Friend

 Friend

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:15closeJohn 15:15 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (ESV) closeJohn 15:15closeJohn 15:15 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (ESV) 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (ESV) .

 OYAMI  “Friend” is an important concept among the Yala people of southeastern Nigerian where we once served as missionaries.  Every person had one and your oyami was the one person you could go to for information, advice, and support.  If you found yourself in a doubtful situation or in need of encouragement and hope, this is the one place you are likely to obtain it.

 According to the 2010 census, there were 319,294 people living in urban St. Louis.  Of this number an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 are first generation people.  In St. Louis it works like this.  Immigrants arrive on work or family reunification visas and settle in the county.  Refugees arrive on relocation visas and settle in the City.  So, roughly 10 % of the St. Louis City population trace their origins to the UN refugee camps; Hindus, Buddhists and Moslems among them.  A true mission field by any measure!

 To be a refugee is to have known life on the margins.  Second class citizenship is a given, tomorrows are often uncertain and you have probably been lied to by just about everyone.  In ministry among these people, integrity, consistency and transparency are important.  They are for everyone of course, but especially for refugees.

 Near the middle of what pretty much serves as the refugee resettlement area for St. Louis City, a center has been established for ministry among these people. Programs include scholarship assistance (for enrollment in Lutheran schools), after school tutoring, ESL classes, medical screening, ethnic fellowships, the distribution of household furnishings and more.  When queried as to why they come to this place, several of these New Americans claim they have found friends here.

 What an excellent environment in which to testify of the love of Christ, who continuously provides each of us with the greatest hope we can ever know!

 By:  Dr. Al Buckman

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