A Church Leader’s Tool Kit
on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
2016
Dear Pastors and Church Leaders,
The world is facing the largest refugee crisis since World War II with nearly 60 million people forcibly
displaced from their homes because of persecution and violence. This crisis brings World Relief back
to our roots. Our ministry was founded when churches connected through the National Association
of Evangelicals in 1944 to help rebuild and respond to the refugee crisis left in the war’s wake.
In 1979, World Relief began empowering local churches to resettle refugees into the U.S. as the only
evangelical organization authorized by the U.S. State Department to assist with refugee resettlement.
Since that time we have welcomed more than 260,000 refugees into our nation, partnering alongside
thousands of local churches and tens of thousands of volunteers.
Particularly given the recent horrific terrorist attacks in Paris and California, many Christians have
new questions regarding refugee resettlement in the U.S.: Is it prudent to admit refugees from
countries plagued by terrorism? Is there a risk of terrorists “infiltrating” the U.S. refugee resettlement
program? How do we balance our commitment to biblical commands to care for the vulnerable with
a natural desire to safeguard our own security? How do we as churches and leaders respond as
questions become politicized with government leaders calling for new restrictions on—or even a
complete halt to—refugee resettlement? We’ve prepared this tool kit to help you sort through these
complex questions.
It’s also our conviction that our commitment to the Scriptures compels us to continue with this vital
ministry. Among the refugees World Relief has resettled over the past few years, more were
persecuted Christians than any other religious background. Welcoming refugees presents an
important opportunity to stand with the persecuted Church: When we welcome one of “the least of
these,” Jesus tells us, we welcome Him (Matthew 25:31-46).
Our faith also compels us to continue to welcome those of other religious traditions. Jesus’ Great
Commandment includes the mandate to love our neighbors and makes explicitly clear in the Parable
of the Good Samaritan that our “neighbor” cannot be narrowly defined to include only those who
share our nationality or religion (Luke 10:25-37). The arrival of not-yet-believing refugees to our
country represents a Great Commission opportunity: While our witness is never coercive and we
serve those of all faiths without discrimination, World Relief staff and the churches we empower have
many opportunities to “give an answer to everyone who asks” about the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15).
We have seen many embrace Jesus after being welcomed and loved well by a local church.
Recently, we have been overwhelmed with support from local churches, and we also know that there
are many pastors and church leaders facing questions and skepticism from the individuals you lead.
We pray that this tool kit will serve you well as you lead your leaders, staff and congregants to think
and act uniquely as Christians.
By God’s grace, we aim to continue to live out our seventy-year mission, empowering local churches
throughout the globe to serve the most vulnerable. We are grateful for your continued partnership.
In Christ,
Stephan Bauman
James Misner
President & CEO, World Relief
Vice President for Church Partnership, World Relief
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. DISCERNING HOW TO ADDRESS THE
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS AT YOUR CHURCH
2.RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING A
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS CONVERSATION
3.SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ
4.MYTHS AND FACTS
5.SERMON OUTLINE
6.NEXT STEPS
7.INFOGRAPHIC: U.S. REFUGEE SCREENING PROCESS
DISCERNING HOW TO
ADDRESS THE SYRIAN REFUGEE
CRISIS AT YOUR CHURCH
DISCERNING HOW TO ADDRESS THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS AT YOUR CHURCH
As leaders, we have an opportunity to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He shapes how deeply our
congregants lives are rooted in Scripture, how they are formed as disciples, and how effectively they
are equipped for mission. This refugee crisis provides an incredible opportunity to do just this, but
this particular leadership journey provides some unique challenges. This guide is intended to help you
navigate this timely journey.
Reactions to the Unfolding Syrian Refugee Crisis
1. Compassionate Response: The world’s attention became gripped by the Syrian refugee crisis
personalized by pictures of Aylan Kurdi, the little boy whose body washed up on the shore of
Turkey. A largely compassionate response welled up globally and within U.S. media, conversations
and in our church communities.
2. Fearful Response: The Paris terrorist attacks changed everything. Terrorism surfaced valid
security concerns and fears among many of us and put spotlight on the U.S. Refugee
Resettlement program as well as the Muslim community already living in the U.S.
3. Confusion: Social media and the news have been ablaze with opposing views and conflicting
reports and many Christians either do not know what to think or are lining up behind one of the
two polarized positions. President Obama, presidential candidates, state governors, Members of
the House of Representatives, and the Senators have all made headlines with their words and
actions. As pastors, we can be easily convinced that we should not speak out on the Syrian
Refugee Crisis because it is a political issue or is simply too divisive of an issue (even in our own
congregations). However, we believe as church leaders that we have a unique opportunity and
responsibility to shape how those we lead respond to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Here are a few
thoughts on why we need to address this as leaders:
Biblical Reasons to Speak to the Syrian Refugee Crisis
1. It’s a discipleship matter: This “crisis” is surfacing powerful emotions and reactions of fear, anger,
and even, in some cases, expressions of hatred among Christians. These emotions point to deeper
opportunities for discipleship and pastoring our people. At this moment, social, political, and
ideological perspectives are winning the day in influencing how believers think and react. As
pastors, we still have an unprecedented opportunity to provide a biblical, Christian response that
will shape how our people respond to terror as well as Muslims in our own communities
2. It’s a missional matter: Fear is perhaps that greatest impediment to living out the Great
Commission in our communities. Biblically, we understand that God sovereignly works through the
movement of peoples. “From one man He made every nation of men that they should inhabit the
whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should
live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). As we consider the almost two million
Muslims living in the U.S. (0.6% of U.S. population), we must look at the potential for workplace,
neighborhood, sports, and school relationships with Muslims from God’s vantage point. He has
placed them here so that they might encounter Him through us, His followers.
