A Better Country (Second Edition) , livre ebook

William Carey Publishing - Cindy M. Wu

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91 pages

English

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You Were Once Strangers

Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you invited me in.” (Matthew 25:35)

More than two thousand years ago, Jesus challenged us to welcome and care for the strangers among us. How do we fulfill this challenge? What does compassion look like today?

A Better Country aims to help Christians—specifically Christians in the United States—think theologically and practically about the ongoing and changing refugee needs. This workbook is divided into six lessons followed by a personal action plan as your application. The second edition includes additional questions for discussion, along with spiritual practices at the end of each chapter for transformation of mind, heart, and soul in our posture toward refugee welcome.

This resource balances information and reflection that will stimulate excellent group discussions and individual study. May you be inspired to action, and may you develop a heart to welcome refugees with compassion and dignity in Jesus’s name.

Preface

Introduction

Lesson 1: Global People, Global Problems

Lesson 2: The Many Faces of Forced Migration

Lesson 3: You Were Once Strangers

Lesson 4: The Pilgrim’s Problem

Lesson 5: All the World Is Here

Lesson 6: Serving Angels

Conclusion

Personal Action Plan

Appendix A: Resettlement Agencies

Appendix B: A Refugee Resource List

Appendix C: Increasing your Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

Appendix D: The Refugee Experience

Appendix E: The Hospitality of Abraham’s Children

Bibliography

Sujets

Refugees

Social Science

Sociologie, société et politique

Informations

Publié par	William Carey Publishing
Date de parution	25 octobre 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781645084532
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0600€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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A Better
CountryEndorsements
At a time when over 100 million people in the world—each of them created in the
image of God—have been forcibly displaced from their homes by violence, persecution,
wars, and turmoil, the church dares not turn a blind eye. Christ made it abundantly
clear that our God cares deeply about the most vulnerable, and if we claim to be His
followers, we must also. Individual believers, small groups, and local churches will be
grateful that Cindy Wu’s A Better Country provides biblical clarity and unique insights
into the refugee experience and the US refugee resettlement infrastructure, and shows
how God can use us to welcome, engage, serve, and partner with those He brings near.
Te spiritual practice sections of each chapter make us aware of how God can use our
experiences with those who have lost everything to increase our dependence on Him,
mature us spiritually, and grow our capacity to enjoy Him now and for eternity.
Pat Hatch
Refugee and Immigrant Ministry Director, PCA Mission to North America
More than a mere academic exercise, Cindy’s passionate advocacy on behalf of refugees
is an expression of her faith in Christ. Trough her writing, teaching, training, advocacy,
and personal involvement, Cindy embodies the spiritual practice of hospitality to the
stranger rooted throughout Scripture, and she longs to see the body of Christ do the
same. To that end, Cindy has written an exceptional tool for ministry leaders, small
groups, non-profts, individuals, families, and communities to prepare them to come
alongside refugees and other forcibly displaced persons with the love of God. We have
had the privilege of working side-by-side with Cindy for years and have witnessed
her living out these biblical truths. Te principles in this book serve as a powerful
and practical framework for those seeking to live out God’s invitation to welcome the
foreigner in our midst.
Michael, MDiv, & Julie Meissner
Co-founders, Abba’s House of Texas
A Better Country is a thoughtful and clear introduction to the refugee crisis and the
church’s response. Cindy Wu untangles the complexity of refugee resettlement in the
US and demystifes the frst steps of building relationships with our neighbors who
have experienced forced displacement. Set within a historical and biblical context that
maintains honesty about the challenges, readers are lef with a practical and hopeful path
to live out the call to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Shanna Doughty, MA
Co-Facilitator, Refugee Highway Partnership North America (RHPNA)
Over several years I have watched Cindy Wu read, study, listen to, feel personally, and
write about refugees and their situations in the United States. She has done so with deep
