“Welcoming the stranger” has always felt like an invitation from God to extend hospitality to those in need. It’s an echo of the reminder in Scripture that you, too, “…were once strangers.” Growing up, Sunday school stories taught me to see myself as a foreigner in this world—a temporary resident in a place where hospitality matters deeply. But it wasn’t just the Bible that softened my heart to immigrants; it was my family’s story.
When my mother first arrived in Los Angeles as a child, her family relied on the kindness of strangers. Members of a local Japanese Christian church showed up regularly to help them navigate life’s basics, offering a lifeline in an unfamiliar land. That radical hospitality shaped my mother and, in turn, shaped me.
Years later, when our Chicago church had the chance to welcome a refugee family, my mom jumped at the opportunity. She wanted to give back what she had once received.
But welcoming the stranger isn’t just about following God’s command—it’s about encountering Jesus.
In Matthew 25, Jesus connects hospitality to knowing him: “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in” (vv. 35-36). Yu-Shuan Tarango-Sho, a ministry friend, once put it this way: “Jesus was a political refugee fleeing oppression.”
When we accompany others, we come to know Jesus better. It’s as simple—and as challenging—as that.
Today, welcoming the stranger feels more urgent than ever. Christian faith is often used to justify opposing sides of the same issue, but when it comes to supporting immigrants and refugees, Scripture is clear. So it’s alarming to see the rising risks for our immigrant neighbors. Deportation fears, family separations, and changes to “sensitive location” protections have left many feeling unsafe—even in churches, schools, and hospitals.
If there’s ever been a time for the church to step up, it’s now.
I’ll admit, there have been moments when I’ve thought, This is someone else’s issue. Immigration challenges often feel distant—like they’re happening “over there.” But by God’s grace, I’ve started to notice the invisible people in my own community: The workers behind the side door at my favorite restaurant, the families navigating our school system, the neighbors I never really see. When I ask God to open my eyes, I realize how close these struggles are.
So here’s my challenge: Spend 24 hours asking God to reveal the strangers in your own community.
Look around.
Who are the people you might have overlooked? Once you see them, ask how you can step in with hospitality. Maybe it’s offering a meal, providing childcare, or simply being a backup contact for families facing deportation risks. Small acts of kindness can be life-changing.
Churches can do even more. We can provide resources like “Know Your Rights” trainings, legal aid, or even just a hotline for immigrant families needing help. Imagine if every church had a network of volunteers ready to assist with childcare or transportation in a crisis. These aren’t monumental tasks, but they’re tangible ways to be God’s hands and feet in our neighborhoods.
Resources like Carlos Malave’s work with the Latino Church National Network can help churches take action. From family preparedness plans to federal forms that allow pastors to represent families legally, tools available for those ready to step up. You can find these resources at Juntos en Cristo or through USCIS.
Welcoming the stranger isn’t just an act of kindness; it’s an act of faith. It’s how we make God’s love visible in a world often defined by fear.
So let’s not miss this opportunity.
Let’s open our eyes, our hands, and our hearts—and let’s welcome Jesus in the process.
Nikki Toyama-Szeto is the Executive Director of Christians for Social Action, where she helps Christians have a faith-fueled engagement with the world’s most challenging issues. Her work has been profiled on NPR’s On Point, Outreach Magazine’s Leadership Issue (Sept. 2017, Cover), Religion and Politics (Aug. 2018), Christianity Today’s “Who’s Next?” and Rejuvenate Magazine’s “40 under 40.” Before coming to CSA in 2017, she served in leadership positions at International Justice Mission, the Urbana Conference and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
