To all the world—in Fort Worth

Campbell

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Shedding my shoes at the door I enter the small, simple room greeted by a wide, toothy grin. “Welcome,” says the elderly Iraqi man, proudly using one of about 10 English words now in his vocabulary.

As I am seated, I accept the boiling tea that burns my lips and fingers through the tiny glass cup. Although it is 104 degrees outside and I am already sweating, it would be unkind to refuse the gesture of friendship. After all, the reason I am here is to build relationships that will be bridges between this Muslim family and the gospel of Jesus that I am here to share.

Sharing hot tea, doma (rice-filled grape leaves), and giving English-as-a-Second-Language lessons all are part of bridging the gap. God’s gift of salvation is for all nations.

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Michelle Campbell (front row, left) with a group of refugees she works with through World Relief.

Sometimes we are called to go to the nations, and other times God brings the nations to our own turf. I smile as I realize that in one apartment complex in Fort Worth, I have been able to share God’s love with the nations of Iraq, Burma, Nepal, Butan, and even the closed, predominantly Muslim, nation of Somalia.

Working alongside the staff of the nonprofit refugee aid organization World Relief, I am ministering to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of these friends who are scared, hurting and struggling to learn a new way of life far from what was once called home.

As a volunteer for World Relief, I have the most blessed job because I am free to spend time sitting with and befriending refugees when the overworked staff is busy with many difficult case loads and government-mandated tasks and services. Of course, the best part is working together as one body of Christ with a common goal that all nations would worship the one true God.

This is the everyday mission for all Christians, and I just thank God now for this unique experience to participate in a focused time of service through Go Now Missions.

Michelle Campbell, a student at West Texas A&M University, is serving World Relief in Fort Worth as an Impact missionary through Go Now Missions.


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