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
DISCERNING HOW TO ADDRESS THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS AT YOUR CHURCH
3. It’s an obedience matter: The Bible has a lot to say about how God’s people should respond to
refugees and other migrants. In fact the Hebrew word ger—translated into English variously as
foreigner, sojourner, stranger, or immigrant—appears 92 times just in the Old Testament, often in
the context of God commanding His people to love and welcome those who came as foreigners
into their land. The New Testament repeatedly commands us to “practice hospitality” (Rom. 12:13),
which literally means to practice loving strangers. Welcoming refugees is a tangible way to love
our neighbors, part of Jesus’ Great Commandment (Luke 10:27), and to practice the Golden Rule
(Luke 6:31), even as we stand with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ who come as
refugees.
For such a time as this: If you’re willing to join thousands of other church leaders around the country
as we lead the people of God towards His truth and heart for refugees, please explore this guide
further. We pray that it might be a blessing as you shepherd your people through these perilous
times “for such a time as this!”
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
ENGAGING A SYRIAN REFUGEE
CRISIS CONVERSATION
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING A SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS CONVERSATION
WITH ELDERS, STAFF, LEADERS OR SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
The purpose of this guide is to provide a starting point as you facilitate and structure your team’s
conversation about the Syrian Refugee Crisis. We have co-facilitated many of these conversations
with our pastor friends around the country and simply want to provide you with some of our lessons
learned in the event they can be useful to you.
Timing
Because of the amount of biblical, myth/fact, and story-telling work that needs to be done as well as
the need for people to ask questions and raise concerns, we find these conversations challenging to
wrap up in 60 minutes in a large group with a great diversity of opinion. In a smaller group that looks
at these issues from a similar perspective one hour is entirely possible. We have found that 90
minutes is ideal if at all possible with larger groups (more than 20) with a diversity of perspectives
and concerns.
Structure the Conversation
We have found three essential and powerful elements to these conversations:
1.
Guiding people to think biblically about this crisis as Christians (before engaging politics,
economics, etc.)
2. Challenging commonly held misunderstandings by sharing the facts about this crisis.
3. Personalizing a sometimes distant “issue” by telling the story of someone(s) affected directly
by this crisis.
There are three major factors that make this a challenging conversation:
1.
Distrust (and sometimes disdain) for particular elected officials and/or of our immigration
system.
2. Fear of terrorism and, in some cases, of Muslims.
3. Misunderstanding of the facts around the Syrian refugee crisis and refugee resettlement.
We have found that the first two factors give rise to significant emotion and consternation in many of
us. In fact, it’s likely that the thought of Syrian Muslim refugees being resettled in the U.S. has
provided to some a vehicle to vent frustration at politicians whom they were already disposed
against. The strong opinions that some have about resettling Syrian refugees may actually be a proxy
for their feelings about the current Administration.
Depending on your group, you may in fact want to mention these three factors up front in your
conversation simply to acknowledge your awareness of those issues as well as open up the hearts of
people who may have come (consciously or subconsciously) to vent.
Frame “the Why”
Be clear from the get-go in this conversation about why as a church we need to address this issue.
Overview the biblical, missional, and discipleship issues unpacked in this pastors-kit resource:
“Discerning Whether or Not to Address the Syrian Refugee Crisis at Your Church.”
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING A SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS CONVERSATION
WITH ELDERS, STAFF, LEADERS OR SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
Alternative: another way to open this conversation if you feel you are hitting a nerve is to ask and
post on a white board, “Why do you think this is an important issue for our group/team/church to
address?” or you can ask, “What are the key questions that you came to learn answers to?”
Lay the Foundation
We recommend that you start these conversations by laying a solid foundation of biblical principles
and the facts related to the refugee crisis before opening up for Q&A. If opened up before you lay
this groundwork, you can end up having Q&A sessions turn into rumor-sharing sessions that increase
fear and anger rather than addressing them directly.
Ask the “Right” Questions
We recommend posting three driving questions on a white board, easel or slide:
1. How can we think uniquely about the Syrian refugee crisis as Christians?
2. What are the facts we need to know about this crisis?
3. Who is affected by this crisis and what is their story?
The order of how you address these questions in your agenda is largely dependent on your team and
what you think will be most effective.
1) How can we think uniquely about the Syrian refugee crisis as Christians?
This section can really begin to “reframe” the conversation (perhaps even for the first time) in
biblical terms. Ask people to set aside their political, economic, security questions for the
moment as we seek to understand God’s heart on this subject. We know from poll data
conducted by LifeWay Research that most evangelicals’ views of immigration are not significantly
informed by the Scriptures (just 12% cite them as the primary influence) nor their church (2%), but
rather by the media (16%) and friends and family (16%).
Undoubtedly, you have your own Scriptural repertoire and style of addressing this question.
Below are some of the primary sources and biblical principles that we recommend touching on or
going as deeply into as needed:
•
92 Times in the Old Testament: The Bible has a lot to say about how God’s people should
respond to refugees and other migrants. In fact the Hebrew word ger—translated into
English variously as foreigner, sojourner, stranger, or immigrant—appears 92 times just in
the Old Testament, often in the context of God commanding his people to love and
welcome those who came as foreigners into their land. •
Refugees in the Scriptures: Many of the heroes of our Christian faith—David, Elijah, Daniel,
Esther, Abraham, John, even Jesus himself—had to flee persecution from tyrannical
governments seeking to do them harm.
•
God’s Purposes in Displacement: Acts 17:26-27 articulates the fact that God is bringing the
nations into the U.S. and explains the “why” of this movement–that newcomers might seek
him and find him. •
Great Commission: According to the Global Status of Evangelical Christianity, there are 394
Unreached People Groups (UPG) now residing in the United States. As believers, we have
received Jesus’ commission to “make disciples of all nations,” and the arrival of Muslims
from unreached or least reached people groups thus represents an opportunity. A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING A SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS CONVERSATION
WITH ELDERS, STAFF, LEADERS OR SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
•
Hospitality: The New Testament repeatedly commands us to “practice hospitality” (Rom.
