While my son had his music lesson, I stopped off to visit Mike. The Christmas season is in its last round, but in Mike’s room there was not much sign of it. English and German have been hard in school, but now he has a holiday break. We discussed our plans for the end of the year and he invited me to celebrate New Year’s with him. Unfortunately, I’ll be gone at this time, and it won’t work. I’ve been gone a lot recently, and I was sorry I couldn’t get by to see Mike sooner.
Mike asked again, “So, what is it that you do?” I think he knows that I help refugees, because he has seen and heard about the language classes, and he has received some practical help himself. He knows too that I help refugees as a Christian. We talked about the spiritual needs of refugees. I want to offer spiritual support and counsel as a Christian. A large number of refugees want to hear about Jesus, and some want to follow Jesus. I am like a pastor to refugees. Sometimes it seems almost harder for me to talk about my Christian life in today’s world, than it is for a refugee.
At about this time, a fellow refugee came by Mike’s room. Mike invited him in, and we continued talking together. Then very matter of factly Mike said about the other man, “He believes in Jesus too. He prays to Jesus and when he prays, he speaks in other languages!”
Unfortunately for me, English or German, was not one of his languages! Mike translated for us. I assured the man that it must be a special thing to to pray in other tongues, to which he nodded. The man continued,
“I heard about Jesus from a neighbor and I started to believe while I was still in my country …I continue to pray now in Austria when I am alone in my room, but unfortunately, I can’t go to a church, because I don’t know anyone nor do I know German. …When I pray, I see pictures. Do you know what this means?”
I wished I could have given the man the address of a church for him to visit, but it is not that easy. I remembered Reza’s word about the importance of networks. The man is alone here and he needs the support and encouragement of fellow Christians. I assured him that God wants to use the prayers in other tongues as a way to encourage him in his faith. Yet, I know that he needs to hear and understand the scriptures in order to grow and remain strong.
As I walked out to pick up my son from the music lesson, I realized that for Mike and his fellow refugee friend, the spiritual aspect of following Jesus is a matter of fact. It is a part of life -as simple and straight forward as saying, “he believes in Jesus, and prays in tongues.” For contemporary society, however, the spiritual possibility of faith in Jesus has become an ideology and belief relegated by skepticism to some corner outside of everyday life.
I told Mike that I believe God is bringing many refugees who trust Jesus to Europe in order to help weave faith in Jesus back into the fabric of life.