Internationals often complain about Americans and their one-time relationships, opening homes for Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations, and then never establishing contact again. There is a great desire on the part of these dear ones so far from home to be adopted by a family with whom they can share and from whom they can learn our customs, or develop a facility with our language.
Many organizations seek to aid internationals while they stay here in America, giving legal advice regarding visas, job permits, and a host of other documents. Most large universities have a foreign student advisor who would be willing to provide contacts or answer questions.
Foreign mission boards can offer another source of cultural information. Such information could help us prevent many of the insensitivities that can destroy relationships before they start.
I wonder often about Jesus’ illustration that we are the light of the world. And, then I think about that special, spiritual light—invisible to the human eye but amazingly transmitted onto film—surrounding those sheltered in the Calcutta Home for the Dying in India.
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Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen Mains serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
Karen has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
An award-winning author of several other books, Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