12:13), which literally means to practice loving strangers—with the hint that, by doing so, we
may be welcoming angels (Heb. 13:2).
•
Welcoming the Stranger: Jesus commands His people to welcome the stranger for
“whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew
25:31-46).
•
Great Commandment: Welcoming refugees is a tangible way to love our neighbors, part of
Jesus’ Great Commandment (Luke 10:27), and to practice the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31),
treating others as each of us would hope to be treated if we were to find ourselves in a
desperate situation, forced to flee to a foreign land. •
Caring for the Persecuted: Welcoming refugees also presents an opportunity to stand with
our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith—which includes a
significant number of refugees from various parts of the world (Hebrews 10:33-34, 13:3)
•
Good Samaritan: Jesus makes explicitly clear in the Parable of the Good Samaritan that our
“neighbor” cannot be narrowly defined to include only those who share our nationality or
religion; the Samaritan showed compassion and love to someone in need—even putting
himself at risk and expending his own resources—and we are to “go and do likewise” (Luke
10:25-37).
•
Jerusalem, Judea, & Samaria: Mission is not only to the “ends of the earth.” Mission is on
our doorsteps. Jesus last words to his disciples included a commissioning of them to be His
witnesses in their city (Jerusalem), their county (Judea), and communities culturally and
religiously different than theirs (Samaria) (Acts 1:8).
•
Love Your Enemies: Jesus ties our identity as “sons of [our] Father in heaven” to how we
treat our enemies and commands us to “love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you” (Romans 12:17-21).
It’s often helpful after this section to ask for feedback, thoughts, questions or additional
Scriptures that others might share to add to what you did. Pausing to pray briefly or even for an
extended time is often powerful as you invite others to pray responsively about what they have
learned from the Scriptures and to continue to seek God to reveal his heart to them in these
matters.
2) What are the facts we need to know about this crisis?
It’s often a helpful starting point to define terms:
•
Refugee: an individual who has fled his or her country of origin because of a credible fear
of persecution on account of their race, religion, political opinion, national origin, or social
group. •
Internally Displaced Person: a person who has fled his or her home but stays within the
boundaries of their country. •
Asylum Seekers: a person who flees their country for the same reasons as a refugee but
does not prequalify their claim. Instead, they file a claim for asylum after they arrive in their
destination country.
•
Migrants: those who leave their country due to poverty, natural disaster, general violence,
or opportunity.
•
Undocumented Immigrants: those who live in another country without legal authorization
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING A SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS CONVERSATION
WITH ELDERS, STAFF, LEADERS OR SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
•
Immigrants: inclusive of all of the above
We recommend that you refer to the facts found in answer #1 of the FAQ section.
If you want to take a myths/facts approach, see MYTHS AND FACTS section.
3) Who is affected by this crisis and what is their story?
We find that one of the most underestimated and powerful ways to connect people to God’s
heart is to encounter a person or family who can share their story. For example, when someone
knows an undocumented immigrant or is friends with a Muslim, polling data demonstrates that
this is one of the most significant factors in changing one’s perspective around an issue. In
contrast, when addressing a crisis as an issue versus a person, people tend to depersonalize and
feel more permission to ignore or critique.
This was made compellingly clear when the world’s attention became gripped by the Syrian
refugee crisis personalized by pictures of Aylan Kurdi, the little boy whose body washed up on
the shore of Turkey. This combined with the images of thousands of Syrian refugee pouring into
Europe shone a spotlight onto the crisis. Prior to that time, media attention and public outcry was
largely minimal even though the war in Syria had been going on for five years, more than
200,000 civilians had been killed, and the number of refugees and internally displaced people
was already at more than 12,000,000.
Here are two key ways you can go about personalizing this crisis:
1.
First person storytelling: Assuming that the audience will be welcoming, invite a refugee from
your community to share their story. Sometimes using an interview format can be easier for both
the speaker and for you as you guide the time and content that is shared. If the refugee’s English
is limited or their accent is difficult to understand, you may need to think about finding or paying
for an interpreter to translate.
2. Multi-media: Alternatively, share videos from this or other online resources:
•
3-minute video from UNICEF of a boat journey to Greece through the eyes of a Syrian
refugee girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDy8_8L3s0A
•
3.5-minute video from The Guardian of children describing why they left Syria, what
life is like as refugees, what living in a refugee camp is like, and what their dreams are
for the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WARQID-U-Jg
•
3-minute video from the Los Angeles Times of a Syrian family who resettles in
California. It starts with a video from their hometown when things were well, shows
footage from the war, it skips over their camp experience and describes their feelings
and thoughts about resettling in the U.S. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=1yJT1n7SbWE
•
2-minute video from VOA News of a Syrian family arriving in Chicago. It shows footage
from the war, in their apartment and on a playground, statements from Governor
Rauner and the Chicago city council as well as their fears about resettling in the U.S.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5o4gfR9uww
•
9-minute video from Copa90 (soccer) called, “From Syrian Refugee to Wonderkid in
Germany: Mohammed Jaddou.” It’s an in-depth story of a 17 year old professional
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING A SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS CONVERSATION
WITH ELDERS, STAFF, LEADERS OR SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
player and his harrowing journey from Syria to Germany, the family and life he lost for
soccer dreams in Europe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNv-2WV9pUU
•
A 4-minute video from Q Ideas & We Welcome Refugees that is a call to action in
response to the Syrian refugee crisis – focused on December 13th, National Refugee
Sunday. Caution: it contains graphic images from war in Syria. https://
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=256&v=oUmHxLQbE8Y
•
A 2-minute video from World Relief that frames the refugee crisis around “Jesus the
Refugee” this Christmas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VH6l4lCipw
One or more of these videos can be shared towards the beginning of your conversation in order
to set some context as well as to touch on some of the facts of the crisis. But the goal in this
section is really to hear from Syrian refugees themselves and connect their story to our own lives.
