Project HELP: Refugees
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14, NIV)
Immigration is a hot topic in our nation and our churches. It has been known to cause arguments and has been divisive in many ways. But no matter where our opinion falls on the issue, the Lord cares about refugees. He even gives specific instructions on how to treat our refugee neighbors (whether next door or around the world)—with love.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are over 70.8 million people around the world who have been displaced from their countries forcibly because of persecution, war, violence, natural disasters, and more. Many of them have come to our country looking for safety because they have lost everything or their lives were in danger. As the body of Christ, it is our job to provide and care for these people. One of the best ways we can do this is to do something simple (yet powerful) that we all have access to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can pray.
God loves refugees. He made them. He wants us to intercede on their behalf and when we do that, He will give us a love for them that can only come from Him. There are many ways to pray for refugees.
- Pray that the basic needs of refugees will be met. Oftentimes, refugees are forced to leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Pray that God will provide food, clean water, clothing, shelter, medicine, and any other needs.
- Pray for their safety. Refugees are vulnerable and can easily fall prey to many kinds of evil. Pray that refugees will have wisdom and discernment about who or what they can trust.
- Pray for refugee families, as family members are often separated and sometimes even children are separated from their parents for various reasons. Pray that people will take care of refugees and love them during these difficult times. Pray for the comfort and peace that only God can provide.
- Pray for the healing of refugees. Most of us cannot even fathom what they are going through or what they have lost when they had to escape their homes. While we can help to fulfill their daily needs, there is only One who can truly heal their hearts and help them recover from the inside out—the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to penetrate their souls with His love. Only He can help them recover from what they have been through physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
- Pray for missionaries and volunteers who work with refugees, both overseas and in the United States. Pray for missions personnel as they assist refugees in preparing to leave international locations in order to resettle in our country.
- Pray for the truth of Jesus Christ to come to refugees. More than anything, refugees need the Lord. The best gift we can share with refugees is the gift of salvation.
Many of us are great at praying for ourselves, but let’s pray for our hurting neighbors as well. God commands us to. He will answer.
Learn more about the refugee crisis at wmu.com/refugees.
For additional resources about how to reach refugees with God’s love, visit wmustore.com/refugees
Take this self-guided minicourse, Refugees: The Church’s Response, for an overview of factors that impact refugees and how you can lead your church to respond to the refugee crisis.
Written by Marsha Butler
Refugees
Conflict and persecution around the world cause tens of thousands of people to flee their homes every day and become refugees. They leave behind their entire way of life and face the daily realities of uncertainty and distress.
The world tells refugees they are not wanted, but we serve a God who desires a relationship with displaced people. He beckons each one of them to their eternal home and offers a gospel that knows no bounds.
As Christians, we are uniquely positioned to minister to refugees. Our compassionate response to the physical and emotional needs of refugees must be coupled with a desire to satisfy their spiritual needs through the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.
Do you want to lead your faith community in refugee ministry, but you’re uncertain where to start? WMU empowers individuals and the local church to respond to the Global Refugee Crisis.
You hear the news—refugees are being sent to your city. Hardly any time passes and it happens. “They” are really here. “They” start appearing in the grocery store, lining up to enroll their children in school, and sitting in the doctor’s waiting room with you.
Your mind races. Is the vetting process enough to protect our citizens? What if “they” are really terrorists? What if “they” have illnesses your children or grandchildren can catch? It’s easy to panic. But what we really need to ask is, who are “they” anyway?
WHO ARE THEY?
They are people. They are people who’ve been displaced from countries in distress. They are mothers, fathers, widows, widowers, grandparents, and innocent children. While we might carry concerns for what they’re capable of, we need to consider how they are feeling—frightened, alone, bewildered, and sad.
DISCOVER THEIR BACKGROUND.
After refugees arrive, conduct some research to learn where they are coming from. What is their homeland like? What trauma have they been exposed to? What are the cultural norms?
SET ASIDE FEAR.
As Christ followers, we have to set aside our fears. We have to trust God to help us overcome our fears and accept the “foreigner” among us. Fear is an emotion. Trust is an act of faith.
Praying for missionaries in hostile countries should prepare us for the day when we will share the love of Christ while swallowing our fears. If the Lord can equip missionaries with courage, He will equip us, too.
REALIZE THE MISSIONAL POSSIBILITIES.
Jesus taught us in the story of the Good Samaritan how we should respond to the hurting and broken. We cannot turn our backs. We can look for refugees in everyday moments and greet them warmly. A request for directions could turn into a friendship. Do their children have obvious needs? Will they need school supplies or clothing to enroll in school? Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He may lead you to buy something right on the spot or ask your church for a benevolent gift.
GO MEET THEM IN THEIR WORLD.
If a local agency is already meeting basic needs of refugees, start asking questions. Does the agency know of needs? Ask where the refugees are being housed. Enlist sensitive members of your church to go door to door. Introduce yourselves and offer a tract or brochure connecting yourself with the church. A gift bag with snacks, a restaurant gift certificate, and information about local establishments should be well received. Be sincere and friendly.
If you learn about classes being organized to teach English to refugees, then research the details. Do they need help with child care while adults are in class? Can your church donate refreshments? Be ready to help in practical ways. Strive to build real relationships that require time but yield fruit for the kingdom of Christ.
Refugees were once people like you and me with friends, family, homes, careers, and dreams of the future before they were displaced by war, violence, and brutality. Won’t you reach out to help them recover some of what has been lost and add a relationship with Jesus if He has never been a part of their lives?
Sheila Gosney is a freelance writer from Monroe City, Missouri. She enjoys writing articles to inspire and equip the body of Christ for ministry.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared as part of the My Refugee Response series in Missions Mosaic (February 2018).
This self-guided mini-course will provide you with an overview of the various factors that impact refugees and how you can support refugees through WMU Compassion Ministries. Resources will be provided with training materials to be used in leading others through the church’s response to the refugee crisis.
Support refugee artisan groups Begin Anew Refugee Artisan Group and Refugee Sewing Society who earn income with dignity through WorldCrafts.
All resources can be purchased at wmustore.com.
- REFUGEES: FORCED TO FLEE – Study 12 accounts of refugees in the Bible to understand the biblical meaning of caring for those fleeing for their lives.
- SEEKING REFUGE: A REFUGE SIMULATION – Experience the difficult decisions and struggles refugees face and learn how you can impact their lives.
- DISPLACED: SEEKING HOME – Displaced: Seeking Home provides participants a glimpse into some of the difficult decisions and struggles refugees and displaced people in the United States experience as they go through the difficult resettlement process.
Use these free images and messages to advocate for refugees on social media. Click on the image to download.
