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Isaiah 60:5 says "Then you will see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you."
What is the true wealth of nations? In sheer economic terms, it is often considered to be the productivity, like the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) reading of the US economy. Do you know what God considers to be the wealth of the nations? People. I believe that God finds people to be valuable and that He finds them valuable apart from their productivity. Why are people so valuable to God? Because He made them. God made each and every human being on the face of the earth and He gave them a unique soul as part of making humans in His own image. What do you find most valuable in life? If we are to be more like God in what we value, consider what is is of eternal value. People are of eternal value because they have a soul. So let us look upon the nations God is bringing to Kansas City and allow our hearts to thrill and exult in God. And the next time we read 550 Afghan arrivals are scheduled to arrive in Kansas City, let us read that as 550 Afghan people created in the image of God or closer to the truth, 550 souls, eternal souls made in the image of God are scheduled to arrive in Kansas City.
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!Ambassador- am-bas-uh-der, -dawr
noun 1. a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary ). 2. a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty. 3. a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization. 4. an authorized messenger or representative. Abbreviation: Amb., amb. At Refuge KC, we are glorifying God by welcoming our refugee neighbors as our new-American neighbors with Gospel-focused ministries of mercy so they might know, love, and follow Jesus into His Kingdom. We desire to welcome our new neighbors into our city AND into the Kingdom of God. We are dependent upon our welcoming God to do this and we believe He is leading others to Refuge KC to help with this effort. Yes, we want to welcome our new-American neighbors in such a way that they become both citizens of Heaven and citizens of these United States of America. Will you help us? Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and allow God's word to renew your commitment to be His Ambassador today! Over the next three weeks, we'll be publishing posts by our three interns, Christina, Abby, and Regan. These posts will discuss why, for each of them, they felt led to Refuge KC and the ways God is working on their hearts as they serve.
Abby's Story: Hey there! My name is Abby Howard and I am super pumped to be a member of "Rich's Crew" this summer! I am a 2019 graduate from Lathrop High School (Missouri), and will be pursuing Fusion at Spurgeon College this fall. A few things I love are serving, CrossFit, coffee, and adventuring. Something I struggle with is being way too hard on myself. I have to constantly be reminded that I’m not perfect, but that I serve a God who is and He covers me in His amazing grace. Honestly, I don’t really have an exact pinpoint on how I became an intern at Refuge KC other than that God led me here through different people and circumstances. I’ve known about the organization for a while now because my church had invited Rich to speak about his ministry a few times. I was always interested in getting involved, but trying to drive to KC while I was committed to high school, different clubs, and work was not feasible at the time. So, I put the idea in the back of my head. In rolled October 2018 of my senior year. I decided that I wanted to spend my summer before college serving somewhere. I applied to a Christian missions internship based out of Puerto Rico, but was not selected due to limited availability. It wasn’t until April 2019 that my good friend Regan Seba invited me along to help volunteer at ESL classes that Refuge KC has to offer. At this time, Rich mentioned possible internship opportunities available during the summer. Heck YES! Was my initial thought, although I didn’t say that out loud. I knew that my summer was going to be a bit crazy, and although I jumped at the opportunity, I wasn’t sure how well I would be able to manage everything I had committed to. Through lots of prayer and a few sleepless nights, I came to the assurance that God had opened this door and was leading me to serve right here in my home city. There was a reason why I wasn’t accepted by the previous internship: God had a much better plan in mind. Here at Refuge KC, I am not only discipling others, but am also being discipled and mentored myself. I have learned so much already in the few short weeks I have been here, and joy fills my heart when God opens opportunities for each of us interns to utilize our training. This ministry has reminded me that as a follower of Christ, our mission field is everywhere. We are constantly surrounded by people who need Him. I am so excited to see our new-American neighbors slowly learning the love and TRUTH of Christ. Pray with me that God will reveal Himself to them ever so clearly, and that they will accept Him with open hearts. For His kingdom. For His glory. Over the next three weeks, we'll be publishing posts by our three interns, Christina, Abby, and Regan. These posts will discuss why, for each of them, they felt led to Refuge KC and the ways God is working on their hearts as they serve.
