Ways to "welcome the stranger"

1. Learn to know immigrants and refugees by name.

2. Avoid thinking and saying "we" and "they".

3. Attend a church service of an ethnic group different from your own. Take along a youth group.

4. Try to learn another language.

5. Pick one particular refugee or immigrant group to learn more about. Read, attend their cultural celebrations, go to their churches, etc.

6. Avoid generalizing when talking about another ethnic group.

7. In church, try to learn songs from another ethnic group.

8. In church, read Scripture in another language.

9. Invite a guest speaker from a refugee or immigrant group, with a translator if needed.

10. Plan joint meals, where people from various ethnic groups gather together to eat.

11. See the movie "El Norte" (especially suggested for youth groups).

12. Participate in a grocery sharing project.

13. Sponsor a refugee or a refugee family.

14. Plan a joint youth group activity.

15. Volunteer for a local agency that works with refugees and immigrants.

16. Learn your own family stories and history. Find out why and when your family immigrated. Write these stories for the next generation.

17. Write your elected representatives about legislation that adversely affects refugees and immigrants.

18. Be informed about the popular representation of immigrants as drains on schools, hospitals and other public facilities. In fact, most economists believe immigrants benefit, rather than burden, the economy.

19. Learn to know on a personal basis one refugee or immigrant.

20. Support efforts to build more just societies in other countries. Support MCC's development efforts in other countries.

21. Volunteer to provide transportation to church or the doctor for a refugee or immigrant.

22. As a Sunday school project, hold a grocery shower, a baby shower or a household shower for a newly arrived immigrant or refugee.

23. Host exchange students.

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