After completing my GGBTS seminary training, I began to look for opportunities to form a group for my exercise buddies from the gym. The pastor with most seniority of a local Anglo church went to the same gym, and was very supportive of my gym outreach. I joined his church and began to use the facility in 2015 to host exercise buddies potlucks, Zumba tryouts, health seminars, and Indian Bride potlucks for multi-ethnic outreach.
Exercise Buddies Outreach
I hosted the first exercise buddies lunch potluck at church, and 25 people came. When I invited Sharon, a Shi’ite Muslim friend, I was not sure if she would come. When she arrived, I was overjoyed. Before we dismissed the first potluck, several attendees told me that they wished to meet again on a regular basis, so I hosted the potluck monthly. Once, my Sunni Muslim friend, Mo, came for a potluck after his Friday prayer in a local mosque.
The man who shouted at me when we talked about Bible inerrancy at the gym now had tears in his eyes when I looked at him.
Mo was so happy that we could finally sit down and chat outside the gym. After talking for almost an hour, Mo allowed me to pray for him. When I closed the prayer with the name of Jesus, Mo followed me and said amen loudly. The man who shouted at me when we talked about Bible inerrancy at the gym now had tears in his eyes when I looked at him. Talking to God freely and calling Him Father had touched his heart. Prayer is a powerful outreach method because it brings people into God’s presence.
These two Muslims gym friends came to a potluck held at a church because of our long friendship and established trust. Even JZ, the Chinese atheist who only believes in science, has become a regular attendee at a weekly table tennis outreach at my church! I have learned that it takes time to build relationships, and we should not give up on anyone who rejects the Gospel. When there are pre-evangelistic church events offered, we cannot assume that our friends and neighbors would not be interested. We can always invite them, and allow them to decide.
I have learned that it takes time to build relationships, and we should not give up on anyone who rejects the Gospel.
Sadly, attendance at the potluck diminished, and it was eventually discontinued because other activities and family obligations kept my gym friends too busy to commit to a monthly gathering. This experience taught me that outreach to long-time community residents can be a challenge because their lives are filled with various activities and many of their immediate needs are already met. So I transitioned from a group approach back to an individual approach with each of my exercise buddies. It is very discouraging when things do not go as I hope and pray for, but it humbles me. If I had not tried, I would not have learned what works and what does not. All pioneer missionaries must be willing to be courageous and “eat more humble pies.”
A few weeks before I held the first exercise buddies potluck, I met a newlywed Indian bride named Sheri at the gym. After talking with her a few times, I invited her to the potluck and she came.
Indian Bride Outreach
I met Sheri at the gym through a Zumba class. We made eye contact and exchanged smiles during water breaks, and then made small talk after our class. Sheri told me that two months ago she had gotten married and then moved to the Silicon Valley with her husband, an Indian engineer. She said she was very lonely and felt depressed because she missed her father, who loved her dearly. I was so glad to see Sheri at the first exercise buddies potluck. A few weeks later, she told me that she was going back to India to visit her father and would return. I held her hands and prayed with her for her home visit. However, five months later she was still in India.
One day in December 2014, Sheri came to my mind during my prayer time, so I emailed her and asked for her return date. She said she was waiting on the legal paperwork from her husband for re-entry to the U.S. I prayed and asked the Lord to bring Sheri back to the States because she had not yet heard the Gospel. In January 2015, I suddenly received a text message from her saying she had just arrived. Her phone died afterwards, so I did not hear from her for another week. While she had no means of communication, an evangelistic team from an American church knocked on her door and told her about Jesus. They connected Sheri with their Indian minister. God answered my prayers for her to return and hear the Gospel! From that time, she attended the Indian Bible study regularly.
I visited Sheri often and took her to the park where I planned to begin my park outreach ministry. I began to notice that she had something hidden on her heart which was affecting her emotional stability. One time after she asked me several questions about marital affairs, I looked at her and asked her directly if she had any marriage problems. After that, I realized why she returned to India for such a long time as a newlywed. I taught her to pray to Jesus, and we often prayed together and sometimes we fasted as well.
Gradually, I befriended several of Sheri’s Indian neighbors of different castes. Because of their visa status, these Indian brides or young mothers with toddlers could not go to work and had to stay at home. They were bored and easily depressed. So I began to host a monthly Indian brides potluck at my church for them. We did nail painting, saree parties, and Easter Egg hunts. One mother said she had watched people dye Easter eggs on YouTube when she lived in India, and she was even more excited than her toddler to try it for herself! When I stood up and shared the Easter Resurrection Egg story, I almost burst into tears when I saw their eyes wide open with their full attention engaged. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. When the weather got warmer, per their requests, my American friend provided a free swim lesson at their apartment pool, since they did not have opportunities for swimming in India!
In the meantime, Sheri’s marital problems worsened. Once as I fasted and prayed with her in her apartment unit, I heard a man’s shouting voice come out of her bedroom, followed by the sound of someone kicking the closet. I wondered if her husband was in the room, but continued to pray with my eyes closed. Then I saw a dark shadow pass by and go out through the entrance door. A few days later, I asked Sheri if she had brought any idols back from India. She said yes, and told me she had put those idols in the closet. It was a spiritual warfare that I experienced when I prayed in her apartment unit.
Sheri was being abused by her husband, starting in late January of 2015. By late May, she decided to return to India for her safety since she did not have other family members here. It was a hard-to-say goodbye, after spending several months as her closest friend, a mentor and sister. A few weeks later, two other young Indian mothers suddenly moved back to India when their husbands’ jobs were discontinued. I do not know if they will return to the U.S. again or not. This outreach ended with their departure, but I thank God for giving me the opportunity to tell them about Jesus through the monthly potlucks. Please pray that God will prepare other Christian women to follow up and bring them to Christ in India.
Reflection
What a privilege I have had, to be the first non-Indian and also Christian friend to several Indian brides and young mothers. Through this outreach, I have learned that I need to seize the opportunities God has put in front of me because these Indian families could return to India at any time. Because of their loneliness and also how I see and treat them equally, these Indian friends would accept other Indians who belong to a different caste. It is the hostess’ attitude helping them to be inclusive.
Spiritual warfare is even more severe when we reach adherents of other religions, and we must fast and pray!
Spiritual warfare is even more severe when we reach adherents of other religions, and we must fast and pray! Through the exercise buddies and India bride outreach, I have learned that prayer is always welcomed, as I have never had anyone reject my offer to pray with them in Jesus’ name. Through our prayers, they experience the love and peace of Christ, and are brought into the presence of Jesus.
Through my experience in various outreach ministries, I would define multi-ethnic outreach in two major categories: multi-ethnic groups with English proficiency, and multi-ethnic groups with limited English proficiency. Generally, those with limited English proficiency would have more time and need more help. Once we befriend with them, they would be the opening doors for us to reach their families with English proficiency here and at different parts of the world because a friend is also a family friend in group cultural people.
Relational Realism for Christian Ministry 關係論與基督教事工 