Q&A
As you transition into Q&A and if time allows, it is often powerful at this point to take the pulse of the
group by asking for reactions and feedback to what has been covered thus far.
When you move into the conversation and Q&A time, we recommend that you reference the FAQ
portion of this guide. If you are not sure how to respond to a question and it is important to track
down a follow up response for one of your church leaders or members, please contact World Relief
with that question at [email protected].
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
World Relief has developed this FAQ guide to equip church leaders to respond to the most common
and controversial questions around the Syrian refugee crisis.
1.
What are some quick facts around the Syrian refugee crisis?
2. What is the definition of a refugee?
3. How might the Bible inform our thinking about this situation?
4. How can we be sure that these “refugees” are not actually terrorists seeking to infiltrate our
country?
5. This problem is just too big–we can’t allow all these people to enter the United States, Canada, &
Europe can we?
6. Won’t these refugees be an economic drain on the countries that receive them?
7.
Can we just help those refugees who are Christians?
8. Can a State Governor legally stop Syrian refugees from entering their state?
9. Are there notable differences between what is happening in Europe with refugees and how
refugees are processed and resettled in the U.S.?
10. How is the refugee resettlement program funded? 11. People in my congregation are sending me articles, and I’m not sure how to respond. What are
some objective, online resources from a Christian worldview that I can share with them?
12. In light of the U.S. governors’ actions and the public pushback against refugee resettlement, what
can be done to advocate for welcoming refugees in the U.S.?
13. How can we be involved in welcoming Syrian refugees into our communities?
14. Even if Muslim refugees come here without an intent towards U.S. terrorist activities, isn’t there a
likelihood that they could be radicalized here in the U.S.?
Continued on following pages
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
1. What are some quick facts around the Syrian refugee crisis?
•
59,000,000 refugees/displaced people globally
•
21,000,000 Syrian population before the war
•
12,000,000 Syrians displaced from their homes, whether internally or as refugees
•
4,000,000 Syrian refugees in the Middle East
•
3,000,000 refugees from all countries have arrived in the U.S. over 35 years, 268,000 of which
have been welcomed by World Relief
•
900,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Europe so far this year
•
340,000 Christian refugees have been resettled in the U.S. since 2003 (the largest religious
group, at 45% of all resettled refugees)
•
210,000 women and children resettled in the U.S. since 2011 (70% of total)
•
200,000 civilians killed in Syria
•
85,000 total refugees from all nationalities scheduled to be resettled in the U.S. in the next
year
•
30,000 Syrian refugees will be welcomed in the next 2 years in France (announced after the
Paris attacks)
•
10,000 Syrian refugees that the U.S. has committed to welcome in the next year
•
3,000 migrants who have died/drowned seeking safety in Europe in 2015
•
18 to 24 Months, on average, of security screening and interviews from when a refugee is first
considered for resettlement until they land in the U.S.
•
17 Years is the average length of time from when a refugee first flees their country until when
they reach a “durable solution,” whether safely returning to their home country, permanent
settlement in the first country to which they fled, or resettlement to a third country
•
0 – the number terrorist attacks in the U.S. perpetrated by refugees resettled to the U.S., out
of 3 million resettled since the late 1970s
Figures are rounded and accurate as of December 2015.
2. What is the definition of a refugee?
Under both international and U.S. law, a refugee is an individual who
•
has fled his or her country of origin
•
because of a credible fear of persecution
•
on account of their race, religion, political opinion, national origin, or social group
This definition of a refugee does not include those who flee their homes but stay within the
boundaries of their country, who are classified as “Internally Displaced Persons.” It also does not
include those who flee a situation of poverty, a natural disaster, or even violence, unless the violence
was specifically motivated by their race, religion, political opinion, or one of the other grounds under
the legal definition.
The U.S. government admits individuals for resettlement within the U.S. only after a thorough
individual screening abroad to ensure both that they meet the legal definition of a refugee and that
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
they in no way pose a national security or health threat to the U.S. Those selected for resettlement in
the U.S. are admitted with legal status and are resettled by one of nine national voluntary agencies,
one of which is World Relief.
3. How might the Bible inform our thinking about this situation?
The Bible has a lot to say about how God’s people should respond to refugees and other migrants. In
fact the Hebrew word ger—translated into English variously as foreigner, sojourner, stranger, or
immigrant—appears 92 times just in the Old Testament, often in the context of God commanding His
people to love and welcome those who came as foreigners into their land. Many of the heroes of our
Christian faith—David, Elijah, even Jesus himself—had to flee persecution from tyrannical
governments seeking to do them harm. The New Testament repeatedly commands us to “practice
hospitality” (Rom. 12:13), which literally means to practice loving strangers—with the hint that, by
doing so, we may be welcoming angels (Heb. 13:2).
Welcoming refugees is a tangible way to love our neighbors, part of Jesus’ Great Commandment
(Luke 10:27), and to practice the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31), treating others as each of us would hope to
be treated if we were to find ourselves in a desperate situation, forced to flee to a foreign land.
Welcoming refugees also presents an opportunity to stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ
who are persecuted for their faith—which includes a significant number of refugees from various
parts of the world—as well as to witness to the love and welcome of Jesus to those of other religious
traditions. Since we believe that each person is made in the Image of God, we seek to serve and
welcome all those fleeing persecution, regardless of their religious or cultural background.
4. How can we be sure that these “refugees” are not actually terrorists seeking to infiltrate our
country?
There is an enormous difference between the situation of asylum-seekers we are seeing arrive on
European borders (approximately 900,000 this year), and the much smaller number of refugees who
are admitted to the U.S. (approximately 70,000 last year). [See Question 9 for more information on
the differences between the European and U.S. contexts.]