compassion joined together with objective realism. Tis most timely workbook should
be widely read and used in churches across our land.
Dean Borgman, MA
Senior Professor of Youth Ministries and Social Et hics,
Gordon-Conwell Teological SeminaryEvery Christian wishing to fnd the balance between security and compassion should work
through A Better Country. Wu serves the church by presenting an excellent foundation
for understanding refugee history, journey, and advocacy. Tis timely workbook presents
facts to alleviate unnecessary fears in these important days.
David Daniels, DMin
Lead Pastor, Central Bible Church
Ms. Wu lives in Houston, America’s most ethnically diverse city and practices the kind of
hospitality she espouses. Out of her own experience and interest, she ofers a workbook
to help the reader learn about refugees and embrace the challenge of ofering them
hospitality. I envision a Sunday School class or home group using this valuable resource in
a group study. Ms. Wu artfully combines facts, refugee stories, and words of challenge, for
those who wish to serve others. She refers to Mariane from Rwanda in the Introduction
and then quotes her in the book’s Conclusion: “People have many freedoms here (USA)
and hard work pays of. Close the door behind you and open another one. You don’t have
to live in between doors.” Tat is the challenge Cindy Wu extends to her readers. Be a
door-opener for the world’s refugee peoples wherever you fnd them.
Richard L. Haney, PhD
Executive Director, Frontier Fellowship
A Better Country is a book for such a time as this. More than 100 million people in the
world have been forced to fee their homes and are seeking a better life. Cindy Wu provides
a solid biblical, moral, and historical basis for welcoming refugees into our country and
into our communities. A Better Country is a very practical guide for both churches
and individuals, flled with resources and suggestions for how Christians can live out the
biblical call to welcome the stranger.
David Husby, MDiv
Retired Director, Covenant World Relief
At a time when the arrival of refugees is mired in misinformation and fear, Cindy Wu has
created a fantastic, timely resource in A Better Country. With insightful analysis, biblical
wisdom, and clear applications, this is a superb resource for Christians searching for a
deeper understanding of refugees.
Matthew Soerens, MS
US Director of Church Mobilization and Advocacy, World Relief
Cindy Wu’s new book is a remarkable fusion of facts, personal experience, and biblical
refection on how Christians should treat migrants and strangers. As the West increasingly
closes its heart, mind, and homelands to the rest of the world, this is a timely prophetic
call to the church to follow Jesus’s example and welcome the stranger. As a bonus, Wu’s
approach is highly practical, providing a much-needed tool for churches and small groups
to study and to act.
Todd M. Johnson, PhD
Co-Director, Center for the Study of Global Christia nity,
Gordon-Conwell Teological SeminarySecond Edition
A Better
Country
Embracing the Refugees in Our Midst
Cindy M. WuA Better Country (Second Edition): Embracing the Refugees in Our Midst
Copyright © 2022 by Cindy M. Wu
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior
written permission of the publisher, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in
magazines or newspapers.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from Te ESV® Bible (Te Holy Bible,
English Standard Version®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers. Te ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good
News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®,
NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.
All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. Te “NIV” and “New International Version”
are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Ofce by Biblica, Inc.™
Published by William Carey Publishing
10 W Dry Creek Cir, Littleton, CO 90120 | www.missionbooks.org
Interior Designer: Mike Riester
Cover Designers: Josiah Wu and Mike Riester
Cover Illustrator: Josiah Wu, “Te Hospitality of Abraham’s Children”
William Carey Publishing is a ministry of
Frontier Ventures
Pasadena, CA | www.frontierventures.org
Printed worldwid e
26 25 24 23 22 2 3 4 5 6 IN
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022946775CONTENTS
Preface ix
Introduction xi
LESSON 1: Global P eople, Global Problems 1
LESSON 2: The Rubbled Places 11
LESSON 3: You Were Once Strangers 19
LESSON 4: The Pilgrim’s Problem 27
LESSON 5: All the World Is Here 35
LESSON 6: Serving Angels 43
Conclusion 53
Personal Action Plan 57
APPENDIX A: Resettlement Agencies 59
APPENDIX B: A Refugee Resource List 61
APPENDIX C: Increasing your Cultural Intelligence (CQ) 69
APPENDIX D: The Refugee Experience 71
APPENDIX E: The Hospitality of Abraham’s Children 73
Bibliography 75