Regan's Story: A few days ago I found myself in the apartment of a young Ethiopian woman drinking the most amazing cup of coffee I had had in months. I sat there in an old, faded armchair, blessed by her and her roommate’s hospitality, eating, and reading the Bible with a few other friends of theirs who had come over, and I was struck by something. How did I get here? How did a farm girl from the middle of rural Missouri, who wears jeans on a daily basis and grew up going to a suburban church in Liberty end up in the heart of Northeastern Kansas City in the home of an Ethiopian refugee wearing patterned Turkish pants that I had previously used as my pajama pants? I mean really, pants aside, how did I get here? Hi, by the way. Thanks for reading this. I just realized I didn’t introduce myself: I’m Regan Seba, one of the three interns here at Refuge KC this summer. I like music of all types, playing the piano and singing, reading, and good food. I grew up in a small town called Lathrop, was homeschooled until my sophomore year of high school, and this fall I’m headed to the University of Central Missouri to major in nursing and minor in music. This summer, though, I get to do ministry here at Refuge KC. During my senior year of high school we had to do a service project for my College English class where we picked a problem we saw in our community and went and did something about it. We would make a plan, implement the plan, and, hopefully, see some lasting change from our investment in our world. Oh, and we had to write a 26 page research paper about it. That was fun. I’ve had a pull towards the refugee population ever since I was fifteen and became aware of the problem, but this was the first time I had a reason or opportunity to do something about it. I saw that English and having a community was the biggest problems refugees were facing once they got here to the United States. Not being able to communicate affects every part of their life. To truly rebuild from the horrors many of them have lived, they have to be able to learn English. Through some trial and error and phone tag and a lot of grace I ended up getting to help with ESL classes every Thursday night for a few months at Refuge KC. It was humbling and exciting to meet new people in this setting. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and just kind of jumped in and learned as I went how to help the refugees we served learn English. Then came April, when Rich reached out to me again and asked if I’d like to intern this summer with Refuge KC and continue to learn what this ministry looks like. I was blown away and also nervous. Was this where God wanted me this summer? It would completely derail my original plans, which were to get my EMT and work in emergency response. It was a scary opportunity to get to jump in a place where I have no idea whatsoever what I’m doing. Was this really where the Lord was wanting me to go? It would be costly, in time and gas money. It would be hard, getting out of my comfort zone so radically. It would be strange, not spending my last summer as a "kid" hanging out with friends and instead choosing to do ministry basically full-time. Everything God was pushing me to say yes to was completely counter-cultural. Eventually after a lot of prayer I said yes, and I’m so glad I did. It’s been a rollercoaster these first few weeks figuring out what I’m doing and just how much I don’t know. I’m stunned daily at the opportunity for the gospel and the way God has brought the world to Kansas City. It’s incredible work. Kingdom work. It is worth every sacrifice, every day I'm exhausted, every morning I don't want to get up, every time I am discouraged. Every time I feel like what I'm doing is crazy- working and interning full time, barely seeing my family and friends- I'm re-affirmed that I'm where God has put me for a specific purpose. The avenue we each take to get to this place, walking in a different culture loving Jesus with people or loving on them, is so different. But I am so thankful for each of you who serves with us here at Refuge KC. I know so little and am growing so much as I get to intern this summer. I hope that you are also able to say yes when God calls you out of your comfort zone. Because I promise, no matter what pants you are wearing, He will take you somewhere amazing when you say yes. And there might even be some really good coffee there. John (name changed) is a refugee who fled from the Middle East and has been settled here in America with his family for just under two years. John and his family were originally brought to Texas where they lived and found work. Just a few months ago, however, John had to make his way to Kansas City for various reasons. His plan was to stay there, find an apartment, and bring the rest of his family up also. After 2 months of being by himself, I was introduced to him through a friend. The week before, he had just had a stroke and was very weak in his mid-thirties. Two weeks into meeting him, he informed me that he was going to go back to Texas the next day to be with his family and may not be coming back. So I ran out to my car and gave him the Bible I was planning on bringing to him in his heart language and with great joy he received it and thanked me numerous times. He proceeded to tell me that he had been reading through the book of John with one of his friends in Texas and had been reading every morning from the Bible since he had been here, but that his Bible had been stolen along with his bag just a few days before. He was very excited to read, and so we eventually opened up to Mark and read the first chapter or so and talked about the many amazing miracles Jesus performed. Not too long after, we said our goodbyes and the next morning he went back to be with his family.