The U.S. refugee security screening process starts overseas and involves the U.S. Departments of
State, Homeland Security and Defense as well as the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center.
The process generally requires at least 18 months and often much longer and includes in-person
interviews, biometric background checks, and interviews with third-persons who may have
information about the individual being considered for resettlement to the U.S. Only a fraction of one
percent of the world’s refugees are admitted for resettlement to the U.S. in any given year, so priority
is given to those who are deemed to be most vulnerable, including a majority who are women or
children. The vetting process for those being considered for refugee status is actually more stringent
than that of any other category of visitor or immigrant to the U.S. The U.S. system of refugee resettlement has a long history of successfully integrating refugees,
having welcomed more than 3 million refugees since 1975: the vast majority of refugees are grateful
to their adopted country for receiving them. Those selected for resettlement are the victims of
governmental persecution and/or terrorism, not the perpetrators, and they tend to be the fiercest
critics of extremist groups and tyrannical governments, having suffered at their hands. Throughout
this history, there has never been a terrorist attack successfully perpetrated on U.S. soil by an
individual who had been admitted to the country as a refugee. In the exceptionally rare cases where
someone admitted as a refugee has been suspected of ties to groups interested in harming the U.S.,
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
it has often been other former refugees from within the same ethnic community who have alerted
law enforcement.
5. This problem is just too big–we can’t allow all these people to enter the U.S., Canada, and
Europe can we?
Resettlement to a third country outside of the Middle East is a last resort, and the vast majority of
refugees will stay within their region. For example, Turkey is currently the host country for about 2
million registered refugees from Syria, with more than 1 million in Lebanon and 600,000 in Jordan;
each of these countries also have additional refugees from earlier conflicts in Iraq and other
neighboring countries.
No one is proposing that resettlement to the U.S. or other countries outside of the region should be
the primary solution to this crisis, as the ultimate hope is that people who were forced to flee will be
able to return home when the conflict is peacefully resolved. A primary focus of our efforts is on
addressing the root causes, so that individuals would not be forced to flee, and we are seeking to
empower local churches in the Middle East who are responding to human need.
However, given the desperation that at present has left many with no option but to flee, governments
in North America and Europe can do their share by accepting a small overall portion of these
refugees, relieving pressure on allies in the Middle East who are bearing the most significant weight
of this crisis, while also providing support for efforts in those countries to meet basic human needs.
6. Won’t these refugees be an economic drain on the countries that receive them?
Actually, like other immigrants, the arrival of refugees could actually be a significant economic
opportunity for the countries that receive them. While most countries provide refugees with a limited
amount of basic assistance when they first arrive, almost all refugees are eager to work and be selfsufficient. A growing national economy depends upon a growing population, who play crucial roles in
an economy as workers, consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. While our primary concern for
refugees is driven by our faith and our desire to welcome those in a desperate situation in Jesus’
name, the reality is that the arrival of refugees also presents an economic opportunity: multiple
studies of the economic impacts of refugee resettlement on particular local communities have found
that, while there are some costs up front, within a few years of arrival the net economic impact of
refugees becomes positive and then continues to grow.
7.
Can we just help those refugees who are Christians?
Many of the refugees in the world today are Christians, in some cases Christians who were
persecuted particularly because of their faith in Jesus. Welcoming refugees is an important way for
believers to stand with the persecuted Church—and efforts to restrict refugee resettlement could
negatively impact many fellow Christ-followers who have been forced to flee.
Last year, among the approximately 70,000 refugees who were resettled into the U.S., there were
more Christians (more than 45% of the total) than those of any other religious tradition. Many of
them were persecuted particularly for their Christian faith, including the vast majority of the more
than 18,000 refugees from Burma admitted last year, who face some of the worst anti-Christian
persecution in the world. Of approximately 125,000 Iraqi refugees admitted since 2007, for example,
about 35% have been of a Christian tradition (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc.), far higher than the
percentage of all Iraqis who were Christian as of 2003.
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SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
At the same time, the Great Commission compels us to welcome unreached people groups who are
Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and those of other religions or of no religion. Jesus made explicitly
clear in His parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:21-37) that the Great Commandment to love our
neighbors compels us to love all those who are in need, not just those who share our ethnicity or
religion. Welcoming those of other religious traditions also allows us to live out Jesus’ “Golden Rule,”
responding to those who have been forced to flee their homes with the same compassionate and
respect with which we would hope to be treated if we were forced to flee our country.
8. Can a State Governor legally stop Syrian refugees from entering their state?
The admission of refugees into the U.S. is governed by the Refugee Act, which was passed by
Congress and signed into law by the President in 1980. The Refugee Act makes clear that the
Executive Branch is responsible for designating and admitting refugees. Subsequent cases before the
U.S. Supreme Court—most recently U.S. v. Arizona in 2012—have reaffirmed that the federal
government has the primary responsibility for immigration policy, and the fifty states cannot set their
own policies. Refugees who are admitted through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program are in full
valid legal status from the moment they arrive, and like any other American they are free to move
throughout the country.
State governments cannot actually prevent refugees from entering their territory, but they may be
able to make it much harder for them. States generally play a more significant role in helping
refugees settle in the U.S. than they do with other kinds of immigrants. Some (but not all) states also
provide state funds for refugee integration programs, and states may also administer programs
funded by federal grants. At this time, some states are seeking to restrict certain federally-funded,
state-administered services to refugees from particular countries; some of these actions have been or
are likely to be challenged in court.
9. Are there notable differences between what is happening in Europe with refugees and how
refugees are processed and resettled in the US?
Refugees in the U.S. are pre-approved before arriving in the U.S. after undergoing a thorough, multilayered vetting process that can often take multiple years (see Question 4). Those arriving in Europe,
to the contrary, have not necessarily been determined to be refugees: they seek asylum—a claim to
meet the definition of a refugee, having fled persecution—when they arrive at the border or shore,
but their asylum claims are adjudicated and their backgrounds vetted for security risks only after
their arrival.
