You might wonder why another ministry?
That’s a fair question.
Perhaps you’ve already guessed from the subtitle: Once a Refugee, Now a Missionary!!
Once a Refugee
Some of you already know my story.
I was born in a refugee camp in Nepal and arrived in the U.S. in late 2009. Since then, I have always said I have been in refugee ministry from both sides. I first received it, and by God’s grace, I was able to give it back.
When I first came to America, everything was new. I had to learn how to navigate a new language, a new culture, and a completely different way of life. Like many refugees and immigrants, I was starting over.
But unlike many refugees and immigrants, I was blessed to have three people that God brought into my life who completely changed me.
First, a man named Woodrow came by, knocked on the door, and invited me to ministry. Next, I had Trent Deloach, who mentored me. Finally, I had mom and dad, Mark and Sharon Wardlaw, who made me part of their family.
I could write an entire chapter about what each one meant to me. Together, God used them to change me into the man I am now. Without them, I would not be where I am.
But the sad side is that many refugees and immigrants never experience this kind of investment. Many never meet a Woodrow, a Trent, or a Mark and Sharon. That reality continues to weigh heavily on my heart.
Once a Refugee… Now a Missionary
Since then, all I have done is refugee ministry. Now, I have a Doctor of Education in Ministry. Once a refugee, now a doctor I guess you can say. I was honored to work for ministries like Refugee Louisville, Youth for Christ Louisville, Clarkston International Bible Church, and, most recently, Send Relief Atlanta. I have also worked at USARMY Reserve as a Chaplain for the past 6 years. God has used each of these ministries to help me see His glory more and more and to deepen my conviction that refugees are not merely a mission field – they are a mission force for the kingdom of God.
But more than any of these, I am a husband to my awesome and beautiful wife for 11 years, and a father of Amos (9), Paul (5), and Yosef (2). Man, God has been so good and gracious.
While I was going through these life journeys under God’s sovereignty, one thing was clear to me: I was once angry at God that I was in a refugee camp, but after I got called to mission, I was thankful that I was a refugee. Today, I can honestly say that I am thankful for my refugee story – not because suffering is good, but because God redeemed it for his glory.
Two Convictions that Changed Everything
And as a result, the two things that I have always done since then are:
The two things I have always done since becoming a missionary are mobilizing and equipping the church for refugee ministry and reaching the other refugees with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have mobilized churches for refugee ministry by speaking at various churches and hosting mission teams to train them to reach refugee communities. I have probably been a part of different teams that have trained more than 100 churches in refugee ministry so far. Second, I have reached out to refugee communities in Louisville and Clarkston, Georgia through the churches.
My story is not why 360 Ministries exists. My story simply convinced me that God is writing this story again and again through refugee communities around the world. 360 Ministries exists because I believe the Church has both a unique opportunity and a God-given responsibility to participate in what God is already doing among the nations.
After years of serving among refugee communities, I realized that simply doing refugee ministry myself would never be enough. The need is far greater than what one person or one ministry can accomplish. I have a saying: let the future decide what you want to do in the present, and if that is true, then I must be intentional in mobilizing, equipping, and empowering churches to engage refugee communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That realization became the foundation for 360 Ministries and led me to four key convictions.
First, many churches in the United States are unaware of the mission opportunity God has brought to their communities through refugees and immigrants. We must help them see this opportunity. Second, awareness alone is not enough. Churches must also be equipped with practical tools and training to engage refugee communities effectively. We cannot simply tell them why refugee ministry matters; we must also teach them how to do it faithfully as part of making disciples locally and globally for the glory of God.
Third, there is a saying that, by 2045, America will be “majority-minority”. If (and that is big IF) that is the case, then the future of the Western church is a multi-ethnic church. But I also agree with Dr. Kleen Cook that the Western church’s future is not only a multi-ethnic church, but also one with mono-ethnic churches, though those mono-ethnic churches will be in a language other than English.
If that is the case, we have to raise up a generation that can serve in both a multi-ethnic church and a mono-ethnic church. I believe the 1.5 generation is best suited for this. These are young people, mostly from ethnic churches, who are bilingual (more to write on this in coming days).
For example, I am a 1.5 generation. I was born in a refugee camp in Nepal but grew up in the U.S.A. I speak English and Nepali. I can lead both a multi-ethnic and a Nepali church. I have tried 
. I was a Discipleship pastor at CIBC, did welcome at CIBC, then left to preach at a Nepali church at the same time. It is possible!! But sadly, 1.5 does not know about this. Therefore, we should not make it only an option but should prioritize mobilizing, discipling, and sending the 1.5 generation for the great commission.
Fourth (and this is a sad one), many Anglo churches have full-time pastors and other staff to shepherd the church in God’s mission. However, many ethnic churches do not have any full-time staff. All they have is a pastor who works full-time outside the church and gives the rest of the time to shepherd the church. Youth in ethnic churches do not have many dedicated pastors and leaders to mentor them and give them God’s big vision for God’s mission.
In summary: 360 Ministries exists to mobilize and equip the churches for refugee ministry, raise a 1.5 generation for Great Commission work and, lastly, see former refugees become missionaries.
Here is the big point: I don’t believe that God brought the refugees here in our country just to reach them with the gospel. I believe God brought refugees here so that we as a Western church (Anglo and ethnic) can reimagine our Global mission.
But here is another bigger point: as a follower of Christ, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20) who have been called by divine calling from God himself to proclaim the excellence of him (1 Peter 2:9) so that we can make disciples who can make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Knowing that our future is a home where all peoples from all nations are equally working and praising the Lord Jesus eternally (Revelation 7:9-11). Amen!! The question is not whether God is bringing the nations to us – He already has. The question is: Will we make disciples locally who will impact the nations globally?
Do you see the need for this vision and mission of 360? Will you please follow us and share about this ministry with your churches? It will be an honor to walk with your churches to reach refugees, equip the 1.5 generation, and mobilize former refugees for global mission.