Fellowship Memphis

“¿Por qué vienes aquí?” It’s a question I hear every semester. I teach ESL at Su Casa Ministries, and often the students (who truthfully seem more like peers to me) want to know why I do it.

The most prideful part of me believes it’s a result of my own goodness. But the truth is... I do it because I see in those students something I so often don’t see in myself. Let me explain.

There are three brothers from my class. They work hard... landscaping, flooring and construction... usually 6 days a week. When we talk, they ask how my family is and how work is going. We talk about the latest soccer trades and games.

They struck me with their sincerity and gratitude. They also struck me with their story; the lengths they went to just to do these jobs most of us would sneer at.

I have found that their story is not new. It’s not unique. But it is largely unknown or ignored.

The Bible is full of examples of how godly people always distinguished themselves by how they treated people who often looked just like my friends.

Fellowship has an opportunity right now in Memphis, that opportunity lies in a community full of people who you have to wonder if Jesus was thinking about them in particular when he gave the sermon on the mount.

Blessed are the poor... Blessed are this who mourn... Blessed are the meek... Blessed are the persecuted... Blessed are those who thirst for righteousness...

When you think about how we as a church respond to the immigrant community, no matter their legal status, you have to ask yourself what Jesus meant when he said those things. I know my heart is much more middle class than poor... because I have rights.

More often in celebration than mourning because I don’t see my lack... More proud than meek because I think I earned my blessings...More often seeking approval than joyful in persecution because my value is in others not the Lord.

So I teach because I still have much to learn.