International church reaches refugees in ‘most diverse square mile in America’

A team of 12 Mississippi Baptists embarked on a "vision journey" to Clarkston, Georgia, a multicultural suburb of Atlanta, transformed by refugees since the 1990s.
Vision Journey participants visit with a Christian Pakistani family during a trip to Clarkston, Georgia.
(Photo by Chad McCord/The Baptist Record)

International church reaches refugees in ‘most diverse square mile in America’

A team of 12 Mississippi Baptists embarked on a “Vision Journey” to Clarkston, Georgia, a multicultural suburb of Atlanta, impacted by refugees since the 1990s.

A Baptist church, facing decline in the suburb, renamed itself as Clarkston International Bible Church to reach the diverse community. The refugees, often misunderstood, are displaced individuals fleeing war or persecution, seeking a life to live rather than self-seeking gain.

The Vision Journey team, representing various churches, toured a Hindu temple near Clarkston, emphasizing the need for mission work amid cultural diversity.

Spiritual transformation

They visited multicultural Christian families, hearing testimonies of spiritual transformation through CIBC’s outreach.

Despite gospel needs, CIBC, with support from the North American Mission Board, is expanding its outreach with a new facility.

Vision Journeys offer opportunities for Mississippi churches to engage in local missions, fostering a mindset of outreach to diverse communities.

Read full story here.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lindsey Williams and originally published by The Baptist Record.

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