Like most European countries, the U.S. also has a process for requesting asylum for those who reach
its borders, but for geographic and logistical reasons—because the U.S. is very far from Syria,
separated by an ocean, and because only a very small percentage of Syrians have ever been granted
a temporary visa to travel to the U.S.—relatively few Syrians have sought asylum in the U.S. (less than
1,600 in the last year for which data is available). Asylum seekers must demonstrate they have a wellfounded fear of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social
group, or their political opinion just like a refugee whose case is adjudicated overseas, and they must
also clear background and security checks before their cases can be approved. In the interim, they
are ineligible for public benefits and, for the first several months, for employment authorization,
which makes it very challenging to sustain oneself as an asylum seeker; in cases where the U.S.
government has a concern that the asylum seeker may present a security threat, they can also be
held in a detention facility until their case is adjudicated.
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
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SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
10. How is the refugee resettlement program funded? The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program is a public-private partnership that relies both on the cash
donations, in-kind donations, and volunteer hours of private citizens, churches, foundations, and
donors, as well as on federal funding.
While governmental grants cover a portion of the expenses of refugee resettlement, they usually do
not come near to covering the entire cost of refugee resettlement. Additional expenses are covered
by monetary donations from churches, foundations, and individuals, as well as through in-kind
donations of necessary items to furnish each refugee’s first apartment and through volunteers
performing vital services, reducing the necessity for paid staff. For World Relief, in particular, our
mission is not merely to serve refugees well—though we of course aim to do so—but to empower
local churches to serve the vulnerable, so we achieve our mission only in close partnership with local
churches.
11. People in my congregation are sending me articles, and I’m not sure how to respond. What are
some objective, online resources from a Christian worldview that I can share with them?
First of all, we’d challenge folks to ground their perspectives in a particularly Christian perspective,
such as those offered by these leaders:
•
“8 Words of Jesus to a World with Refugees,” from Desiring God Ministries
•
Relevant Magazine’s article, “What the Bible Says about How to Treat Refugees”
•
Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, has called for
reasonable security combined with Christian compassion: “Of course we want to keep
terrorists out of our country, but let’s not punish the victims of ISIS for the sins of ISIS”
•
Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
urges Christians: “Stop Pitting Compassion and Security Against Each Other in the Syrian
Refugee Crisis.” He writes, “It is completely right to ensure that the U.S. has a strong process
to discern who are truly refugees and who are trying to take advantage of refugees, but we
cannot love our neighbors at the same we’re standing aside and watching them be
slaughtered”
•
Christians in the West can learn from Christians in the majority world who face terror and
persecution daily as noted in the Christianity Today article, “Terrorists are Now the Persecuted
Church’s Greatest Threat”
•
We need to ask “What is God up to?” like the Desiring God blog that sees a sovereign God
purposefully bringing the nations (rather than fear) to our shores
•
A letter from leaders with the Evangelical Immigration Table—including leaders from World
Relief, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and the
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities—to Members of Congress on recent refugee
policy proposals
•
An editorial from Christianity Today explaining why the evangelical church welcomes refugees
•
A Christianity Today article on the demographics of refugees being resettled to the U.S.
•
A WORLD Magazine article describing how local churches are welcoming refugees into
Spartanburg, South Carolina
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SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
In terms of addressing the facts, the following sources may be helpful:
•
“Ten Facts about U.S. Refugee Resettlement,” from the Migration Policy Institute
•
“Six Reasons to Welcome Syrian Refugees after Paris” and “America Accepts More Christian
than Muslim Refugees,” breaking down the religious demographics of refugees admitted to
the U.S. by the Niskanen Center
•
“Syrian Refugees Don’t Pose a Serious Security Threat,” by the Cato Institute, analyzing
instances of terrorism-related arrests among those admitted to the U.S. as refugees
•
A letter on the security and foreign policy value of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program
from a bipartisan group of former U.S. Secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland Security
and National Security Advisors, including Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, and Michael
Chertoff
•
An article summarizing various studies on the economic impact of refugee resettlement from
U.S. News and World Report
12. In light of the U.S. governors’ actions and the public pushback against refugee resettlement,
what can be done to advocate for welcoming refugees in the U.S.?
This World Relief online advocacy tool will help you to send a message to the appropriate Senators,
Representative, and Governor based upon your zip code. We would encourage you to take action
personally, and to share this link with others who may want to do the same.
13. How can we be involved in welcoming Syrian refugees into my community?
The U.S. has a history of resettling refugees: this year, the country will admit as many as 85,000
refugees from various parts of the world. In locations throughout the U.S., World Relief partners with
local churches to help refugees integrate into our communities, welcoming them as our faith compels
us to do and providing help with housing, employment, and cultural adjustment. 1.
Reach Out to local refugee-serving agencies in your area to see how you can walk alongside
newly arrived refugees. World Relief serves refugees in 27 cities across the U.S. If there is no
World Relief office near you, find another resettlement agency on this interactive map
2. Mobilize a Good Neighbor Team: Gather your small group or church to befriend a newly
arriving refugee family for six to twelve months, providing tangible care such as an airport
welcome, apartment set-up, provision of initial food and clothing, transportation to
appointments, school registration, community orientation, English tutoring, and job
preparation. Check out World Relief’s Good Neighbor Team webpage here
3. Provide a Welcome Kit: Mobilize your family, small group or church to gather very practical
household needs for newly arriving refugees. Here is a list of these items. Drop off locations
can be found here. For those not located close to a World Relief office, you can also provide
cash donations to purchase specific items.
4. Host a Refugee Sunday: Your church can host a Refugee Sunday using a World Relief toolkit
of talking points, a 2-minute video, FAQ’s, and more.
