“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these..., you did it to me.”

Words of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 25:35&40

News Flash!

Jesus of Nazareth has recently been displaced from his home. Far from his home. To no home at all. Far, far away from all he knew. From all he had. From all he once loved as home. At no fault of his own.

And “displaced' is the nice word for what has happened. “Kicked out” even sounds too sterile for what happened. Unless you allow yourself to see the rough and hard boot of the savage attacker and hear the bone-crunching kicks to the body... and to the face... and to the head... and to the heart. Kicked out! Too sterile? Unless you allow yourself to see the piles of death left behind as messages to scare even the bravest of those who would think about staying and resisting. Yes, kicked, and kicked, and kicked out he was.

Simply stated, while he was trying to live a “normal” and productive existence, forces of hate and violence began to rage around him. In fact, the hatred and violence were directed specifically at him because of his ethnic origins. Imagine that. He was the designated enemy of a demon-possessed war machine only because of his no-choice birth into his family and culture.

When the killing began he surely resisted. He surely tried to keep what he had and loved. He surely attempted to fight the evil foe. But it must have been too much to expect any good result from those efforts. His bravery was surely better displayed in discretion and valor as he worked for the lives and safety of those whom he loved. They could not fight for themselves as yet. They could not survive under these horrible conditions without him.

So, what did he do? He gave in to “displacement.” Leaving everything that could not be carried from his home, he lead those whom he loved in the direction away from the jaws of death. He and those whom he loved walked... and walked... and walked... and walked. They were joined by other displaced persons who were walking and walking and walking.

Because of their numbers — their large and growing numbers — there was no special attention given them. They were not quickly rescued and restored. They were not quickly taken in and cared for. Their medical needs were not quickly met. Their basic needs for life were not around the next bend. But they survived. Somehow they survived.

At the end of the first long road there was some help. Jesus and those whom he loves found tents and food and water lines and information. Some information was bad, very bad. It said “NO!” No, you can't go back home. No, you won't survive a return to your previous life. No, you have no hope in the past.

But some of the information was good. Not great, but good. It said, “Yes!” Yes, you have a future. Yes, you still have opportunity. Yes, there are those who care about you and want the best for you. Yes, you may go to a land far, far, far away. Yes, there will be people there to help you and care for you and even love you.

And so Jesus and those whom he loves went to the far, far, far away place. In fact, they CAME to the far, far, far away place.

And that place is here. Right here! Right here in Fayette County, Ga. Jesus and those whom he loves are safe now.

But they are not without needs. They need a place to live. They need food to eat and water to drink. They need a helping hand to get established and started on their new lives. They need jobs and schools and a community And yes, they need money. And so do the people who want to help them.

That's where you come in. Would you help? Would you give Jesus and those whom he loves food and water and a welcome even though they are strangers?

Of course you will!

Here's your chance: At least three Kosovo families are coming to Fayette County within the next week. Three local churches (that I know of) are “sponsoring” these three families. But the disciples in these churches are more like coordinators. They need the community to offer “hands-on” assistance also.

Maybe for now your best opportunity to give Jesus food, water and welcome is for you to give an offering to help settle the Kosovars here in our community. If this is what your heart leads you to do you may use these three churches as channels for your tax-deductible gift.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
257 Hwy. 314
Fayetteville 30214
770-461-3403

Providence United Methodist Church
592 Bernhard Rd.
Fayetteville 30215 0
770-719-8800

Holy Trinity Catholic Church
101 E. Walt Banks Rd.
Peachtree City 30269

On the “memo line” you can write “Welcoming the stranger” if you wish.

Thank you. God Bless You!

Kollmeyer is senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville.

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