Looking for sheep outside the pen

Exclusive interview with Chen Shanchun, the person in charge of "Care A Neighbor Ministry" [Action] 2

Photo courtesy/Chen Shanchun/Interview/Liao Meihui

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold: them I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and they shall be one flock, and shall have one shepherd.” (Gospel of John.10:16)

Following the special report on [Evacuation from Afghanistan] in the 66th issue of this magazine, tens of thousands of Afghan families came to the United States in the second half of 2021, once again witnessing the miraculous hand of God threading the needle. A few years ago in the greater Los Angeles area, a group of Chinese Christians who cared about Mu Xuan took the initiative to ask God to bring Mu Xuan to their doorstep. After a wonderful turn of events, "Love Afghan Neighbors" (LAN) was developed in 2022 to care for Afghan refugee neighbors. They not only pray, but also practice Jesus’ sincere commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.

Chen Shanchun, the person in charge of the ministry, looked back on the process and looked forward to the future, feeling full of gratitude.

People A become new neighbors

Please describe the origins of this ministry. Why the name "Aadjacent"?

A few years ago, because of the "Seizing the Moment" (Kairos) course, God prompted a small group of us to have a burden for unreached peoples. We began to connect and form groups, equip and pray together, invite missionaries to share, and promote cross-cultural missions. We believe that missionary work at a distance is equally important as missionary work near and far. As long as God gives us the opportunity, we are willing to go all out. The missionary heart is like a fire. Once it is ignited, it will soon go out if it is not continued to fan. Later, Pamoja (African Swahili, meaning "together") missionary prayer fellowship was established to mobilize together.

Due to the epidemic, more cross-cultural work team connections have been established online, online prayer meetings and online classes have blossomed everywhere, and Pamoja has rapidly grown from single digits to 80 or 90 people. In January 2021, a small group of them started the M2M (Miracle to Muslim) prayer group, praying regularly every week to preach to Muslims at their doorstep. After the Afghan troop withdrawal that shocked the world in August, a large number of Afghans fled the country. We are paying closer attention to the refugee movements. In October, I learned that a family had moved to Southern California, so I tried to find out where they were staying, hoping to have opportunities to serve.

At first, they were often called "refugees", which actually had a somewhat derogatory connotation. When they came to the United States and became our new neighbors, we called them "A-neighbors" using the first letter of the English word Afghanistan. At the same time, we also actively consulted organizations such as Saddleback Church and Voice of Refugees for their service experience.

The most critical turning point occurred in early February 2022. Through the sister who runs a B&B in Long Beach, I learned that two neighboring households had just checked into the hotel. When the five of us visited them for the first time and appeared in front of them, they were wary and curious: Why are strangers willing to take the initiative to care? We were really shocked: when we arrived at the hotel, we discovered that there were not two households, but ten households, with no fewer than five or sixty people, men, women, old and young. When I was both excited and feeling a heavy burden, God personally mobilized his troops and brought Teacher Jin, a cross-cultural worker who had been in country A for ten years, to provide timely and down-to-earth guidance. God truly answered our initial prayers in amazing and wonderful ways!

At the current stage of operation, it is givenAWhat practical help can you provide?

The U.S. government provides free hotel accommodation for half a year. Neighbor A can also apply for social welfare from the local state government, and the rest needs to be done by himself. The practical help to A-neighbor can be summarized into three major aspects:

1. Actual life needs:Collect practical supplies such as clothing, food, bicycles, mobile phones, computers, furniture, and even old cars, etc. We take them to the food bank to receive free food, buy halal food, and assist in finding long-term housing and relocation. Some Chinese families even provide free housing for 3-6 months. Bring school-age children to get vaccinated and help them enter school as soon as possible. Many Christian doctors provide free clinics for women, children, rehabilitation, dentistry, etc.

2. Living ability:Language and driving are two of the most basic living abilities in the United States. Only a few of the fifty-odd A neighbors have the ability to communicate in English, so ESL courses are opened to teach practical English for daily life. Teach them to drive and accompany them to take the driving license test. Accompany the public department to apply for white card (California Medicaid) and food subsidies and other benefits. Teach them to ride the bus and learn about their surroundings and the greater Los Angeles area. Teach them to prepare resumes, look for job opportunities, take them to interviews, etc.

3. Spiritual care:Every time we visit and serve neighbor A, our co-workers will ask for permission to bless and pray for them in a timely manner. They close their eyes to receive it, and sometimes see them shed tears of emotion. Many A neighbors are physically and mentally exhausted due to long-term homelessness, and sometimes even engage in domestic violence. Our co-workers do their best to accompany and comfort them. Our consensus is to build a trusting relationship first and not rush to evangelize for immediate results. But also make it clear that we are Christians, followers of Jesus, and tell them: Jesus loves you and we love you; we love you because Jesus first loved us. Use Show and Tell to live out the faith you preach and witness the love of Jesus.

▲Provide daily necessities, teach English, and assist in applying for documents, giving practical help to neighbors who have left their hometowns and making them feel cared for.

neighbors become friends

What are the biggest difficulties and challenges you encounter? How to face the solution?

The biggest difficulty should be the manpower requirement. Receiving neighbor A is not a short-term task, and it is not enough to provide material assistance such as food and clothing. This will be a long-term ministry, not one or two months, not even one or two years. It requires co-workers who are willing to commit, and it also requires co-workers who are willing to take over the baton. How to actually settle in the United States is a big challenge. The six-month period provided by the government is becoming increasingly tight, low English proficiency, difficulty in finding a permanent residence, and the inability to drive without a driver's license. These three major difficulties limit job opportunities.

