Love Locally When You Don’t Feel Qualified
Loving Locally Starts with One Faithful Step
When we think about loving our neighbors, it's easy to imagine we need a big plan, special training, or years of experience before we can make a difference.
But often, loving locally begins much more simply. It begins with noticing. It begins with caring. It begins with taking one small step toward the people God has placed around us.
This summer, we're sharing stories from Women of Welcome Local Chapter leaders across the country. These women aren't experts. They're ordinary women choosing to move closer to their neighbors, learn the stories of immigrants and refugees in their communities, and practice Christlike welcome together.
Today, we're introducing you to Mary Jo from the Twin Cities.
Meet Mary Jo
To say I’m an empath might be a bit of an understatement, but as a 40-year follower of Christ, seeing God’s image in other humans from other places has never been difficult for me. That’s why, when I started seeing depictions of immigrant image-bearers being mistreated, and prevented from continuing their legal pathway to citizenship or protected status, and being denied due process, I knew I had to act.
After seeing one of Bri Stensrud’s posts in October of 2025, I reached out to her via DM, immediately asking if a local chapter existed. And guess what? I was told local chapters had just begun forming, and I could start a chapter here in Minnesota!
The timing, of course, was God’s timing, and I had no idea what was about to unfold in my beloved state. Although it didn’t launch until February 2026 and had not yet met during most of Operation Metro Surge, Lindsey (the Women of Welcome team member who oversees the local chapters) had connected me with other local chapter leaders, and the support was precious and invaluable.
It was a chaotic time to form a new group, but several like-minded Christian women reached out through Women of Welcome, and the chapter started to take shape. In the meantime, another woman from the Twin Cities formed a chapter on the other side of our large Metropolitan area!
We began meeting in February, and although our numbers have been small, we are committed to serving our immigrant neighbors well for a long time to come. We are still figuring things out. Personally, I have no real "qualifications" to lead this group; my goal is to simply gather women of God who want to serve him through serving his beloved.
And so far, the women who have shown up have been remarkable! I feel incredibly blessed to be among them.
What’s Your Next Faithful Step?
Mary Jo's story reminds us that loving locally isn't about having all the answers. It's about being willing to take the next faithful step.
Maybe your next step is getting to know an immigrant neighbor. Maybe it's gathering a few women to learn together. Maybe it's joining a local chapter near you. Or maybe, like Mary Jo, it's saying yes to starting something before you feel fully equipped.
You don't need special qualifications to begin. You just need a willingness to see the people God has placed around you and respond with Christlike welcome.
This is how change happens: one conversation, one relationship, one faithful step at a time.
Ready to Love Locally?
Whether you're looking for encouragement, practical ideas, or a community of women committed to welcoming well, we'd love to help you take your next step.
Download Love Locally, our brand new free summer resource. We are making this the summer of Christ-like welcome, and you can, too. It has ideas on how to model Christlike welcome for your kids, how to connect with your immigrant neighbors, conversation starters, simple recipes to try out, and so much more!
Find a local chapter near you or learn more about starting one. Because love starts close to home.
