“No Longer Strangers: Transforming Evangelism With Immigrant Communities,” edited by Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi Page. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2021). 187 pp. $19.99.
Many evangelical Christians and their leaders supported Donald Trump during his campaign and presidency. But any effort to stereotype evangelicals as sharing the former president’s immigration views, considered xenophobic and anti-immigrant by his critics, is erroneous.
As any branch of Christianity, evangelicals encompass a wide range of views, cultures, ethnic identities and races. Many evangelical Christians are strongly motivated by the social gospel, judging public issues through the biblical lenses of Christ’s overpowering love for all, his calls for justice and his stress on equality because all are children of God.
This social dimension is evident in the open, supportive approach many evangelicals have toward immigrants. World Relief, an evangelical social outreach agency, has numerous programs for immigrants and refugees.
“No Longer Strangers” provides a look into the evangelical approach to immigration. Composed of eight essays and an introduction by people heavily involved in immigrant work, the book explores the theological and practical aspects of working with immigrants.
Although there are nuanced approaches by the different authors, the stress is on showing Christ’s tremendous love as the motivating force for providing social services. The hope is that this love will move immigrants to become part of an evangelical Christian community.
Some contributors also discuss going beyond helping individual immigrants, stressing the need to change political and social structures so they are more welcoming and helpful.
An overarching theme is that the arrival of immigrants is changing U.S. evangelism and its missionary focus. This is best expressed in the subtitle: “Transforming Evangelism With Immigrant Communities.”
The traditional evangelical pattern is to send missionaries to foreign countries, preaching Christ. Now, as interpreted in the book’s introduction, the arrival of immigrants means people of different countries, races, nationalities and religions are at the U.S. doorstep. This is interpreted as the work of God.
As noted by several contributors, balancing conversion and providing social services is a delicate task.
The emphasis is on evangelization by practicing Christ’s love rather than by just preaching it. Understanding other cultures and religious backgrounds is seen by many contributors as important in providing social services and in opening the door to joining an evangelical community.
One contributor notes that in dealing with Muslims, it is counterproductive to ask them to pray to Jesus. For Muslims, one prays only to Allah. Some of the contributors are immigrants who converted, including a woman from a Muslim background.
The essays don’t discuss current hot-button issues such as whether undocumented immigrants should get public benefits. The book will be more of interest to Christians trying to balance their own religious desire to help immigrants and their efforts at conversion.
Also of interest: “Voices of the Border: Testimonios of Migration, Deportation and Asylum,” edited by Tobin Hansen and Maria Engracia Robles Robles, ME. Georgetown University Press (Washington, 2021). 256 pp., $29.95.
“What Does the Bible Say About Strangers, Migrants and Refugees” by van Thanh Nguyen. New City Press (Hyde Park, New York, 2021).144 pp., $16.95.
Bono is a retired CNS staff writer.