To Make Him Known in Nashville

God never ceases to amaze me. When the summer started, I expected Him to change my life and move through my life but I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that would look like. This summer I went to Nashville because about a year ago I found out about an opportunity to do media coverage for a short term mission trip there. I had no idea who I would meet, what I would see or experience, or how God would change my life. All I knew was that I was going to Nashville out of obedience to God taking me there. Little did I know, God would open my eyes to the lost right here in America that I had been overlooking for years.

 

 

The ministry I did this summer looked very different each day. I was the media person for two different teams in Nashville working with internationals and victims of human trafficking. One team called “Welcome the Stranger” worked closely with World Relief which a refugee resettlement agency. They spent most of their days doing airport pickups, taking refugees to work, doctor’s appointments, and just helping them acclimate to life here in America. As they did those things, they had opportunities to build relationships and share Christ with them. The other team I spent most of my time with was a team called “Rescue1 / Middle East”. We were short on people for those two teams so we were combined. Half the week we would spend time building relationships with internationals and the other half we would spend time working in the office or going out on the streets with Rescue1. On top of all that, I took all the pictures, wrote blogs, and made videos for the teams as well as my own side project for World Relief making a 5 min documentary about what it’s like for a refugee to come to America. So, besides all that God taught me personally this summer, I have a ton to share about both ministries and the media projects I worked on this summer. I realize that it can be very time consuming to read about everything from an entire summer so feel free to read all of it or any part of it you would like. However, I do enjoy telling about what God has taught me through all of these ministries so I’ve went ahead and typed about them as briefly as I could.  (The picture above is with Diane and her cousins from the Congo)

A Heart for the Nations in Nashville

In Nashville there are thousands of internationals from unreached people groups all over the world. I met people from Iraq, Jordan, Ethiopia, the Congo, Nepal, Burma, etc. who have come as refugees to escape persecution in their own countries. For the most part I spent time with the Kurds from Kurdistan which is considered northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, and a few other surrounding countries in the north. I had no idea they were here in America! I did some research and according to the Joshua Project, there are about 52,000 Kurds in Nashville alone. Not to mention all of the Nepali, Burmese, and other North African people groups there. Who would have thought that people from closed countries would be here in America in a land of freedom? God has brought the nations here where there is freedom to share the gospel without threats from the government.

With Fatiah from Eithopia

All this time I knew nothing about it until God sent me to Nashville. Working cross-culturally with internationals has made me realize the great need for laborers here in America. Not saying that going overseas isn’t important, you bet it is. But, the fact that they are here at our doorstep, in our American cities presents an amazing opportunity to reach the nations with the gospel where we already work and live. Of course, it can be intimidating to share Jesus with anyone, much less someone who barely understands English or your culture. However, I’ve found that most of them just want an American friend. They just want someone to help them learn English and help them adapt to this new culture they’re being immersed in. And that’s how we showed love to internationals that we worked with this summer.  Here are a few people God put my life this summer to love:

Trying on Kurdish clothes

There are a handful of Kurdish women that God blessed me with the opportunity of getting to know while I was in Nashville. One wanted to improve her English so we took the time to sit down and just talk with her. Through that, we got to build a relationship, learn about her religion and culture, share meals and share the love of Christ with her. I miss her dearly and I will never forget the last thing she said to us. She said “Pray for me!” as we were walking away from her apartment the last night there. She will forever be in my heart. Pray for “R” and her family.

Another woman, “H” and her daughter “N” will always remain in my heart. Tears streamed down H’s face as she would tell me about her family that is still left in Kurdistan. Although I may not be able to personally understand what they are going through, God continues to give me his compassion for them. As H would cry, longing for her family I would cry later longing for her to become my sister in Christ. Pray for H and N to find hope in Christ.



With S from Jordan

One final story sticks out in my mind. By our mistakes and God’s divine appointment we met a woman named “S” when we accidentally knocked on the wrong door one day. S was so sweet; she would always treat us as if we were her own daughters every time we would visit. When we met her, she had trouble seeing. She was blind in one eye and had a lot of trouble seeing out of the other one. Despite that, she always welcomed us in and we spent a lot of time helping her to read in English. We also had a few great times of sharing about Jesus with her. She had heard the gospel before and seemed interested but unfortunately her English wasn’t good enough to tell us what she thought. She did understand what we said though so pray that would have an impact in her heart. Before we left for the last time she told us she is having surgery on her eyes in the next few months. The first one is Aug. 16^th. Please pray for S’s her physical sight to be returned to her but more importantly for her eyes to be open spiritually to understanding who Jesus is.

These are just a few people that God used in my life to show me that people are people. It doesn’t matter where they come from, what language they speak, or what color their skin is, we all need Jesus. It’s not us and them, it’s we. I need Jesus just as much as they do. The fact that nations from all over the world are here in America has given me an urgency to love everyone as my neighbor, regardless of their background or circumstance. Even though I’m back in Texas, there are still tons of people here. The fact that students have come from over 120 countries to UNT gives me an opportunity to reach internationals here. Before I left I knew that but I hadn’t really understood God’s heart for people from every nation to know Him. Now, God has given me a renewed perspective of what it means to love internationals right here in Denton.

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. - Leviticus 19:33-34

Ohma from Nepal had never heard the
Gospel and lived in Nashville for 3 years.