This story is just a short testimony of how God is at work in the lives of others, even where you find yourself now. Praise God that He allows us to come along side Him and work in His harvest fields! This year as we have told the Christmas story in the homes of new-American neighbors who have settled among us, I have been reminded anew that Jesus began His life on earth as a refugee. In fact, we might consider Jesus as a two-time refugee. First, He left Heaven and came to earth as the One who would purchase the redemption of our souls in a rescue plan designed by God His Father. Jesus emptied Himself of all that rightfully belonged to Him and for our sake became poor that we might become rich. That was His first and ongoing refugee experience. Second, Jesus would have less than two years of life before He would be the target of a plan to destroy Him designed by Herod. So Jesus fled with His family to Egypt to escape from the murderous plot of Herod. Our new settler neighbors know what it is like to flee for their lives from their country of birth. And now they can know that Someone is able to relate to them as One who has walked through this refugee experience long before they did. His name is Jesus. Refugee Jesus who came to seek and save the lost and to serve- giving His life as a ransom for many. Cf. Matthew 2:13-15, Mark 10:45.  This year for Christmas, we have been "gifting" our neighbors from around the world by showing up to their home with wrapped Christmas gifts. We use this time to sing Christmas carols (you know, the ones about the Christ in CHRISTmas), present the simple story of Jesus' birth, and to pray for them. Refuge KC is so thankful for Crossroads Church & Pastor Darryl Jones, Emmaus Church & Risa Woods, and First Baptist Independence & Pastor Kevin Payne.
 Have you ever felt like an outsider? I vividly remember a certain experience from my time living in another country. As my wife and I looked for a place to eat a picnic, we wandered into an area that was somewhat unsafe due to political tensions. After we sat down, some children came over to watch us eat. They acted friendly at first, but quickly became antagonistic. The situation climaxed as we started to walk away and they, waiting until our backs were turned, began to throw rocks at us. The message was clear: You aren’t welcome here because you aren’t one of us.
We are all looking for a home. Many of our forefathers came to America because they were looking for a refuge from turmoil. The Israelites were no different as they wandered in the wilderness those 40 years, something which the Jewish feast of Sukkot remembers. They eventually made it to Canaan, just as our forefathers made it to America. And in the same way, many refugees are now arriving in our cities. However, this is only part of the story. It turns out that the land of Canaan was not a lasting home for the Israelites and America is no lasting home for us. “Here, we have no lasting city,” the New Testament teaches, but we look for a city “whose builder and maker is God.” We wait for a new creation in which righteousness dwells. So the fact that the nations are coming to America provides us a wonderful opportunity, an opportunity for both sides of the story. On the one hand, it’s an opportunity to welcome them to our country, warmly inviting them to a new earthly home. But more than this, as they are battered and bruised by the turmoil of this world, we can invite them to a better home and better world—a world in which justice and peace remain forever.  Doh Wah came from the Karen State in Myanmar through a refugee camp in Thailand. He is one of the first refugees that we had the privilege to meet and serve in 2012. After living in the US for five years, Doh Wah was eligible to take the test for citizenship. After becoming a naturalized citizen, Doh Wah called me to help him apply for his passport. Shortly after this, he called me again to take him to vote in the presidential election. Doh Wah is purchasing his home and serving in his local church fellowship. Doh Wah is a joyful soul who is always eager to help others. He speaks Karen, Burmese, Thai and English. Doh Wah is married to Say Hi, and he is the father of 5 boys! He is your new American-Citizen neighbor.
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