Diaspora Ministries

Space-makers

Lorna Johnston / Friday, May 5, 2023

 

We have a couple of empty bedrooms in our house. At one time they were occupied by our kids, but for the last few years they’ve sat empty except when they’ve been temporarily occupied by visiting family or friends. A quick change of sheets, dust and vacuum, lay out fresh towels and the rooms are ready for the next occupants.

Recently we’ve been preparing these rooms again—but we’re not exactly sure when their new occupants are coming, nor when they’re leaving. We think they’re arriving this Monday—but they were supposed to arrive last Monday and didn’t. They are coming to Canada for an indefinite period—homeless because of violent conflict in their home country that has driven them, along with many others, to search for a place of greater stability and safety. They are staying with us until they can find more permanent housing—but in a tight, expensive housing market that could mean days, weeks, or months.

Preparing for their arrival—a family of four who have lived with upheaval and uncertainty for months—requires different preparation. Yes, the rooms need to be tidied up, but this time the drawers and cupboards that have accumulated ‘this and that’ (tucked away for some eventuality), also must be cleaned out. No one wants to live out of a suitcase for weeks or months at a time. Space must be made.

When we’ve been asked how well we know these ones who will live with us, we have to be honest that we don’t know them well at all. They are recommended by a mutual friend; they share some common priorities, and most importantly, they are disciples of Jesus Christ. On our few phone calls, they’ve seemed lovely.

But are they quiet or noisy?

Are they night-owls or early-risers?

Do they prefer to play games or read a book?

Would they rather go for a walk or go for a coffee?

Preparing for their arrival is requiring us to step into uncertainty—we don’t know what we don’t know. Space must be made.

Preparing a place for them in our home, and in our lives, requires a certain laying down of assumptions and expectations. We’re laying down the right to a somewhat peaceful, quiet home; for a season it will be interrupted, and we will discover a ‘new-normal’. We’re laying down the right to personal space; for a season there will be more people in the same space. We’re laying down control of our schedule & calendar to support their integration into our Canadian context. We’re inviting in—into our lives and our rhythms. Space must be made.

They come with no jobs and perhaps no transferrable skill set. They come with a passion for the mission of God and His work among some of the least-reached peoples on earth. Their pockets are mostly empty, but their hearts are largely full. Having left everything behind, they need a new network of care; a new community of intercessors; a new band of financial supporters. Space must be made.

Jesus is a Space-maker

As carefully as we are making preparations for these ones to join us, it pales in comparison to the careful preparations that Jesus assures us he is making for us.

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ -John 14:1-7

Reading this scripture again helps me remember that I’m just camping out here. My real home is being prepared by Jesus. Whatever discomforts I experience on this ‘camping trip’ of life are just inconveniences. One day, I will be welcomed fully home.

Jesus is busy making space for me—starting when he denied himself, putting aside the comfort of his eternal home to come to earth in full humanity, to walk among us.

Space was made for us.

Jesus prepared the way for us to be with him through his suffering and death on the cross, followed by his powerful resurrection from the dead.

Space was made for us.

Today Jesus intercedes on our behalf in the conversation of the Trinity, advocating for us and ensuring our place in the family of God.

Space is being made for us.

The sacrificial and eternal hospitality of Jesus Christ makes our hospitality to this family seem trivial in comparison. He has made ultimate and eternal space for me.

I am learning to be a space-maker like him. How about you?


Lorna Johnston is the Diaspora Ministries Leader at Outreach Canada. She leads two national teams--Simply Mobilizing Canada (SMC) and Loving Muslims Together (LMT). She works with teams of diverse and experienced leaders and ministries across Canada to alert and activate the church in Canada to the changing opportunities to engage God's mission right here in Canada.


print



LMT Webinar: Sharing your Contagious Faith with your Muslim Friend LMT Webinar: Sharing your Contagious Faith with your Muslim Friend

As disciples of Christ, we are called to share the gospel, but few of us are naturally comfortable ...
Read More..

Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting

Loving Muslims Together Network - Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting
Read More..

Kairos Courses 2023 Kairos Courses 2023

Kairos Courses 2023
Read More..

My Dream: Humble Spaces of Connection My Dream: Humble Spaces of Connection

I had a dream recently. I could be wrong, but I think it was a dream from God with a message for me...
Read More..

Rachaels Story Rachael's Story

A story from a Muslim Background Believer and a church who prayed for the mosque in their communit...
Read More..

Space-makers Space-makers

We have a couple of empty bedrooms in our house. At one time they were occupied by our kids, but fo...
Read More..

Night of Powerful Prayer Night of Powerful Prayer

Night of Powerful Prayer, by CCCOWE Canada & Loving Muslims Together, is a CALL TO PRAYER for Musli...
Read More..

8 Disciple-Making Principles 8 Disciple-Making Principles

A few years ago, I spent several months reading and re-reading the book of Acts. I was trying to un...
Read More..

Call to Prayer during Ramadan 2023 Call to Prayer during Ramadan 2023

Ramadan, marked by 30 days of fasting and prayer, is a season when Muslims diligently strive to ful...
Read More..

