Reaching the World in Our Own Backyard - 25 Nov 2003
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...A native of India says the multi-cultural explosion in the United States is a great mission field for Christians. In his book, Reaching the World in Our Own Backyard, Rajendra Pillai says the influx of foreign students to the U.S. presents an untapped opportunity for Christians. But he says that the fear of outsiders, geo-political events, prejudices and ignorance have kept many Christians from fulfilling the great commission because American Christians do not view people from other cultures and religions as exactly what they probably are: without Christ and eternally lost. He says Jesus should be our example. "If you look at his example," Pillai says, "he was constantly and actively -- and intentionally, I should add -- building bridges to people of other groups: to the Samaritans, to prostitutes, to lepers, tax collectors and even women, who were another [subjugated] group at the time." Pillai says, Jesus was constantly making inroads into groups that were excluded from society… "and we need to be doing the same thing." Pillai knows that many foreigners are willing to talk -- and listen. But, he added, they are concerned about what their families and friends back home are going to think. He explained that the need for building interpersonal relationships with foreigners is so very important. "Once they know and trust you," Pillai says, "then they are more open to hearing about what you have to say about Jesus." The author points out in his book that in less than fifty years, the number of foreign students in the United States has grown from 35,000 to over half-a-million. [Allie Martin] |