Red Carpets and Warm Hearts

How often do we see Jesus in the Scriptures stopping what He was doing and attending to someone who seemed to be on the margins, a person of no importance? When parents brought their children to Jesus, the disciples scolded them for bothering Him. Yet Jesus stopped what He was doing to focus on the children and bless them.

When blind Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, the crowds told the man to be quiet. Jesus stopped and restored his sight. And when the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume came to the dinner table and washed His feet, the disciples chided Jesus for letting her to do so. But Jesus praised her faith and behavior.

Do we stop what we are doing to focus on people in the margins?

As a child, I often saw my missionary parents live this concept. I, too, have always longed to serve among those not like me. But I didn't feel the call to missions.

Eventually I encountered various forms of missionary service, one being a welcomer. Let me explain. Welcomers stay in their home countries but welcome those who come from other countries to study, work, and live. When I first heard this, I was thrilled. Finally, a legitimate calling for a person who longed to work cross-culturally but didn't feel led to go overseas.

Most people in countries like the U.S. live cross-culturally whether they realize it or not. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, 32.5 million immigrants (documented and undocumented) lived in the U.S. in 2005.

Regardless of where we are in the world, someone from a different culture probably crosses our path at some point in our week, if not daily.

How does a welcomer operate? A welcomer has eyes that constantly survey the margins. These margins could be linguistic, cultural, or socioeconomic. A welcomer sees as Jesus sees, with eyes that constantly look for those who are not part of mainstream society. 

How do we do this in our own communities and workplaces? With language barriers and differences in beliefs and practices, it may seem that we have no bridge to connect with those who appear to be so different. But we're not so different. We all bleed, hurt, laugh, hope, smile, cry, and love. Our similarities far outnumber our differences.

Let's examine ways to begin being welcomers and to offer red-carpet hospitality to the strangers in our midst.

A welcomer listens. People constantly enter our lives with stories to tell. We may be unsure of how to engage in conversation with those whose backgrounds differ from our own. It starts with a smile and a kind word and usually takes off from there. We listen to their stories and tell them ours.

A welcomer learns. The world is full of wonderful cultures, customs, and languages. We have the opportunity to learn these variances in our own backyard. Pay closer attention to the news. Chances are what's going on across the world is painfully relevant to someone near us.

A welcomer teaches. So many immigrants and students desperately need to learn the local language in order to attain their goals or just to live in their communities. A welcomer takes the time to help others adapt in language and culture.

A welcomer advocates. Navigating through language barriers, cultural confusion, and little knowledge of how systems work are daunting obstacles for people who are new to a country. Often they need someone to help speak on their behalf and to help them through uncharted territory.

A close friend of mine, Deb, passed away recently. She and her husband, Mike, lived in a college town where a large population of Asian students came to earn degrees. Deb's church held an international student picnic. After attending the event and getting to know the students, Deb and Mike opened their home as a haven for them. They offered a "home away from home" for dozens of people, helping the students' new setting to seem less strange.

Deb and Mike became confidants, a second mother and father, and dear friends to those students. One of these young men was sitting behind me at her funeral. He wept at the loss of this woman who had taken him in to her home and whose family had shown special interest in him.

Learning to be a Welcomer

• Ask a friend from another culture to teach you how to make his or her favorite dish.
• Learn a few words and phrases in another's language.
• Rent a foreign film from your friend's country and discuss it with your friend.
• Pay close attention to the news. What's going on across the world may be painfully relevant to someone near you.
• Provide a "home away from home" for students or others you know who may be far from their countries. Start by sharing a meal or your laundry facilities.

Everyone longs for the gift of someone else's presence as they journey through life. Let us aim to be available to those we see in our daily routines, whether they're from another country or our own cultures. The relationships that arise will enrich our lives and bless us and even make this journey a little more interesting. Someone may look in our eyes and see Jesus.

Let's set an example by rolling out the red carpet and offering warmhearted welcomes to those who may feel marginalized in our communities.

Jenny Selvidge is international student liaison at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Holiness Today, January/February 2010

Please note: This article was originally published in 2010. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.