POBLO-TX and Grace Lutheran Church in Arlington are working together to plant a Church of All Nations at Lutheran Student Center at UTA.  Pastor Karim started the ground work for this mission plant by leading a Bible study last year  with the international students from Muslim backgrounds. UTA has a multitude of international students estimating 1600 from Pakistan-India alone.  Please pray that the shepherd of All Nations will bring to completion what He has started.

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Adventures from UTA:  Lunch with a Buddhist,
a Hindu, and Sikh

As  the Assistant Director of the Lutheran Student Center, I have an amazing job of ministering to international and American students alike at UTA.  Sometimes I never know what to expect.  This was one of those times.

When a Hindu student invited me to lunch, I had no idea I was about to have lunch with not just a Hindu, but a Thailand Buddhist and a Sikh.  When God lets it rain, it pours witnessing opportunities.

On the half hour or so drive to the most excellent Indian buffet, small talk ensued—everything from the recent blockbuster Avatar to their research department.  It’s a great, slow way to begin friendships.  Over a variety of spicy curries, colorful chicken, and scrumptious deserts, conversation slowly turned to religion.

Not knowing much about the Sikh religion, I asked questions.  I learned that the length of his hair and beard were tied directly to his religion, an offshoot of Hinduism that began as a cult fighting against the Morgul oppressors in India.  In fact, most of the religion seemed grounded in a history of violence.  So, what was this American going to say?

Turns out, all I had to do was ask more questions.  I learned that Sikhs carry 5 specific items on their person, each are meant to anchor them in an identity.  From bangles to daggers to turbans, each represent something significant.  For example, daggers are meant to tie them to the idea of fighting oppressors.  Turbans are a sign of royalty, and like long hair and beards, help distinguish fellow Sikh believers in a crowd.  Some Sikhs trim their beards.

God so blessed the conversation, that on the way home, they asked me about my religion.  I was delighted to share with them Jesus.  First, I had to explain that when many foreigners think of “Christian,” they equate Christianity with “western culture,” which is explicitly not Christian.  Knowing a little about their culture, I placed emphasis on Jesus as “teacher,” similar to their utter devotion to one guru, and to “devotion,” the highest display of faith. I also shared my identity in Christ as His adopted son in my baptism, a direct opposite of those 5 items Sikhs carry on them.

I shared about my testimony, of growing up as a Christian, hating Jesus and leaving him and my faith behind for years, and yet still be the recipient, like St. Paul, of incredible and crazy grace.

At the end of it all, the Sikh turned to me and said, “You really like this Jesus, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I agreed.

This is only a snapshot of the conversation.  I couldn’t include my Hindu friend’s encouragement to try the goat curry—only to let me know after I ate it that having too much of it could be bad for your heart.  Nor have I touched upon their direct questioning about America’s pornography industry, and why don’t Christians do something about it?  At least that topic of pornography needs to wait for another article.

At the end of the car ride, no one became Christian, but it was the general consensus of my three international friends we would have lunch again in the next month.  I think we’re having Thai food.

By Joshua P. Smith

Assistant Director of the Lutheran                           

Student Center, Arlington, TX