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Many Voices, One People, One Mission
A Call to Increased Understanding and Appreciation of Our Diversity
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
For more than 45 years American Baptist congregations have been resettling refugees, one family at a time. In that time more than 98,000 refugees have been resettled due to the efforts of American Baptists. With assistance from affiliate offices of the resettlement agency and/or local churches, refugees are able to gain access to resources in the community. However, there is an ongoing need for advocacy efforts on behalf of refugees in domestic and global arenas. Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program provides some of this advocacy along with other resettlement agencies and the various denominations.
Questions for Consideration:
- How aware are we of refugees?
- Are churches aware of the need for refugee resettlement within their communities?
- How equipped are our churches to respond to the needs of refugees within our churches and communities?
- Who are the refugees? Do we know that today refugees are coming to the USA (and our communities and churches) from Burma, Dafar, Somali, Haiti, Serbia, and Iraq?
- Do our churches know that in the first five months of 2008 ABCUSA churches and congregations sponsored refugees from 11 different countries and that the largest number arrived from Burma?
Resources: Resources available spring 2009
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