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FINDING REFUGE IN ITALY
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All
people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. --
Psalm 36:7
For
centuries people left Italy to find a better future. About 20 years
ago the tide turned; immigrants began flooding into Italy seeking a
better life for themselves and their families. They come from Eastern
Europe, Africa, and Asia fleeing poverty, war, and oppression. Their
lives are hard and filled with insecurity. They receive the
least-desirable jobs, often live under difficult circumstances, and do
not enjoy the full benefits of Italian society. They live as
third-world workers in a first-world economy. Many of these immigrants
are women and children who were trafficked into the country to work in
the sex industry.
Italian Baptists are participating in the biblical tradition of
welcoming and caring for the strangers among them. The Scripture tells
us:
For the
LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty
and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, 18 who executes
justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers,
providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger,
for you were strangers in the land of Egypt [Deut. 10:17-19].
The
writer of Hebrews tells us: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without
knowing it [Hebrews 13:2]. Italian Baptists feel called by God to
provide refuge for the strangers among them.
Italian Baptists have invited Debbie and Jim Kelsey to work with them
in this ministry of providing refuge. The Kelseys will provide
theological education for the pastors of immigrant churches and work
with these churches to strengthen their fellowships and broaden their
ministries. The Kelseys will work with Italian Baptists to expand
their ministries to the many women and children who are trafficked
into Italy to work in the sex industry. The Kelseys will work to
welcome these new arrivals to Italy and make tangible to them the love
and mercy of Jesus Christ. Their mission is to provide places of
refuge in the shadow of the Lord’s wings.
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