Read Acts 17:22-33

Ministry: Reaching Germans and those migrating to Germany

Missionaries: Steve and Celeste Kern

Migration is a volatile topic these days. Political opinions about immigration policy are polarized. Indeed, there are no simple solutions to answering the difficult policy-related questions of “Who?” “How many?” and “Under what conditions?”

As we read Paul’s words spoken to the Greek philosophers gathered in the first century, however, we glean a divine perspective of the movements of people. Set aside your political convictions about immigration for a moment, as you read these words once again.

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:26, 27)

Here are some observations from the text:

1. The Lord made the nations. He instructed man to multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28), and, at Babel, He ensured that reality (Gen. 10:1-11:9). These nations are more than the roughly 200 entities recognized by the United Nations and marked by governments and geographical boundaries. They are thousands of people groups often defined by culture and language.
2. The Lord determines the chronology and geography of the nations. In other words, God sovereignly orchestrates the movements of these people groups. Thus, migration is neither an accident nor a surprise to God.
3. The Lord has a redemptive purpose in the movements of people groups. He formed them and orchestrates their times and locations so that they would seek Him. He uses migration for the purpose of salvation.

Last decade, more than 2 million people migrated to Germany as they fled from danger in their own countries of origin. While these people flee opposition to seek asylum, the Lord desires that they also find the Savior.

We will have the privilege of serving alongside of other followers of Christ as we ask God to draw the unreached to Himself.

Pray: Please pray that God prepares the way for our final deployment to Germany later this year. Ask Him to draw people from the nations to Himself!

Steve and Celeste Kern