5. Preach a message on God’s heart for refugees. A recent survey from LifeWay Research finds
that only 21% of evangelical Christians say they have been challenged by their local church to
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SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FAQ’S
reach out to refugees or other immigrants and only 12% say they think about these issues
primarily from the perspective of the Bible—but most say they would like to hear a sermon
applying biblical truth to this complex situation. You can download a sample sermon outline
here.
6. Social Media presents a great opportunity both to stay connected to how World Relief is
serving refugees—you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—and also, via your
own personal or church social media presence, to share biblical perspectives, stories of
refugees who have been welcomed by local churches, and facts that rebut some of the
misconceptions about refugees with those whom you influence
14.
Even if Muslim refugees come here without an intent towards U.S. terrorist activities, isn’t
there a likelihood that they could be radicalized here in the U.S.?
According to Pew’s Research Center, the Muslim population in the U.S. is 1% and the evangelical
population in the U.S. is 25%. The opportunity for Muslims to interact with Christians in the workplace,
in schools, and in the neighborhood is significant–many times more significant than in their country
of origin (often Muslim refugees arrive from unreached people groups).
Further, given that almost all of the refugee resettlement agencies resettling refugees in the U.S. are
faith-based there is a high likelihood that Muslim refugees will be connected to Christian volunteers
and churches. Indeed, the very structure of the refugee resettlement program is built around a
volunteer mobilization model. World Relief’s goal is that every refugee family be welcomed by a
church in the U.S. We believe that the best prevention of Muslim radicalization and the greatest
opportunity for Christian conversion is authentic friendship with Christians.
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
MYTHS AND FACTS
MYTHS AND FACTS
Myth: Refugees resettled into the United States are “unvetted.”
Fact:
Refugees undergo a multi-layered screening and vetting process, which occurs entirely before
the individual is allowed to enter the U.S. and which generally takes at least 18 months, that is
more thorough than that to which any other category of immigrant or visitor to the U.S. is
subjected.
Myth: The recent terrorist attack in Paris exposes that the U.S. is also vulnerable to terrorist attacks
from refugees or those posing as refugees.
Fact:
The situation facing Europe—with nearly 1 million individuals arriving and seeking asylum just
in the past year—is vastly different than that of the U.S. refugee resettlement program, which
aims to accept a maximum of 10,000 Syrian refugees this year. Asylum seekers arriving at
Europe’s borders or shores can only be vetted and processed after entry to the European
continent, whereas the relatively few refugees admitted from Syria to the U.S. are allowed in
only after a thorough, multi-layered vetting process that lasts at least 18 months. Furthermore,
all attackers identified thus far in the Paris attacks were European citizens—not refugees.
Myth: The recent terrorist attack in California exposes that the U.S. is vulnerable to terrorist attacks
from those posing as refugees.
Fact:
Neither of the two alleged terrorists implicated in the tragic attacks in San Bernardino,
California underwent the thorough, multi-layered vetting process of the U.S. Refugee
Resettlement: one was a native-born U.S. citizen and the other entered on a fiancée visa,
which involves a screening process that is significantly less rigorous than that required for
refugees being considered for resettlement.
Myth: All (or most) refugees are Muslims.
Fact:
Last year, more refugees admitted to the U.S. were Christians (about 45%) than any other
religious tradition. The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program presents a vital lifeline for
persecuted Christians (as well as persecuted individuals of other faiths).
Myth: All (or most) refugees are from the Middle East.
Fact:
About 25% of refugees admitted to the U.S. last year were fleeing situations in the Middle
East, but most actually come from other regions of the world. More refugees came from
Burma—where most admitted refugees are persecuted Christians—than from all of the Middle
Eastern countries combined
Myth: All (or most) Muslims are terrorists, or at least sympathetic to terrorism.
Fact:
While there certainly have been high-profile cases of terrorism committed by Muslims
motivated by extremist ideologies, the vast majority of Muslims reject those views. For
example, a recent Pew Research Center survey conducted in Muslim majority nations found,
across the board, that the vast majority of Muslims with an opinion about ISIS had a negative
view of the group.
Myth: Refugees are responsible for most terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Fact:
Of more than 3 million refugees admitted to the U.S. since the late 1970s, none has ever
perpetrated a terrorist attack within the U.S. In fact, according to New America, the
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MYTHS AND FACTS
majority of jihadist terrorism cases in the U.S. since September 11, 2001 have involved U.S.
citizens, most of them born in the U.S.
Myth: Most Syrian refugees coming into the U.S. are young men.
Fact:
Of Syrian refugees admitted to the U.S thus far, 70% have been women or children under the
age of 14. The U.S. refugee resettlement program prioritizes those cases it deems to be the
most vulnerable for resettlement.
Myth: There are 200,000 - 250,000 Syrian refugees about to enter the U.S.
Fact:
Since 2011, less than 2,500 Syrian refugees have been admitted into the U.S. through the U.S.
Refugee Resettlement Program, and the State Department has indicated a goal of admitting
no more than 10,000 in the coming year.
Myth: Refugees are a drain on our economy.
Fact:
Most economists believe that refugees, like other immigrants, have a net positive economic
impact: one study suggests that, in the long-term, refugees may actually perform better
economically than economic migrants. Another study, of refugees in Cleveland, Ohio, found
that, despite some initial costs related to refugee resettlement, in time those refugees
accounted for more than ten times that amount in positive economic impact.
Myth: The Bible has nothing to say that would inform our response to refugees.