Love your Muslim Neighbours this Ramadan: Ways to Pray and Engage Love your Muslim Neighbours this Ramadan: Ways to Pray and Engage

Jesus exhorts us to love our neighbour as ourselves. Are you looking for opportunities to pray for ...
Read More..

6 Prayer Resources for Christians during Ramadan 6 Prayer Resources for Christians during Ramadan

6 Opportunities for Christians to pray during Ramadan.
Read More..

Loving Muslims Together: Inspiring Testimonies Loving Muslims Together: Inspiring Testimonies

You are invited to hear the testimony of a Christian man of Muslim background from Afghanistan who ...
Read More..

Pray, Learn, Engage: A Journey for Christians during Ramadan Pray, Learn, Engage: A Journey for Christians during Ramadan

Opportunities for Christians to pray, learn, love and engage with Muslims during Ramadan.
Read More..

Shaping the Church of the Future: The Diaspora Effect Shaping the Church of the Future: The Diaspora Effect

Many of us have mixed feelings about the changes that diaspora movements have brought to the world ...
Read More..

Prayer & Ramadan Prayer & Ramadan

Easter & Ramadan. Is God's forgiveness given or earned? An invitation for followers of Jesus t...
Read More..

Youre Invited! Praying for Ramadan You're Invited! Praying for Ramadan

You are invited to join us in praying for Ramadan! Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting—a s...
Read More..

Digital Bibles: A Key Discipleship Tool for Multilingual Speakers Digital Bibles: A Key Discipleship Tool for Multilingual Speakers

There are more opportunities today in Canada than ever before to reach out as a local church and we...
Read More..

Lunar New Year: How Should Christians Celebrate Lunar New Year: How Should Christians Celebrate

How should faith impact our celebrations of Lunar New Year as followers of Jesus? Alfred Chui expan...
Read More..

A Vanilla Life: 5 Questions to Consider as you Build Cross-Cultural Friendships A Vanilla Life: 5 Questions to Consider as you Build Cross-Cultural Friendships

  5 Questions to Consider as you Build Cross-Cultural Friendships. Vanilla describes most...
Read More..

Mobi 101 Seminar Mobi 101 Seminar

Mobi 101 Seminar from Simply Mobilizing Canada.
Read More..

Making Disciples of All Nations in Canada Making Disciples of All Nations in Canada

Statistics Canada has just released the CENSUS 2021 data on population and reported that “millions ...
Read More..

LMT Webinar: The Muslims Worldview LMT Webinar: The Muslim's Worldview

In this Loving Muslims Together webinar, you are invited to hear from Dr. Nabeel Jabbour on how Mus...
Read More..

Kairos Promo Video Kairos Promo Video

A short video introducing the Kairos Course.  
Read More..

Wasting Seed Wasting Seed

Anybody who has visited my house knows I like to garden. A few years ago, my husband and daughter b...
Read More..

A Simple Recipe for Making Disciples A Simple Recipe for Making Disciples

When I have a bit of extra time, I enjoy cooking. I especially enjoy cooking for other people, and ...
Read More..

Hand in Hand: Serving Refugees in Winnipeg Hand in Hand: Serving Refugees in Winnipeg

When I first heard what Allan was doing among refugees in Winnipeg, I felt a desire to learn more. ...
Read More..

Scripture Earth: Sharing the Gospel in Diverse Languages Scripture Earth: Sharing the Gospel in Diverse Languages

The website, ScriptureEarth.org, containing one of the largest repositories of Bible resources avai...
Read More..

...

A Worldview Story: Set Free
One of the challenges of interacting cross-culturally with our neighbours is that we understand our own worldview very clearly, but people coming from other cultures come with a different perspective. Each of us is conv...
Read more...
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting
Loving Muslims Together Network - Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting
Read more...
My Dream: Humble Spaces of Connection
I had a dream recently. I could be wrong, but I think it was a dream from God with a message for me. And maybe it’s a message for you too. Someone was promoting the idea of a coffee shop space. It was a small room—...
Read more...
Rachael's Story
A story from a Muslim Background Believer and a church who prayed for the mosque in their community.  Imagine getting this email: “My name is Rachael*. I am a born-again Christian of 2 years. I actually used...
Read more...
Space-makers
We have a couple of empty bedrooms in our house. At one time they were occupied by our kids, but for the last few years they’ve sat empty except when they’ve been temporarily occupied by visiting family or friends. A qu...
Read more...
Night of Powerful Prayer
Night of Powerful Prayer, by CCCOWE Canada & Loving Muslims Together, is a CALL TO PRAYER for Muslims during Ramadan. Join us online Monday April 17th, 2023.
Read more...
8 Disciple-Making Principles
A few years ago, I spent several months reading and re-reading the book of Acts. I was trying to understand how the Church had gone from a handful of people hiding out for fear of the authorities, to a bold and fearless...
Read more...
Call to Prayer during Ramadan 2023
Ramadan, marked by 30 days of fasting and prayer, is a season when Muslims diligently strive to fulfill the duties that form the basis of their religious practice. As Muslims enter a season of prayer and fasting during ...
Read more...