welcome
Welcoming
Our New
Neighbors
Bob Fetherlin
President
Clair had been living in the same apartment complex in Chicago for nearly 30
years when suddenly, while walking down the hall, she saw a woman wearing
what appeared to be a black cape, with a black veil covering everything but her
dark, heavy-lidded eyes. She looked like she was from the West Bank or maybe
Afghanistan. With her heart pounding, Clair flew into her apartment and prayed
to God for protection.
In the weeks following Clair’s experience, her American neighbors began
moving out, each with the same explanation: they were uncomfortable with
the changing environment around them that no longer felt like home or even
like a safe place to live. As they left, men with dark beards and women with
long robes and head coverings moved in. Clair earnestly cried out, “Father! Is it
time to leave? Should I follow my friends to a safer place where I will not feel so
threatened by the unknown or intimidated by differences?”
As the weeks passed, God impressed upon her that this apartment complex
was exactly where he wanted her to stay. Clair’s prayer changed to, “Father, I
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