Jesus purposefully went through Samaria, even though the Jews normally went around (John 4.) He did so not just to bring one person, but an entire community to faith. I spend most of my ministry days dealing with people who are modern day Samaritans. These are the "problem" people for the church, for society and for our cities. It isn't that mainstream middle class people have fewer problems, its that their problems are "cleaner" and less messy to deal with. They are covered up by the veneer of money, credit and insurance. How do we as a church turn what look like barriers into opportunities as Jesus did? How do we take "you are a Jew and I am a Samaritan" and turn it into an opportunity to grow the kingdom?

A few weeks ago I saw true missionary work. I visited a church where we have a Vietnamese mission and saw the host congregation at work as missionaries. I followed a couple from the church as they took a young Vietnamese boy home to his Buddhist parents. Several members of the church did the same. These children are learning about the love of God and becoming part of the Christian family. Who knows how many children are brought into the kingdom through the persistent love of the congregation.