Missionary ‘loving others in word and deed’

A steady flow of immigrants and refugees from North Africa and the Middle East have arrived in Europe throughout the past decade. These men, women and children, uprooted by war and economic struggles, expected boat rides and bus trips.

They knew learning a new language and culture would accompany the relocation. Quite a few are unemployed, locked in a vicious cycle regardless of education. They complete degree after degree yet remain jobless. In addition, some immigrants face prejudice due to their background.

Amid challenging circumstances, Converge staff in Europe and the Mediterranean focus on making disciples among least-reached people groups.

“Often people are barely making it in a lot of ways,” Crystal Flynn*, a Converge global worker, said of her immigrant neighbors.

Ten years ago, Flynn arrived in her Arab-influenced European city. While living among her neighbors, Flynn has developed effective strategies for reaching Arab immigrants with the gospel.

For example, outreach at country ports is one of the strategies for reaching Muslim immigrants coming to Europe. Flynn and other believers offer travelers a copy of the New Testament or other materials, such as the Jesus film, in their native language.

Most of the Muslims she meets assume Christians from Europe and America live like characters in Hollywood movies. That, Flynn said, helps explain the less than one percent of believers in or from North African countries.

“The population I’m working with come from countries that are mostly closed,” she said. “The number of opportunities someone could have in their life to hear of Christ or interact with a Christ follower are very few.”

Helping women learn God’s love and truth

Flynn provides humanitarian services at one of the few churches in her European city. For example, she distributes food, assists with visa services, and helps people improve their occupational skills. When newly arrived women can’t read and write in the national language, they can’t communicate with their children’s teachers. Flynn also helps these women with this crucial aspect of communication.

Tea with women has proved to be an effective practice that leads to deeper relationships. Time together means opening up to Flynn about the more complex life experiences Muslim women have. They are allowed to openly reflect on raising children, love, forgiveness, identity and self-esteem.

“They’re topics that women enjoy discussing with each other,” Flynn said. “At the same time, they’re places where we can share what the Bible says on these topics.”

She said Muslims will discuss many matters that can bring spiritual fruit. Many Muslim women wonder what the Christian Scriptures say about loving and forgiving people who’ve caused hurt. Others also want to reflect on God’s perception of women, Flynn said.

The latter has developed into a stirring topic for many Muslim women, who, Flynn explained, interpret the Islamic faith as teaching they are impure.

“The man always seems to have more access to God and the woman is always looking to become pure so she can have that access,” Flynn explained. “As Christians, we can come into God’s presence at any time.”

Because of her faith in Christ and the spiritual questions among Muslim women, Flynn can ask a poignant question.

“How does God see us as women and what is the value that God places on us?” Flynn said.

Prayers offered in faith generate opportunities to love

To Carl and his wife, Anne, both global workers, God uses Flynn to influence many people living in their medium-sized city.Carl met Flynn 10 years ago at a monthly prayer meeting for immigrants. Flynn’s faith and focus equip her, he said.

“From the outset, Crystal demonstrated a heart for prayer and a dependence on Jesus for him to do his kingdom work in our city,” he said. “It was wonderful to see her hard work and faithfulness in this ministry and to be able to pray also for many of these women and the conversations she was having.”

At the ports, Flynn starts conversations with women, and many women she encounters express spiritual openness and will accept a Bible.

For example, she’s discipling a friend who’s been a believer for about two years. Flynn said the young believer experiences many of the Bible’s stories and lessons for the first time.

“It’s inspiring to see someone absorbing the word for the first time and applying it to her life,” Flynn said.

Such spiritual openness might be tied to age or the transition into being refugees and immigrants. In other cases, people want to learn about European culture, including Christian heritage.

“She has a presence in our city among lots of people,” Carl added. “Through that, she has had untold opportunities to love women and their families in word and in deed.”

Global workers meeting need new believers have for community

Flynn works with Carl, Anne and others to offer a monthly home group for immigrants. This gathering supplements the ministries of local churches to refugees and foreigners.

The monthly group helps new believers create habits, customs and celebrations with other believers. These adaptations can help new believers who lose community and family connections due to faith in Christ.

For example, a new North African believer can celebrate Christmas, but they may have no history with the Christian holiday. Such cultural and community changes can benefit the people she serves after trusting Christ.

“When people leave their faith, there is also that need for new community,” Flynn said. “We’re learning to create community in new ways as they come to follow Christ,” she said.

Related: Go and make a friend

Anne said Flynn is great at engaging with people across different socioeconomic levels and ministering among multiple generations. She also recognizes Flynn’s gifts with kids, such as leading a Sunday school-like experience for immigrant children.

Moreover, Flynn prepares to teach them to such an extent that Anne knows the ministry is as worthy and important as every other group of people Flynn serves.

“She does a good job of loving the whole family,” Anne added.

Seeing young kids recite the Koran narrows Flynn’s calling

Flynn grew up in Argentina with parents who were Converge missionaries. She served in their ministry and loved being on their team.

While on a prayer-walking trip in a North African country in 2003, Flynn stood outside a preschool where 4- and 5-year-olds recited the Koran. At the time, she was studying for an elementary education degree, but hearing children memorize the Koran before they even learned to read stirred her heart in a new direction.

“That was a huge impact for me to be there praying for people as we saw the needs,” Flynn said. “It was a short-term trip that really impacted me in the long term.”

Flynn entered Converge’s Missionary Discovery and Assessment for global workers, completing the program in 2009 and deploying to Europe in January 2012.

European churches working with newcomers to welcome strangers

A priority of Converge leaders everywhere is embracing the spirit of being better together. For Flynn, this means helping European churches welcome foreigners as best they can. She values her partnership and activity in local European churches as an integral element in her ministry.

An outsider herself, she’s had constructive conversations and partnerships with European churches about reaching out.

“A piece of what we do is being a foreigner welcoming other foreigners,” she said. “But a piece of what we do is also helping the European church to welcome foreigners and bless them. Our goal is that the European church would be welcoming and see it as an opportunity.

“We have all these people coming from quite closed locations. God wants everyone to know him and we can be a part of making that happen.”

*Name has been changed to protect the global worker and her ministry.

Converge is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.