Rethinking the Good Samaritan
- by Tom Albinson
A vital part of IAFR's work is to provide training and tools to equip others for ministry among forcibly displaced people. So, we are excited to tell you about a new resource that will soon be available! Written by IAFR's Director of Training, Rachel Uthmann, The Faithful Innkeeper: Fostering Life-Giving Ministry Among Refugees is being released in February. This book builds on the materials already available through IAFR's training to address real challenges faced by those committed to refugee ministry. A portion of the proceeds will also help sustain the work of IAFR. Read on for the description from the publisher, InterVarsity Press.
The Faithful Innkeeper
The Faithful Innkeeper offers Christians serving displaced people a revolutionary perspective on serving refugee neighbors. Rather than viewing ourselves as the “Good Samaritan” hero of Jesus’ famous parable, seasoned ministry practitioner Rachel Uthmann invites readers to embrace the role of the faithful innkeeper—the one who provides essential care and hospitality within human limitations in partnership with Jesus, our true Good Samaritan.
This compassionate guide addresses the real challenges faced by those committed to refugee ministry: How do we serve sustainably without burning out? How do we build genuine, mutual relationships? How do we process the grief and trauma we encounter while maintaining hope and effectiveness?
Drawing from biblical wisdom and practical experience, Uthmann demonstrates how remembering God as the initiator and source of our work frees us from despair in the face of overwhelming need. From this life-giving posture of partnership with Christ, we can fulfill our part in our neighbor’s healing journey without burning out.
What you’ll find in The Faithful Innkeeper:
Fresh exploration of the Good Samaritan parable, highlighting Jesus as the true Good Samaritan and our role as the innkeeper
Crucial insights to help those in ministry among displaced people become better informed about the complex realities of the refugee experience
A sustainable ministry model for long-term, life-giving service in mutually transformative relationships
The role of the church in building relationships with refugees
Life-giving ministry emerges when we respond faithfully to God’s invitation to partnership while leaving ultimate outcomes to his care. This book is great for volunteers, church leaders, missionaries, and anyone involved in immigrant or refugee services. With The Faithful Innkeeper, discover how walking alongside refugee neighbors can be one of life’s greatest gifts.
"Our world is on fire, reeling from the brokenness of humanity and all of creation. The numbers and the proportion of people forcibly displaced today continues to skyrocket, and world powers increasingly depict them as a threat. Yet it is as it should be: the people of God led by Jesus our Good Samaritan stand ready to welcome and participate in the healing of our global neighbors."
Rachel Uthmann is director of training at the International Association for Refugees, where she equips Christians for faithful, sustainable, and fruitful service among people forcibly displaced from their homes by violence or persecution. She is a master facilitator with the Healing the Wounds of Trauma program. She previously served in ministry in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Greece.
