Скачать или смотреть Reinder Bruinsma, “When People Move: the church’s calling in a world of refugees & asylum seekers?”

28 February 2026 |

Immigration by people from the developing world has become a major concern among citizens of the world’s richest countries. In America, Europe, and Australia, some politicians have distinguished themselves largely by their opposition to “foreigners”—a few even painting them all as criminals.

Yet the Bible is full of stories of immigrants! Abraham travels from Mesopotamia to Palestine. Only a few generations later, his family goes to Egypt. In one of the epic immigrations in history, the descendants Abraham return from Egypt to Palestine—only to be deported a few centuries later by the Assyrians.

Even Jesus and his family were, according to the gospel accounts, immigrants! By Roman times we see God’s people scattered across the Mediterranean world, which helped to spread the gospel across the vast Roman empire.

What has been the impact of emigration and immigration, past and present, on the church? Most importantly: what is the calling of Christians in a world of refugees and asylum seekers? How are we supposed to interact with “foreigners”?

Teacher:
Dr. Reinder Bruinsma (1942) lives in the Netherlands with his wife, Aafje. He has served the Adventist Church in various assignments in publishing, education, and church administration on three continents. He still maintains a busy schedule of preaching and writing.

His latest books are Adventists and Catholics: The History of a Turbulent Relationship and As Time Moves on: Aging—Blessing or Burden?