"Josh, my friend is coming to Minnesota with his wife and kids soon. I need to help them get some furniture," Sabo, my Palestinian friend, told me over the phone. "They have housing. But I was wondering if you could help me with the furniture. You know so many people."

Six Years Ago

Six years ago, Sabo came to us at Jonathan House on his journey as an asylum seeker. Fleeing the threat of violence, he sought stable shelter to begin again and found it in our community.

Cheerful and outgoing, with a love of baking and a hearty laugh, Sabo quickly made friends. Since he stayed with us years ago, he's moved on into his own established life, married, and started a family. Now, he is welcoming others with his big-hearted generosity, which is so characteristic of him and many of our asylum-seeking friends who come through Jonathan House.

"I'll do what I can"

"I'll send out an email and see what responses I get," I promised Sabo. "I don't know if I can do much more than that. I'm swamped with work right now, but I'll do what I can."

Within a few days, my inbox was filled with offers of contributions to furnish the soon-arriving family's home. One person offered a dresser, and another a mattress that was in good condition. And the offers kept coming. People clearly wanted to help.

Furniture Flashback

It reminded me of when I took a moving truck and went around the Metro with my cousin, gathering contributions to furnish our first Jonathan House site years ago. That furniture drive was much like this one, but this time, I passed the emails to Sabo.

He rented a truck, and when his friend arrived a few days ahead of his family, they drove around the Metro together to gather furniture for the man's home. Their home was ready to settle into when his family arrived, thanks to Sabo and the community's generosity.

Restorative Ripple Effect

When I think about Sabo's furniture drive and the welcome he is extending, I think of how the impact is not one of addition but multiplication with those who come through the door of Jonathan House. After receiving the opportunity to begin rebuilding their lives, our friends often become the front lines of supporting newly arrived asylum seekers.

And this is how welcome works. This chain reaction starts with the welcome we have freely received from God through Christ. As we, in turn, welcome others, we rejoice to see the ripple effect of His kingdom coming and expanding in our community as people's lives are restored.

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