Many books on Christianity at the moment seem to be geared in stating what should be obvious to Christians- to actually do what Jesus told us to do, and to care for the disenfranchised and needy in out community. This excellent book will confirm for many of us what we should be doing, and hopefully prick the conscience of others who claim to live the word but are consumed by selfishness.

Good food for thought from a true Christian perspective-recommended for anyone considering this subject thoughtfully

I asked one of my reviewers to cover this book, here is her review: When author Kent Annan talked with his son about immigrants and refugees, the 8-year-old asked, “Are we for them or against them?” Annan’s response to his question—for them—is the theme of this balanced, biblical call to follow Jesus’ command to offer hospitality and to welcome the stranger among us.
Annan explores how this call is based on an understanding that refugees and immigrants are “fellow children of God, whom we recognize as ourselves and who are in need.”
Refreshingly candid, Annan reflects on the reasons—“fears, complexities, and barriers”—that hinder people from welcoming newcomers. As Christians, he asserts, “love is the lens we see through, then wisdom guides us through the risks.”
You Welcomed Me is written from the perspective of an American citizen who longs to see his country “welcome more generously.” As he relates the powerful, painful stories of refugees who have settled in the United States, Canada, and other countries, he shares “a vision for how life is deeper, better, and more faithful together.”
Each of this short book’s stimulating chapters ends with spiritually probing questions for reflection as well as suggestions for how readers can put what they learned into practice. (IVP)

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us is a book you'll want to read slowly and thoughtfully. I actually finished it last week but needed to mull over the book before writing a review. Kent Annan has written several prior books and is no stranger to this topic as he has worked with refugees in numerous countries and leads the M.A. at Wheaton College's Humanitarian Disaster Institute.

Annan does a wonderful job of wedding stories from his personal experiences with statistics and Biblical teaching. A primary focus is Biblical teaching. Annan's prime emphasis is Christ welcomes us,(in fact he did while we were still sinners,) and as Christ-followers we need to be welcoming to others who are made in the image of God as well. His stories place you in the middle of a scenario and make you think "what if?" What if your home was destroyed and you needed to start over in a completely different country? What if your community or country was not a safe place to raise your family? Questions such as these and many others help you to imagine yourself in these situations. Beyond these questions, Annan tells the stories of specific refugees and immigrants as well as individuals who are assisting them. Numerous illustrations show how individuals in impoverished countries are sharing what little they have with refugees. Another memorable illustration told of a community who was going to accept refugees but was impacted by a devasting fire. The fire and damage helped the community residents to better identify with the refugees who had lost everything and they proceeded to welcome the refugees. These illustrations of generosity in the midst of despair are quite convicting.

Annan notes that when churches and communities welcome refugees, we are often the ones who are the most changed by the experience. Annan backs up these stories with a variety of statistics regarding the number of refugees and immigrants and points out that the U.S. receives a small percentage of the world's refugee population. Keep in mind that Annan does not advocate a completely open border. He indicates that we do need a vetting system even while we more generously welcome refugees. Annan also points out that countries near disasters and war zones accept many more refugees than the U.S.A. ever could but that we could do so much more than the current 0.2% of the world's refugees. Annan also does a marvelous job of debunking a variety of myths which surround refugee and immigrant populations such as they take American jobs or being a security risk.

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us is highly recommended. The book is highly engaging and accessible as it focuses on stories backed up with statistics rather than being an academic tome. Annan also provides specific practice challenges at the end of each chapter. These challenges take the reader beyond the book to actually engage with others, to share their stories, and to welcome them. Some individuals may find these challenges difficult to do not because they are hard but because they live in locations where the challenges are difficult to accomplish. For example, readers in rural areas may find it difficult to locate someone who is new to our country or locating a church or nonprofit that is working with refugees. Each challenge exists to help readers experience opportunities to welcome others and to break down barriers.

I was most excited to discover a FREE six-session video course has been created to accompany this book. I have not worked through this curriculum, but I believe it will provide the basis for much needed discussion about this topic. A FREE 13 page Family Toolkit is also available to help families discuss this topic. Both of these resources will help to make this already rich resource accessible to an even wider audience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book You Welcomed Me free from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Having just finished the book, and on the verge of tears (though, if I am honest that was where I found myself throughout the book), I find myself reviewing this book.

Read this book if:
-You want to know more about how we should respond to immigrants and refugees as Christ followers.
-You want to understand how you can be a part of loving your neighbors better, especially those that are different from you.
-You are a person.

For real, Annan touches on something of a trigger topic in the United States right now. He presents biblical truth and aligns it with statistics that face some of the lies that we might sometimes fear about what allowing differences into our lives and nation. He also gives grace and mercy for those that struggle with living out the truth of God's call for us as believers in the face of the "truths" we believe laid out by our nationalism.

This book is a fairly quick read, page number wise, but don't let the moments pass you by as you consider the stories and equipping that Annan provides at the end of each chapter.

Well done.

I received an electronic copy of this book before publishing in exchange for my unbiased review. BUT don't let that make you believe for a second that I am not purchasing a physical copy of this book when it comes out to share with my community.