Common Barriers-New Immigrants

These brand new Muslim immigrants face many challenges when they arrive in Europe: they don’t know the language, they usually are looking for a job and housing, and they are living in a world so incredibly different than their own. For a worker desiring to reach them for Christ, these needs can present an open door. Christ followers who live in these countries can help them learn the language, usually through classes provided at a cultural center. They may even be able to help with the job search. However, barriers exist when the new immigrant is reluctant to receive help from a Westerner. He or she will usually seek out family or friends from their home country because they trust them, and because they understand their way of thinking. Well meaning Westerners can turn a new immigrant off, simply because the Westerner may approach how they help that immigrant in a way that is confusing, or even insulting.

This is why being a learning of your culture is important. Loyalty is a major issue with many immigrants in Europe. They come from countries where loyalty to family and faith is of the utmost importance. Therefore, you many need to build their trust before they can allow you to help them. It would be wise to spend a good amount of time observing the customs of the people group you are working with. Watch what they do when a new person arrives. How does that person feel secure and loved? Sometimes the best thing you can do is humbly offer your help, and then spend time praying for ways to share your faith with this new person in your life. This isn’t to say that God might not be telling you to act at times. So make sure you are walking daily with Him, so that when He speaks, you are ready to listen.