What a joy and privilege it is to share our belief in Christ in an unbelieving world!

In my work with the Center for Asian Missions & Evangelism (CAME), we proclaim that Christ "CAME" to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10) among those who are Hindus, Buddhist, Muslims or atheists every day. There are tremendous challenges to this task as we face closed ears and hardened hearts, dependence on ancestor and other forms of idol worship, mistrust of Christians, and the scores of language and cultural barriers before us.

Modern American culture, too, seems almost hostile to Christianity, on the verge of dropping "God" from currency, constitutions and official buildings. Add to that the uncertain economy and transient jobs, as families are forced to move to make a living. We encounter new neighbors, but just as we are getting to know them and befriend them, they move again.

Such is life as a Christian in North America today. Such is life as a Christian in a non-Christian world. Against these overwhelming barriers and obstacles, what could you and I do? Well, the point is that we don't-God does. But how does God plan to use us in reaching those who are hurting, lost and confused?

Christ is equipping us and readying us to meet these challenges. In Matthew 8 we see Jesus challenging all of us to "cross over to the other side." On that day, the other side was the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the land of another country, the modern day Jordan. To us today, "the other side" may be another culture, recent immigrants from Asia, Africa, South America or Eastern Europe, Generation X or your neighbor who is Buddhist or Hindu.

When Jesus got into the boat to cross over to the other side, only the disciples followed Him. Did the teacher who earlier said he was willing to go wherever Jesus would go, follow Him? Probably not. And what of the disciple who wanted to take care of important family needs? He probably headed toward the funeral instead of following Jesus. How about the crowd that was so enamored of Jesus? It seems unlikely they went with Jesus that day. In all probability, it was only the twelve disciples that followed him over to the other side. Indeed the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Most of us here in North America come from some stream of immigration, whether from Europe, South America, Africa or Asia. But when we, our parents, grandparents or ancestors immigrated here, it was to a "better" place than where we were from, a place of more abundant opportunities, more freedom and better education. This was a place to spread our wings and search for our American dream.

Our Savior Jesus did not "immigrate" to a better place. Jesus left the right hand of the Father, foregoing His crown, His lofty perch and the perfect communion in heaven with the Father and the heavenly host. Jesus, incarnate of the Holy Spirit, immigrated here to be among us, to a place of sin, to a place of imperfection, to a place of miscommunication. He came to a dirty stable, to a lowly manger, all the way to death on the cross. He left all His great possessions in heaven, to immigrate to a place where He owned no home, no bed.

Indeed Christ is our model "immigrant," coming to earth as one of us, in flesh and blood, to be one among us and to suffer, die and rise for our salvation. Unlike us, Christ did not cross over from heaven to a better place. Christ crossed over from that heavenly culture to share His love and grace with us and with those who are yearning to hear the Gospel.

So how about crossing over and welcoming those recently-moved neighbors from out-of-town into your home? How about going to the library or surfing on the web to learn about the culture of Asian Indian or Chinese immigrants around you? How about starting a new ESL program at your church or organizing a play group in your community?

The key is not the type of activity or program you implement to reach out, but that you are intentionally engaging lonely, hurting people around you, developing a community and becoming a part of their lives. When you become a part of their lives, I do not doubt that Christ will provide you opportunities to share the Gospel at the right time and place and that He will speak through you. If they move away, trust that He will work through others to water where you planted.

As Christ, our model "immigrant," works through you to reach out with the Gospel in so many ways, may you, Lutheran Women in Mission, cross over to the other side and share the message of hope and salvation as a Christian in a non-Christian world.