Entertaining Angels Unaware: Welcoming the Immigrant Other

I have made a short video introduction to the book. You can find it here  Intro Text: Where’s the beef? My name is Phil Gottschalk and I have written a book called Entertaining Angels Unaware: Welcoming the Immigrant Other.   In general I’d say that my book is like a hamburger, which is composed of different parts. Some chapters are technical and difficult, but they had to be to deal with the content of that chapter.   Some chapters are full of true stories about people, heroes I call them, who helped refugees and immigrants.   Some chapters are biblical exposition for how we should deal with refugees and immigrants.   Some chapters are more philosophical attempting to bring across not only facts, but feelings; how being a refugee or an immigrant feels. When I was a teen, Wendy’s restaurant opened.   It was competition to McDonald’s and Burger King at the time. Wendy’s had a series of ads, which featured a white haired old lady asking, “Where’s the beef?”...

My book is now available in paperback and hardback directly from Wipf & Stock (though it is a Cascade imprint).   https://wipfandstock.com/ 9781725259478/entertaining- angels-unaware/ One can also buy an epub version (Google Play). https://play.google.com/store/ books/details/Philip_A_ Gottschalk_Entertaining_ Angels_Unaware?id=aE8TEAAAQBAJ

More than 300 Syrian refugees left without shelter ... Lebanon says it hosts some 1.5 million Syrians, including about 1 million registered as refugees with the United Nations. https://www.dw.com/en/syrian-refugee-camp-burned-to-ground-in-northern-lebanon/a-56068640

On rooftops in Jordan, Gaza refugees reconnect with lost land Rooftop hydroponics might be a far cry from tilled fields, but the act of farming can still speak to the soul of a displaced people, offering purpose and a sense of pride. JERASH, JORDAN  Christian Science Monitor Daily 28 October 2020 Taylor Luck Islam Abu Saud checks the series of white plastic tubes running and twisting across the expanse of green canvas in what looks like a life-sized school science project. She scans digital pH readers and engine pumps. Finally, the 22-year-old university graduate gazes with satisfaction at the end result of the past four weeks of labor: bright green heads of lettuce. Even better? This is not a farm or research center – this is her rooftop. “After waiting for opportunities to arrive,” Ms. Abu Saud says, “I am making opportunities grow at home.” In Jordan’s Jerash refugee camp, an experiment in hydroponic rooftop gardening is offering more than a badly needed source of income. It’s o...

Putting things in perspective... 79,5 Million Displaced People worldwide... That would be 24% of the total US population. It is equivalent to the populations of the states of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut combined! It's roughly the population of the UK, Ireland and Greece combined. The numbers aren't statistics. They are people, mostly stateless people displaced by war. Our reaction shouldn't be self-justification, but pity and compassion

We had the privilege of working alongside Danny & Vera Kuranji in Novi Sad, Serbia for two years in 1992-94.  This was during the "Bosnian War." We discipled some of the new believers they had led to Christ.  Danny & Vera founded the Christian Fellowship church in Novi Sad.  They also helped with providing physical needs of refugees from Bosnia and Croatia. Danny preaching before a baptism service at the Danube River in Novi Sad, Serbia @1993 Danny baptizing a new believer in the Danube River at Novi Sad, Serbia @ 1993 A group of young believers at the time of a Bible study @ 1993

                           Maxim Belov is in third row on the left.  Olya is in front of him on his left. I can’t hope to name all the people who selflessly helped refugees and IDPs (Internally Discplaced People) in my blogs.   There are many unsung heroes.   My goal, however, is to praise those I know who have made a difference.  Usually these people would reject the idea that they were heroes.  They were just reaching out with caring hands and arms in some cases  to friends and relatives. One such couple of heroes were Maxim and Olya Belov in Zaporozhye, Ukraine.  Maxim is from Fedosiya, Crimea.  Maxim directs the part-time education department of Zaporozhye Bible Seminary. Among the courses Maxim teaches are: Evangelism; Spiritual Growth and Discipleship; Methodology of Working with  Pre-Schoolers, Elementary Age and Adolescents; Preparing and Conducting a Bible Lesso...