I was surprised when I met people from Nepal and Burma who had been living in Nashville for years and had never heard the gospel. If we really loved people that wouldn’t be the case. Language barriers, culture barriers, and simply a lack of knowledge are reasons we might not have shared with them. But those things are simply challenges to overcome with Christ’s strength through us. The nations are coming to our American cities where we can freely share the gospel with them. There is no time to waste. Americans may not necessarily finish the Great Commission but internationals who come to know Christ can share with others in their own language and country that we may not ever have access to. Just sharing your life and the love of Christ with one international can make a huge impact in the lives of many. We just have to get over ourselves and our culture and get to know our neighbors from all nations.

Reaching Out Through Rescue1

When I left for Nashville I didn’t know a lot about human trafficking. All I really knew is what I had learned from Passion this year. When I came back from the conference back in January I had all this excitement and urgency for the issue. But it didn’t last long. Soon I faded right back into my own agenda and my own life. I hardly ever thought about the issue. Except, I have a friend who really does want to do something about it. So much that she started an anti-trafficking organization on campus. She would always invite me to meetings but I never would go. I just wasn’t interested. And then God sent me to Nashville where I met the Tolar family.

The Tolars were missionaries in Thailand about 3 years ago when they learned all about human trafficking that goes on there. From that, they started Rescue1 which is an organization that raises awareness and works to prevent trafficking domestically and internationally. They have a base in Thailand and already have a few safe homes there for children that have been rescued. Domestically, they have been educating people about trafficking, the signs to look for, and who to call when its happening. As a summer intern I had the opportunity to work alongside the Tolar family and work on laying more groundwork for future projects and expansion of Rescue1.

A few times this summer we went and helped conduct trafficking 101’s at churches to inform people about the issue. Although all I mainly did was sell merch. and take pictures, these events had a great impact on me. The issue of human trafficking is such a hard thing to wrap your mind around when you’re first learning about it. When I would watch Lacy and Daniel speak and share their stories with churches it made the issue more and more real to me every time. And when I watched their video over and over again it began to sink in and stir compassion within me.

When we worked in the office I mostly did graphics work. I made business cards and I designed door hangers that were put on doors to advertise about upcoming trafficking 101’s a churches in the area. Although those seem like menial tasks, they were important because they laid the foundation for education and prevention. God taught me humility in this because I did whatever needed to be done, no matter how simple of a task.

Prevent the Vulnerable - Rescue the Enslaved - Serve the Freed

Going out on the streets for special ops in Murfreesboro proved to be one of the most eye opening, yet life changing experiences of my summer working with Rescue1. Along with education, we would go to the streets where trafficking is likely to happen to serve the least of these and share the love of Christ. We called it special ops and we partnered alongside a ministry called Last Call for Grace to get an idea of tangible ways to serve and reach potential victims of trafficking. We would prepare boxed meals and take them with other food to people at three motels twice a week. Through this, we were able to build relationships with people that live there, share Christ, and help them in any way we could. There were a few times when we met girls that wanted to get out. We would usually take them to a nearby shelter or offer them what we could. The sad reality is, there are not any safe homes specifically for trafficked victims in the entire state of Tennessee. The closest one is in Birmingham, AL , 3hrs. away, and its constantly full. Even worse, there are only about 14 beds for trafficking victims in the entire U.S. Even if we met girls who wanted out, there wasn’t a safe place for them to go. Here’s where the problem lies. Rescue1 is working toward prevention by education, but also rescuing victims, and raising money and support to build safe homes. There have already been a few homes built in Thailand and there is a great need there but also here in the U.S.

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40

God gave me the privilege not only to learn about, educate, and prevent trafficking with Rescue1 but also the blessing to be poured into by a wonderful godly family. The Tolars have 7 children and run this organization out of their home. They are completely faith-based which means they are personally supported financially each month by faithful brothers and sisters who give generously. Everything they have has come from God and it amazes me to watch God work through them. Not only to run Rescue1, but also to be parents to their children and having a Christ-centered marriage. I may have helped them this summer but I think God used them more to pour into me. I am so thankful for them and I miss the Tolar family dearly. Please pray for Lacy and Daniel while they are in Thailand until mid-October.

Most of the Tolar family, Rich (Full time staff), My team, Lauren (Full time staff)

 

Ultimately, this summer cannot be summed up in this blog post alone. There is a ton to talk about but this is a glimpse into how God worked this summer. If you don’t read any other paragraph on this super long post, read the last one below.

My Team
Lexi, Ana, Chelsea, Cortney, Kathy, Me

At the end of the day, all that matters is Christ. All that matters is that we know Him and make Him known. Our purpose is to get to know our creator God, realize our need for Him, receive forgiveness and new life in Him, and share that with everyone we meet. That is the end goal of our lives. Whether that be going overseas as a career missionary, staying in the states and working cross culturally, or even just sharing Christ with a co-worker. Wherever we are called, we are to live as Christ with everyone we meet. This summer was not just a trip. Just because I’m not on the “field” in Nashville doesn’t mean I stop loving people and sharing Christ. It just means that I’m in a new place and I must seek God’s leading for who He has for me to love here. Right now that means finishing school at UNT, loving students here, and loving people I meet in Denton. I’m resting at home and getting ready for school over the next few weeks. And then it’s back to the fields at school. Please pray for me as I transition back to school and for God’s leading during this next season of my walk with Him. Thank you all for your prayers and support, it means a lot! Love you guys! Grace and Peace.

- Chelsea