Radical Hospitality by Henry Lu

Henry Lu invites us to share in a Radical Hospitality as the UK welcomes people from Afghanistan.

Over the past year, the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission ministry team have been walking alongside those who are newly arrived from Hong Kong to help their settlement in the UK. We thank the Lord that UK local churches are also eager to welcome fellow believers and friends from Hong Kong who come to live in their communities. During the summer, the initiative to welcome Hong Kong Newcomers had been extended to care for the Afghan refugees newly received in the UK. It was exciting to see that many brothers and sisters who were new immigrants from Hong Kong also participated in the campaign. Knowing firsthand how valuable it is to feel welcomed and cared for in a new country, they are happy to get involved through local churches and communities to help the newly arrived Afghan refugees. What a beautiful picture of God's children receiving and sharing His blessings with others.

People tend to think that the UK is a developed country with a strong economy and high quality of life. But when we look around, we can see many marginalized groups who are still living in poverty. Last week, BBC News showed an interview with Pastor Mick of Church on the Street in Burnley. He serves those who are in dire need of help but cannot get timely support from the government. Some have run out of money to pay rent and buy food, even become homeless for various reasons. Some have struggled with mental problems during the pandemic and others are trapped in drug addiction, unable to overcome. How they long for churches and brothers and sisters to reach out to them with the love and compassion of Jesus.

In recent months, our cross-cultural ministry team has been prayerfully seeking God’s guidance to explore ways for Chinese churches and believers to bless other ethnic groups in the UK and Europe. We thank God for giving us the opportunity to come here to live, hear the gospel and believe in the Lord Jesus, grow and establish Chinese churches. But we must not forget that we are called to become a blessing in the land where we receive God’s blessings.

On November 17, COCM will partner with Dr Krish Kandiah, Welcome Churches, and other organisations in the UK to host the Rapid Response Radical Hospitality Summit for welcome, witness and compassion towards Hong Kong immigrants and Afghan refugees. We hope to bring together churches from different denominations to promote the importance of Love Your Neighbor, that no matter what new situation we find ourselves in, we must act quickly to help those who are in their hour of need, to open our church doors to receive them and invite them in. We want to encourage brothers and sisters to get ready to welcome and receive strangers. And I hope we will have many brothers and sisters from Chinese churches take part in this project with enthusiasm.

May the love of Christ compel us to open our hearts, our homes, and the doors of our churches to welcome, receive, and help the poor and needy around us. May we through our actions share God’s love and the gospel of Jesus with the new immigrants and refugees, with the marginalized and those from other ethnic groups.

Written by Rev Henry Lu, General Director, Chinese Overseas Christian Mission

FIND OUT MORE Find out more about the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission HERE.

RADICAL HOSPITALTY EVENT On 17 November, Rev Henry Lu is part of a team alongside Krish Kandiah, joining with Holy Trinity Brompton’s Nicky Gumbel and a number of other Christian leaders to host an event at Holy Trinity Brompton Courtfield Gardens in London from 10.30am to 3.30pm. More details can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rapid-response-radical-hospitality-summit-tickets-196403286517.