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ROBERTO'S REFLECTIONS
Immigrants in the Bible: For such a time as this!
Aquila and Priscilla as Immigrants:
And after these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome) Paul came to them. And because he was of the same trade, he stayed and worked with them; for they were tentmakers by occupation. Acts 18:1-3
In my previous reflections I have pointed out that Immigration is neither a recent development nor a phenomenon exclusive to our times. It has been a worldwide experience throughout human history, driven by push/pulldynamics. Harsh realities (war, famine, persecution) drive people from the places where they live.
Aquila and Priscilla were Jews born in Pontus, and later Italy became their place of residence. When the emperor there issued an edict ordering all Jews to be deported from Rome, they were forced to move to a new place of refuge. Aquila and Priscilla had no other choice than to flee Rome. They ended up in Corinth.
In Corinth the Apostle Paul met Aquila and Priscilla and he understood well their journey as immigrants because he himself had been experiencing the immigrant journey in his travels to different countries as a missionary proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This couple became instrumental in the planting of the Corinthian church. Matthew Henry in his commentary states “Though he (Paul) was himself a great apostle, yet he chose to work with Aquila and Priscilla, because he found them to be very intelligent in the things of God, (Ac 18:26), and he owns that they had been his helpers in Christ Jesus, (Ro 16:3).”
The Apostle Paul and Aquila and Priscilla were not only partners in ministry but also partners in business. They worked together as tentmakers in order to support themselves while they were in ministry. They helped one another to survive in the city of Corinth.
Practical lessons from this reflection:
- Sometimes people have to move against their own will because major forces push them out.
- Christians on the move can become great instruments of God when they come to a new location as they share their faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Christians should help each other to get established in a new place.
 SNAPSHOT
| Ethnicity | District | Churches | Worship | Membership |
| Native American | Michigan | 1 | 96 | 39 |
| Native American | New England | 1 | 15 | 29 |
| Native American | New Mexico | 1 | 50 | 83 |
| Native American | North Carolina | 1 | 9 | 17 |
| Native American | Northeast Oklahoma | 1 | 51 | 62 |
| Native American | Northern Michigan | 1 | 38 | 18 |
| Native American | Oklahoma | 1 | 35 | 65 |
| Native American | Prairie Lakes | 4 | 49 | 17 |
| Native American | Rocky Mountain | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Native American | Southwest Native American | 36 | 1,205 | 1,592 |
| Native American | Southwest Oklahoma | 4 | 173 | 214 |
| Native American Total | | 52 | 1,727 | 2,138 |
CALL FOR PRAYER
Dr. John Nells, Native American Facilitator and Southwest Native American District Supt. requests prayer for:
1. Preparation for 2015 National Native American Conference, Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, July 2015
2. Presenters for the 2015 National Native American Conference
3. Young Native American men and women to answer the call of God for ministry among their people
4. Evangelism and move of the Holy Spirit among Native American communities USA/Canada
5. Native American Ministries Facilitator - Dr. John Nells
6. Native American Ministries Pastors and Congregations
EVENTS
French/Haitian Pastor/Teacher training October, 14-16. Eleven Haitian Pastors were selected and invited to attend by the Haitian Facilitator, Rev. Pascal Permis. The pastors represented the five districts with the largest number of Haitian congregations. The training was given in collaboration with Clergy Development and the effort was to develop a system for ministerial preparation using the modular curriculum. Dr. Stan Rodes, Administrative Director/Global Clergy Development; and Dr. Dean Blevins, Nazarene Theological Seminary professor and RCOSAC chairperson, were the presenters. We are envisioning that this group of pastors go back to their districts to present a plan for a French/Haitian language track at their respective district training centers.
The Annual Ethnic Facilitators meeting, October 18-20. At the opening of the meeting Dr. Bob Broadbooks, USA/Canada regional director, brought greetings and encouragement to these unique missional leaders. He was followed by Dr. James Russom from Nazarene Bible College (NBC) who presented the Ministry Preparation Program offered by NBC in partnership with Multicultural Ministries. The vision is to provide this program in English to all ethnic groups of the USA/Canada region.
Dr. Louie Bustle presented three sessions based on the system “Each One Win One” and Each One Disciple One” The presentations were well received by the facilitators. The training equipped and challenged the facilitators to share this multiplication system with their respective people groups in the mission of” Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations”.
| Multicultural Ministries vision is to encourage the development of strategy and initiative to reach the USA/Canada mission field through the visionary leadership of the ethnic facilitators, and their strategy committees. |
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