How Churches Can Care for Refugees

Mary’s husband was taken by the Taliban. She sold the few pieces of jewelry she owned to get her family across the border to safety. Months later, she landed in Atlanta with almost no English skills, and the degree she earned in her home country wasn’t accepted in the United States. 

Her kids needed to start school in the fall, and she lacked stable housing. A few relatives arrived in the city before her, and they offered her temporary shelter, but she was far from a flourishing life. 

Mary’s story is one of suffering, hardship, and resilience, but it is not so unique. Thousands of refugees fleeing persecution, famine, and violence find themselves tucked in unseen corners of American cities, attempting to rebuild their lives.

They live with the constant controversy over immigration, and the ever-changing practical implications depending on who holds power. 

They navigate systems to the best of their ability, without understanding them. They’re told to obtain this document or that certification, stand in front of glass windows, and hope the clerk has seen a case like theirs before. 

All these factors compound and make refugees some of the most vulnerable people among us. Many of them know nothing of Jesus.  

How can the church care for them?

SHOW HOSPITALITY, ESTABLISH A PRESENCE 

Our aim should be to love in practical ways and offer the hope of the gospel (Matt. 25:34-40, 28:18-20). The more vulnerable the people, the more careful we should be as we enter into their lives and circumstances. The best practices for any cross-cultural ministry apply here: consistent presence, hospitality, and mutual giving and receiving. 

Consistent presence, or incarnation, is incredibly important in building trust and meaningful relationships (1 Thess. 2:8). While dropping in once to do some form of outreach isn’t inherently wrong, it’s not the most effective or responsible way to accomplish our mission. 

It can be difficult to establish presence if your church members and refugees don’t share the same neighborhoods. But creating regular rhythms of visiting will lead to fruitful relationships.

Hospitality is the universal gift. 

As relationships develop, simply entering in and inviting in fosters some of the richest experiences. Official church programming falls to the side, and organic connections form. Laughter over a table does wonders for lonely and weary hearts, both theirs and ours. Picnics, planned dinners, kids camps, studies for those exploring the faith, and Sunday services are also wonderful times to fling wide the church door for refugees to experience Christ’s body.

It’s not uncommon for needs related to housing, transportation, employment, healthcare, or education to come up quickly, even in an initial conversation. These needs are pressing for refugees, and you, or your church group, may be the first sign of help and support they have seen. 

Meeting needs responsibly and inviting refugees to contribute in some way safeguards them from becoming overly dependent or being hurt by unmet expectations.

As you plan to meet needs, do inventory on organizations, other churches, and businesses that do this kind of work in your community. Even if your church is able to provide robust practical support, you won’t be able to do it all. Strategic partnerships and referrals are tremendously helpful. 

Inviting refugees to participate through things like preparing meals (even if you buy the supplies), sharing stories, teaching their favorite dance, or helping clean up after events, dignifies them and enriches your church as they learn from image bearers of God they might otherwise have never known.

EXPECT THE LORD TO WORK

A little over a year after moving to the U.S., Mary was baptized. A faithful church member met her at the neighborhood pool, began teaching her to drive, and in time, shared the gospel with her.

From that relationship, a simple driving ministry for other refugees was formed in the church in partnership with a congregation led by a pastor from Mary’s home country. No church leader or member could have plotted such a course.

This is the beauty of often messy refugee ministry: God takes our meager efforts to establish presence, show hospitality, and establish mutuality, and uses them to bring the nations into his kingdom.