Fact:
The Hebrew word for a resident foreigner, the ger, appears 92 times just in the Old Testament
—very often in the context of God commanding the Israelites to love and seek justice for these
vulnerable immigrants. The Bible commands us repeatedly to practice hospitality—literally,
from the Greek of the New Testament, philoxenia, the love of strangers. Welcoming refugees
presents an opportunity both to live out the Great Commandment by loving our neighbors
(Luke 10:27) and the Great Commission, by making disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19)
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
SERMON OUTLINE
SERMON OUTLINE: RISE AND FLEE TO EGYPT
Main Text: Matthew Chapter 2
Big Picture: Consider Mary, Joseph and Jesus as refugees and how we should respond to
refugees in our community and around the world
Introduction
Refugee Statistics
•
Almost 60 million displaced people in the world. 1 out of every 122 people on the
planet
•
Almost 20 million are refugees (have crossed a border) and the other 40 million are
essentially refugees in their in own country (IDPs – Internally Displaced Persons)
•
Half of Syria’s population is displaced (22 million total population)
•
•
4 million refugees
•
7 million IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons)
85,000 Refugees will come to America this year (less than 0.5% of the world’s
refugees)
Matthew 2 Story Arch
•
Wise Men arrive in Herod’s court seeking Jesus (2:1-8)
•
Wise Men worship Jesus (2:9-12)
•
Herod wants to destroy the child (2:13)
•
Mary, Joseph and Jesus flee as refugees to Egypt (2:13-15)
•
Herod kills all boys under 2 around Bethlehem (2:16-18)
•
Mary, Joseph and Jesus return after Herod’s death, settling in Nazareth (2:19-23)
Main Points
What the Bible Says about Them
•
Scripture References
•
“Do not oppress a foreigner,” God commands, “you yourselves know how it feels to
be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt” (Exod 23:9).
•
“Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor” (Zech 7:10)
•
“The Lord your God… defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves
the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing” (Deut 10:17-18).
•
“And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has
none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’” (Luke 3:11)
•
“Show hospitality” (Romans 12:13 and Luke 14:13)
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
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SERMON OUTLINE: RISE AND FLEE TO EGYPT
Examples of Immigrants and Refugees in the Bible
•
The Bible is full of stories about immigration and many are refugees. Here are some
examples of immigrants: Abraham, Joseph, the people of Israel fleeing Egypt, Ruth,
David, Daniel, Nehemiah, Jesus, etc.
What the Bible Says about Us
•
We too are aliens and strangers and often live as outsiders in this world. We can
identify with those who are also foreigners in our community. (1 Peter 2:11-12)
•
As aliens, our worldview should not be shaped by the political party we vote for or the
news channel we watch, but we should be transformed by the scriptures and the power
of the Holy Spirit. How should we view immigrants as Christians? (Romans 12:2)
What Does This Mean for Us Today?
•
Good Samaritan – As a contemporary example, the Samaritan might be a Muslim
refugee and the Jew might be one of us. Who is our neighbor and what might Christ be
calling us to do? (Luke 10:25-37)
Closing Thoughts
The Bible is full of stories about immigrants and refugees. We can imagine how Mary and
Joseph felt as they fled with Jesus to an unfamiliar land. Did they speak Egyptian? Did they
know anyone or have any community in Egypt? How long did it take Joseph to find work as a
carpenter? Christ reminds us that when we welcome the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the
least of these, we are welcoming Him (Matthew 25:35-40). This idea takes on even greater
significance when we remember that Jesus was in fact a stranger in foreign land. There are 60
million people in the world today fleeing violence or persecution, facing many of the same
struggles Mary, Joseph and Jesus faced. Nearly 100,000 of the refugees in the world will be
coming to our country as refugees this year. How might God be calling each of us to welcome
the stranger?
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
As you begin to build a biblical narrative for refugee and immigrant ministry in your congregation,
you’re likely to wonder what’s next. Asking your congregation to move from being informed about
refugees into close relationship with a refugee family often takes more than a single step. Refugee
ministry is a significant discipleship opportunity for your congregation and below you will find
suggestions on how to foster it effectively.
Refugees are resettled in 185 cities across the U.S. and World Relief serves refugees in 27 of those. If
you are not located near a World Relief office, find another resettlement agency on this interactive
map.
1. Start by collecting Welcome Kits: Refugees enter the U.S. often with just a suitcase holding a few
belongings. When they move into their first apartment, they need all necessary household items:
pots and pans, bed sheets, bath towels, etc. We’ve put these items into five separate kits that
individuals or groups in your congregation can collect. Here is a list of these items and an
additional list of locations to drop them off can be found here. For those not located near a World
Relief office, you can provide cash donations to purchase specific items.
2. Form Good Neighbor Teams: We’ve designed a program that helps train and equip small groups
to come alongside a specific refugee family in practical and relational ways. Bring together a
group of interested volunteers to serve a refugee family, ultimately building unity in your church
around a common purpose. Check out more information here.
3. Use your Early Adopters: Every congregation has early adopters. As early adopters engage with
refugee ministry, tell their stories publicly. As others in the congregation hear stories of people like
them engaging in refugee ministry, it will lower their apprehension and increase their comfort level
to take the next step themselves.
4. Engage Internationally: God moves powerfully in peoples’ lives when they’re taken out of their
daily routines and context. When you engage with refugee ministry internationally, it gives people
in your congregation a clear way to live out the passion God has put in their hearts by working
with refugees in your community. The “here and there” aspect to refugee ministry can be a strong
discipleship tool.
5. Additional Resources:
•
Christian Declaration on Caring for Refugees: An Evangelical Response: It is critical that
Christians know what their leaders think about this crisis and how they should respond. We
recommend using the statement developed by the GC2 Summit held at Wheaton College in
December 2015.
•
God is our Refuge Sermon: As an example, listen, watch or read a sermon given by Pastor
Rich Nathan of Vineyard Columbus on the subject of how Christians should think and respond
biblically to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Video, audio and a manuscript of that sermon can be
found here.
•
We Welcome Refugees: We Welcome Refugees exists to empower the global church to be a
key agent of hope and compassion in the Middle East Refugee Crisis. As the Church, we have
an unprecedented opportunity to leverage together on a global scale and change the tide on
this urgent and dire issue. Learn more here.
A Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
© World Relief
INFOGRAPHIC:
U.S. REFUGEE SCREENING PROCESS