A chance to share Gospel with refugees

 ALLOW me to give another side of the coin on the issue of asylum seekers. 

They are people from other countries who are mistreated and unjustly downtrodden by their governments. They are looking for a safe place to live. 

They are not criminals or convicts who are fleeing their countries.

They are skilled professionals who only seek a place where they can be accepted, valued and integrated into a community. 

Instead of looking at them as a social problem, see them as professionals whose skills can improve our economy. 

I want us to also view  this issue as a movement of skilled labour across the globe. 

I believe lack of skill is the reason why our people are not turning the huge resources we have into marketable products.  

I am aware that we have our fears about non-Christians coming into PNG but on the other hand, these people have been hard to reach in their own country with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Now that they are in your hands, grab the opportunity and pray to Jesus to open doors for you to share the Gospel of Jesus with them vigorously. 

These people may feel obliged to hear your message, so make your outreach plan as part of the government’s plan for proselytisation. 

Why do you not see this as God bringing them for you to minister the Gospel to them?

As with Christ’s message to open arms, do good and show love and kindness, we need to demonstrate the principles, values and standards of people of God. 

We seem to be making noises like empty drums. 

The reasons that have been put forth for rejecting the Government’s decision are all shallow, lack critical judgment and are merely ignorant. 

The policy of isolation and closed doors on ethnic multiplicity is racially discriminatory. 

We are all human beings with blood and feelings, so let us welcome these foreigners and learn to live together as one people in a global context. 

We are a civilised society and cannot act like our forefathers who saw each other as only good for an evening meal. 

We can all live together and not be judged by our colour, but by the content of our characters and lives. 

Joseph Geparo

Lae