Going to Church

Does God really care about your address? Does he really have a preference for where you live?  Or does he have more important things to worry about in running the universe than your zip code or house number? 

Here’s a story that demonstrates how God arranged the address of a church building and an apartment complex, just to help a refugee family find a new life.

The church is Main Street Baptist, and the apartment is University Gardens; they’re one mile apart, easy walking distance for the Rafutos.

The Rafutos left everything they had known as “home” to escape the violence of civil war in their homeland of the Congo. They were given a temporary home in a refugee camp in neighboring Tanzania. And after 17 years of living in that camp, they resettled in the U.S. through the work of World Relief. 

While living in the refugee camp, they joined a mission church, and found friends in a worshipping community in the midst of an uncertain future and a dangerous lifestyle.

During our first visit to the Rafutos’ apartment, amidst broken English and hand-gestures, we were asked to sit at their kitchen table because they wanted to show us something very important. 

With a somber look on her face, the mom reached underneath their tablecloth and pulled out an envelope. Her hands were weathered and shaking. She opened the envelope carefully, as if a treasure were hidden inside.  She slides out 6 postcards – each with an official seal and ornate printing on one side, and Bible verses printed on the other. These were Baptismal Certificates. One for each family member.

Her eldest son looks at me, “You are a Christian?” “Yes”, I answered. He smiled. “We want to go to your church. OK?”

Not a good solution. I didn’t tell him that, though. My simple encouragement was “We will talk about church tomorrow.” 

Our church is a 30-minute drive from their apartment.  We don’t want the Rafutos to become dependent on our American cars or our American affluence to solve problems they need to learn to solve themselves. 

To borrow a saying from an urban missionary friend, “We won’t do something for somebody they should do themselves.”  Our mission is to help the Rafutos restart a new life here in Jacksonville Florida.

So I called a local pastor who has worked with refugees for over 20 years and asked for ideas.  He told me to check out Main Street Baptist Church, just a mile away, easy walking distance for veteran refugee camp survivors.

That next Sunday, I met up with the whole family. The women and girls wore their gorgeous African dresses; the boys were less impressive, to be honest, but still looked sharp in clean shirts and slacks. 

And on that Sunday morning, the Rafutos received three precious gifts from the Lord. 

We were greeted at the church door by a Swahili-speaking Congolese man, Israel. We quickly learned he is the local leader of an African refugee community outreach ministry. He immediately wrote down their address, phone numbers, and promised to connect them with his network of Swahili speaking Africans. Gift #1.

Later that morning, we were introduced to the pastor, Mike. The week before, his church had welcomed another Congolese family and he made arrangements for a Swahili interpreter for the main services. So, on the Rafutos’ first Sunday at an American church, translation devices were provided and a public welcome was offered during the service. Gift #2.

The next Sunday, Pastor Mike started a Swahili language Bible Study, using his Swahili translator.  Later in the year, that translator became the Bible Study leader, and other Congolese families began to join the Study and attend the church with the Rafutos.  The Swahili Bible Study is growing – with hopes that it will be a new Congolese Church. Gift #3.

So, does God really care about your address? 

Maybe it would be a good idea for you to pause a moment, and consider the possibility that God put you exactly where he wanted you to be. 

Who are your neighbors? Do you know them? They’re within walking distance most likely, even for Americans.

Maybe God placed you at your current address to be a friend and neighbor to someone who needs you. 

And maybe there’s a story he wants you to be part of, right where you live.