Lift Off! 40 Days of Sacrifice - Day 31
Deuteronomy 1:16
Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him.
World Relief’s mission is “to empower the local church to serve the most vulnerable,” so local congregations are at the center of our strategy for holistically serving refugees at various points throughout this crisis. The vast majority of refugees from Syria are living in Turkey and Jordan; World Relief is on the ground in both locations, equipping churches to care for refugees, with a particular focus on children, who make up about half the refugees in the region.
In Germany, World Relief has been partnering with local churches to provide discipleship materials. Just as in the States, not every evangelical Christian in Germany has considered this situation from a biblical perspective, so we see providing that biblical foundation as a vital first step. We’re also exploring how we can mobilize churches to respond to the gaps in government-provided services for the incredible number of refugees arriving and expected to arrive in the coming months.
Finally, World Relief is one of nine organizations contracted by the federal government to help resettle refugees within the States. Our offices (in about 25 locations nationwide) receive word from the State Department that a refugee is arriving, and then we’re there to meet them at the airport—whenever possible, with a small group from a local church who, supported by World Relief staff, have committed to walking with them through at least the first several months after arrival. Together, we help refugees settle into an apartment, find jobs, learn English, understand American culture, enroll their kids in school, and integrate into our country. Eventually most are financially self-sufficient and don’t need much additional help, but we hope those church-based volunteers continue as friends indefinitely. (tgc.org)
Pray for World Relief in their efforts to join the churches with the refugee crisis globally. Research some information on your own here. And pray as you read more and as God leads.
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