Story of the Week: Building Bridges

How can we answer God’s call to love the sojourners in our midst? Check out this week’s story to find out how one Woodmen man is stepping out to make a difference in our city.

When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself.

This passage from Leviticus 19 is just one of many that share God’s heart for immigrants. As God’s people today, how can we live out this call to love the strangers among us? John Fox has made answering this call a vital part of his life cadence for more than a decade.

AN OPEN DOOR

Late one Sunday evening in 2013, a young Congolese man named Parfait walked into an English class for immigrants. John, one of the tutors, welcomed Parfait with a warm smile. Neither of them knew that this would be the start of a deep friendship.

Parfait remembers his first weeks in the United States: “I was lost. I knew some British English, but it didn’t help. I remember needing to find the restroom and asking for the ‘water closet.’ People just stared at me, confused,” he recalls with a warm smile.

In addition to coaching in English, John mentored Parfait and helped him navigate a new culture. Fast forward to today: Parfait is a US citizen. Through hustle and determination, he’s worked his way up from janitorial work to a position in IT. He and his wife just celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary. They own a home that’s filled with the laughter of their four children.

“Meeting John when I was new to America was a blessing. I’m thankful for him and for all he and others have done for us. I’m thankful to God for His provision,” Parfait shares.

BEYOND THE WALLS

Rather than spending retirement golfing or traveling the world, John dedicates his time to serving others. For John, one meaningful way to do this is by caring for the sojourner. We see this word often in scripture, referring to someone who is in a land that’s not their own.

John says, “God has a heart for the sojourners, the vulnerable and the outsiders. At Woodmen, our vision calls us to love well and we’re encouraged to step out — to serve others beyond the walls of the church. This is my step-out story. I look out for them.”

In addition to teaching English, John sees opportunities to serve immigrants through meeting day-to-day needs — helping people find furniture, move to a new apartment or get a driver’s license.

FROM DANGER TO HOPE

John hopes to inspire others in the Woodmen community to serve alongside him. He recently taught a course through Woodmen U called, Ministry to the Sojourner.

In the opening session, 30 students were glued to John’s presentation. Ages ranged from nine to 90 and a spectrum of ethnicities graced the room as John inspired those in attendance to “help sojourners walk from danger to hope.”

John shared an array of straight-forward ways to serve: Sojourners can often use help with registering for school, navigating the bus system, setting up a bank account, preparing for the GED exam, applying for a job or studying for the US citizenship test. “I guarantee that they’ll know more than most of us by the time they take the test,” John notes.

“Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a meal,” John says, “It’s the language of love. Most sojourners are so hospitable.” A few of John’s friends from Afghanistan even prepared delicious snacks for those attending the class.

A SPIRIT OF WELCOME

For people ready to get involved, John highlighted opportunities provided by Welcome COS. Woodmen participates with this local non-profit that serves refugees with a spirit of welcome and a faith-based approach.

From delivering diapers to families with little ones, to offering in-home English tutoring, Welcome COS has volunteer opportunities that lead to long-term self-sufficiency for sojourners. Amy Schulte, Welcome COS Executive director, notes that in the last five years, approximately 2,000 sojourners have navigated the United States immigration process to make their way to Colorado Springs.

And that’s just a drop in the bucket: Globally, 130 million people are now displaced — an all-time high. Today the Church has a unique and exciting opportunity. Around the world and around the block right here in our own city, God’s people can be faithfully present with sojourners as we live out God’s call to love our neighbors.

THE ROAD TO NOW

In 1975, John was a student at the University of Hawaii, and he finally ran out of excuses to avoid attending a Bible study. “I was raised in a liturgical tradition. “I knew about God, but I didn’t KNOW God. I believed you had to earn your way to salvation,” he recalls.

But at that study, John heard the gospel shared in a new and personal way. “A few hours later, I asked Christ to be my savior. The Holy Spirit used that night 50 years ago to change my life,” he says. And over those 50 years, John has known that God has a purpose in store for him.

“I want to glorify God with my life. I think that with my gifting, God put it on my heart to help the vulnerable, to show hospitality to the sojourner,” John shares. “As we show Christ’s love through meeting needs and as we’re ready to point them to Jesus, we’re giving glory to the Lord.”

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