I believe that since God has brought us neighbors and given us the burden of serving, He will provide us with sufficient resources and strength. All we can do is work with God, help in any way we can, and keep going until God says stop.

Are there any touching stories or scenes that are unforgettable?

Commander P once held an important position in the US military in Afghanistan and was also the head of a large family of ten. He was deeply moved by our efforts to help those with particularly great needs in various areas. Not long ago, he moved his family to Sacramento because he had many old acquaintances there. In addition to contacting the local church to follow up, I also frequently talked to him on the phone to show my concern. He invited me to visit and said sincerely: "My home is your home! My home is your home!" He really treated me as a friend, which moved me very much.

Another brother K, his wife and four young children were placed in a bed and breakfast in Long Beach City. I found that my residence was only a 15-minute walk from the beach, so I personally showed him the way and encouraged him to find time to take his children to play. A few days later, he sent a text message and a few photos - he really took his four children to the beach! When I see four children playing in the water and chasing the waves, with bright and cheerful smiles on their faces, and still finding pure joy in such an uncertain environment, I am really happy for them!

ifAHow would you respond if your neighbor asks you to take him to the mosque?

I have not encountered this situation yet, but I can understand and respect their reliance on their original beliefs. In addition to material poverty, they also suffer from psychological trauma and disorders. Some people suffer from depression, and domestic violence is common, so they need comprehensive care of body, mind and soul. This is also an opportunity for God’s love to touch and heal the heart.

▲"Care for Neighbors" has served 19 families, but more churches and Christians are needed to participate to form a unified team of the Body of Christ to continue to care for neighbors and exert influence.

Caring for outside sheep

serveAWhat is the appropriate attitude for neighbors? What can the Chinese church do?

Many people may feel anxious upon hearing that 100,000 Afghan refugees are arriving in the United States. Let us ask and remind ourselves: Do we deserve all the blessings we have today? The scriptures tell us many times to love our neighbors as ourselves. Isn’t this the best time to practice? Leviticus 19:34 says,"You shall treat the stranger who lives with you as one of your own, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." , manifesting God’s will.

I often tell neighbor A that we are also immigrants. We have experienced the process and hardships of immigration, and we can somewhat understand their difficulties and difficulties. Whenever I say this, they will take the initiative to approach me. The distance between us seems to be much closer, and their eyes reveal more trust. We need to use more love, patience and empathy to accept our neighbors.

Forty or fifty years ago, a large number of Chinese immigrants came to the United States. Whether they were international students or had business backgrounds, many American churches enthusiastically helped welcome the Chinese and provided venues for student Bible study classes. Nowadays, Chinese Christians in North America are growing, prospering, and thriving. How can the Chinese church only look at the needs of its own ethnic group and the church, and only care about its own flock? Caring for our neighbors and fellow citizens is the privilege God has given us at this time; to be an outlet of His love and grace and to bless all nations, peoples, tribes and nations, how glorious it is!

Most of A's neighbors have relatives and friends in the United States, and some have no relatives. In addition to California, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas and other places have a large number of Muslims who are not limited to Afghanistan. The burdened Chinese churches, in addition to praying for them, may as well take the initiative to search and ask the Lord to lead them to find the key "Persons of Peace" (Persons of Peace) in these groups, which refers to key people who are open to the gospel and willing to actively share the gospel with their own groups. Reference Luke 10:6).

"CareAWhat’s next for Neighbors?

The ministry currently has ten working groups, with nearly 50 co-workers from 19 churches and gospel organizations participating in practical actions. Among them are even Korean, Filipino, Indian, etc. Christians, forming a unified team of the Body of Christ. Currently, it has contacted and served 19 A families and more than 100 A residents. However, facing the large number of North American Muslims, its power and influence are still weak and limited.

I really hope that all Chinese churches will see that this is an opportunity for Muslim evangelism at their doorstep. It is God’s challenge and grace to churches and believers who feel they do not have the opportunity or ability to participate in cross-cultural missions. Neighbor A and other Muslims have come to our territory. You can reach them by driving or even walking and extend a caring hand. Relatively speaking, Muslims are more likely to have a favorable impression of Chinese people with yellow faces than white people. Don’t avoid the gospel mission given by God because of timidity, let alone experience the blessing of grace that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”!

We continue to pray, asking God to provide strategic wisdom for team service, and also calling on God to personally connect with churches that have the same aspirations, follow the example of Jesus Christ, and work together to find the lost sheep outside the fold. If you are interested in ministry, please contact us.

Respondents
Chen Shanchun, served as the director of the training center of North American True Evangelical Theological Seminary. He is the life discipleship coordinator of the "Seize the Moment" mission, a core member of the "Pamoja Mission Mobilization", and one of the founders of the "Love Afghan Neighbors" ministry. Our goal is to mobilize all churches to fulfill the Great Commission together. Readers who are interested in participating in the ministry, please contact:ss.sun396@gmail.com.

Liao Meihui, Master of Christian Studies from the Chinese Evangelical Theological Seminary in North America, winner of the first prize for in-depth reporting by independent media in New York. At the age of 26, he completed his "dream of studying abroad", at the age of 36, he realized his "dream of immigration", and at the age of 56, he was called by the Lord to enter the "dream of missionary work".