Multiculturalism and Walking with Jesus Every Day

Expat life offers a lot of challenges that we didn't have back in the U.S. and more than a few opportunities. The friendship of people from a variety of cultures involves both aspects and yet my teenagers seem to take it all in stride.
My kids are in the unique position of being in a situation where their pool of friends come from a wide (and I do mean wide) variety of faiths, cultures and influences. My daughter once commented that she realized at her lunch table in school that day was a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Christian, a Hindu and two Daoists. This was not assigned seating, it was a group of friends during a high school lunch period and I have to tell you sometimes that really scares me.
I worry that a friend who is atheist will have a profound effect on my child when what I should be doing is praising God that my child has the opportunity to have an effect on her! One night a friend of my daughter's had dinner with us, we bowed our heads to pray as we always do and this charming girl who is Hindu came into the kitchen after dinner to tell me what a special thing she thought it was. I think the key to seeing the opportunities as opposed to the challenges is to be strong in your own faith, to know what you believe and while you are friends with those of different backgrounds it's also important to maintain friendships and fellowship with those who share your beliefs.
During our four years in Singapore we've done that by hosting a Friday night youth Bible study called RestStop. Our group has fluctuated from as many as 23 kids to as few as 3 (and you never know from week to week which end of the spectrum you'll be on) but it has become a place of fellowship and study that the teenagers from our home church seem to appreciate and enjoy. It's not really an outreach, more of an opportunity for kids who already know Christ to grow in their faith and be equipped for the challenges they face in such a multi-cultural society as Singapore.


During my Bible study time this morning I read something Beth Moore wrote about the ways we share our love for Christ. One of the ways she mentioned, and the one I find myself identifying with the most was "provide opportunities for casual conversation in which Christ can be seen as a part of your life" (Breaking Free Study Guide, p.210). Sometimes I think that the daily presence of Christ in your life, the way He is integral to the way you live, is the greatest witness you can have.