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Welcome to the December edition of
Cross-Cultural Ministry eNews
Greetings from the Cross-Cultural Ministry desk
The other day when someone was sharing about Christmas, they pointed out that Mary and Joseph had to flee with Jesus to Egypt shortly after he was born. You won’t see it on a Christmas card, but Herod was on the warpath like a wolf circling the nativity scene, and an angel had to intervene to warn them.
Let’s remember the needs of modern-day refugees this Christmas and perhaps see Jesus ‘in the least of these’.
The plight of refugees in Australia has been grim for a while; thankfully, things have improved this year, and we are particularly interested in a new community sponsorship opportunity for people who want to make a difference. The program is called CRISP, and we have included details below.
Craig Heidenreich
Cross-Cultural Ministry Facilitator
We are planning a national Cross-Cultural Ministry conference in Melbourne on 5 and 6 May 2023, so save the date and join us for a couple of inspirational days next year if you can.
On behalf of the Local Mission team, we wish you a refreshing Christmas season.
Our Local Mission teams are keen to generate conversation about how we can all live missional lives. Please email me at craig.heidenreich@lca.org.au if you have something to contribute or questions we can help you with.
It’s not just a box of fresh vegetables
Every so often, David offers to purchase a box of fresh vegetables as a gift for one of our Tamil asylum seeker families. He usually greets the family but leaves it at the front door. This particular time was different.
Community Sponsorship of Refugees (CRISP)
If you are concerned about refugees and would like to be more directly involved, you might be interested in this new program that the Australian Government is currently trialling.
These grannies keep showing the way
Three years ago, women from the Bridgewater Grace congregation heard about a need at Blair Athol North primary school and started to tutor disadvantaged children over Zoom each week.
Evangelism can happen when we least expect it
Author Sam Chan offers some great practical examples of how to be a witness in the normal everyday situations of life. Here is a story that he tells about his wife, Steph, visiting a shopping mall.
National Cross-Cultural Ministry Conference 2023
Come and join us for two days of inspiring sessions in Melbourne from 5 to 6 May 2023. Our theme is ‘Moving out into the neighbourhood’. We believe the Lord is calling us to connect with newcomers from the nations who have made a home among us. Luke 14:23 says, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in so that my house will be full’.
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