Six Biblically-Based Steps Churches Can Take to Respond to the Refugee Crisis

Posted by Kaylee K on Thursday, September 17, 2015 Under: Response
(edited version of post from IAFR site: http://bit.ly/1KTOlNu)

1. Get informed/Stay informed: Here are some helpful resources:

o   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Refugees, https://twitter.com/WEAnews, https://twitter.com/WEA_UN, https://twitter.com/RefugeesMedia, https://twitter.com/IAFR, https://twitter.com/RefuGmin 

o   Facebook: www.facebook.com/refugeeministry, https://www.facebook.com/RHPEurope, https://www.facebook.com/RHPNA, https://www.facebook.com/groups/refugeeconnect/

2. Pray. Pray for refugees and asylum seekers. Pray for discernment regarding how God is calling His Church at large and your church specifically. Our prayer guide provides 10 Ways to Pray for Refugees.

3. Get involved locally (your Jerusalem). If you are in a resettlement city, connect with agencies or organizations that assist refugees (click here for the UNHCR list of resettlement agencies). Contact IAFR to get involved with their work with refugees in Atlanta and asylum seekers in Minneapolis.

4. Get involved globally (….and to the ends of the earth). Contact us if you are interested in partnering with European churches (IAFR is working in France, Malta and Italy) or with refugee churches in camps in Kenya and Malawi.

5. Get connected. You are not in this alone. Other ministries and churches have years of experience and are often so grateful to see new churches join in the work. Follow the IAFR Facebook page to stay connected. Become a part of the Refugee Highway Partnership and participate in their yearly roundtables in North America and Europe to learn and network with other churches and organizations. Join our discussion in the Facebook group, Refugee Connect.

6. Be a voice. Take what you have learned and share with other churches; tweet, blog, post and speak up for a just and compassionate response to refugees and asylum seekers. Read More

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Blog Authors


John and Kaylee Kolditz Kaylee founded Refugee Connect in 2008. John joined the work in 2011 as we investigated the refugee situation in Europe. But our faith and cross-cultural journeys have been a work-in-progress for many years. Much of this blog reflects that. ************************************************ We met in Austin, TX, while volunteering at a serving event at Gateway Church and have been married since 2002. Marriage, parenting and ministry all require a great deal of intentionality, humility and true reliance on God for strength, wisdom, and grace. It is a journey we are grateful to be on together. Ultimately, what matters to us is building into meaningful relationships in ways that, to the best of our ability and by God's grace, demonstrate the love and hope Jesus freely offers to us all. ************************************************ We bring both business and ministry backgrounds into our current work. John started a business in his 20's and helped build several other businesses. He has also served with churches in a variety of roles including as an assistant pastor, director of community development, and missions board member. Kaylee left her marketing career to become the global missions director for our home church in Austin, TX, then founded a local refugee ministry, and became TEFL certified (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in order to prepare for our work overseas. We have led short-term teams domestically and internationally, and served with a variety of cross-cultural ministries. In 2008, we sensed a call to build into the church in Europe, which was also around the time when God broke Kaylee’s heart for refugees. Since then, God has continued to weave together this heart for refugees, desire to serve alongside the church, and focus on His call to Europe.

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