being like the ones you serve

Today I was reading in the Swedish version of Rick Warren's the Purpose driven congregation and I ran across something that has made me think.

You see I am an African-American from Californni, but God has called me to Sweden. The youth in the church where I work and worship are for the most part, middle class white Swedes. I wasn't born into EFS (Swedish Evangelical Mission) and so I keep wondering about what I have in common with the people I serve.

what if it turns out that I am the wrong person for our congregation? If this is the case then I should quit so that I may find the correct place. The problem is that the minority population is not very well represented in Swedish Christianity. while most people don't seem to mind I find it very frustrating. For any one who is not aware of the situation here, there are a lot of refugees in Sweden. If you thought that everyone is blond, blue-eyed and tall then you are about 40 % wrong. I would say that that discription fits an overwhelmingly large part of the population but definitely not everyone. Anyway, many of the people long to go back to their home countries. For many of the refugees and immigrants this is a very safe environment to learn about Jesus and even become one of his disciples. Here they won't be executed or thrown into jail just because they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So just think aobut what would happen if a large number of those longing to return home, became committed and dedicated Christians. They could return home and spread the gospel as a natural missionary. this means that this country could be having a large international impact when it comes to reaching the lost.

So I think that it would be wrong of the Church to miss this wonderful opportunity to spread the Good News. I just don't understand it. In fact in my case, going to church helped me to make the necessary contacts to improve my Swedish and break into Swedish society. So even if they do not become Christians then they can become better integrated into Swedish society. This in itself if a very worthy cause, that is if we don't want to end up with riots like last summer in France.

I'm about to become a leader and one of my largest questions is where do I fit in? Can I, in postive and contributing way, fit in?

right now it is very important to take the time to pray so that I may know the will of God. When that will is discovered the the next step is to adapt everything to it.

I was listening to Bill Hybells speak about the changes that have been going on at Willow Creek and it struck me that this is what is going to have to happen with Nyby Gård and Lötenkyrkan. I need to find two people for each group whom I trust and can get along with so run the different ministries. They need to be fired up for God and really love young people. They will need to have the same burning passion as I do even though they may express it differently than myself. Diversity is a blessing.

I wish I knew who these people were. I would spend time with them and share the work in such a dynamic way.
now I have to hug my middle daughter good night and go to bed with my wife

Gudsfrid