muslim communities. The book is edited by Eugene Cho, president of Bread for the World, and Samira Izadi Page, the founder of Gateway of Grace Ministries, which seeks to minister to and among refugees. They seek to balance the call to evangelistic ministry with compassionate care for the vulnerable and displaced. The editors write in the introduction that the book, "through sharing of experiences, expertise, and diverse lenses, will guide churches, individuals, and Christian leaders in the ways of healthy discipleship and instruct them in how to avoid evangelism that causes harm to immigrants through abuses of power dynamics and intercultural blind spots" (p. 2). In other words, they hope to avoid what is known as "rice Christians," which is the bait and switch effort that offers food and services in exchange for conversions.

                The book is composed of eight chapters, each of which is followed by a story that reflects on the message of the prior essay. As one might expect from an edited volume, not all essays are the same. Some will be more appealing and helpful than others. The first essay, by Andrew Bush, which is titled "Evangelism and the Way of the Cross," addresses the charge that evangelism often hurts people because those seeking to evangelize immigrants fail to recognize power dynamics. That's important to recognize when working with immigrants who are vulnerable and can be manipulated. Therefore, the book begins with a warning.

                The next essay, written by Issam Smeir, looks at the connection between evangelism and trauma—recognizing again that evangelism can be harmful if those suffering traumas are targeted. Another chapter shares how a church learned to do evangelism and ministry among immigrant groups by truly listening to the needs and concerns of those whom they encounter.  Several of the chapters offer a reminder that evangelism among immigrants cannot simply involve passing out food and tracts. In fact, one essayist addresses the practice of handing out copies of the Jesus film without any effort being made to build a relationship with the targeted individuals. One of the essayists, Laurie Beshore, learned that if ministry among immigrants is to be successful, then one must listen to the communities and address needs that are spoken not assumed. Handing out Jesus films probably is not meeting a perceived need!

                The chapter by Sandra van Opstal, which is titled "Beyond Welcoming," is among the most valuable essays in the collection. I've heard Opstal speak and read the book she wrote. I respect her sensitivity to the needs of others, and that comes out in this chapter on “Beyond Welcoming.” Here she calls for Christians to not only offer hospitality but to move to actual solidarity with the immigrant community. That is not always easy for congregations, who may have among their members those who fear immigrants. Opstal is calling for active support of the cause of immigrants and refugees. Jenny Yang follows that chapter up with one that speaks of public witness and advocacy. Yang works with World Relief in the area of advocacy, so this chapter is reflective of her own vocation and thus worth attending too closely. Her focus is even more specifically focused on refugees (who are different from immigrants).

                There is a chapter by Torli Krua that speaks of reconciling refugees and "Americans." She writes that Americans are at home. Refugees are looking for a home. Americans are at peace, but refugees fleeing wars are looking for peace and peaceful co-existence." (p. 114). There is a chapter that seeks to bring the Great Commission and Great Commandment together. This chapter is probably the most overtly evangelistic of the chapters and reflects a Southern Baptist vision of evangelism. The final chapter, written by Samira Izadi Page, who also serves as an editor of the book, speaks of "evangelism that heals." She uses her own experience as an Iranian convert from Islam to Christianity to speak to the good and bad ways of reaching out to persons like her. In her case, it was a welcoming community that didn't emphasize conversion that brought healing to her life and ultimately led to a commitment to follow Jesus. She writes that "evangelism is about planting seeds and watering them, and sometimes we see the fruit but many times we don't see the growth (1 Cor. 3:7). Our ask is being faithful to the planting and watering, and it is God who brings the growth and fruit." (p. 166).

           There is much to like about No Longer Strangers. First, it is a reminder that not all evangelicals, including white evangelicals, are anti-immigrant. The authors give good advice on how to share the good news in ways that are not manipulative. Progressive Christians might find the emphasis on evangelism problematic, but part of the Christian life is sharing our faith with others. So, even if I might not embrace everything here, I think it is a worthy read. It is an important conversation that Christians need to have—even Mainline Protestant congregations that can include significant pockets of anti-immigrant sentiment. Reading this will help open our eyes to the biblical vision of immigrant communities and our relationship with them. This is true even if we don’t embrace the full package of evangelicalism.