Immigrant and Refugee Response
Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
There are more refugees and displaced persons than at any time in history. As climate crisis, national/international conflicts, and a pandemic/endemic reality persist, the crisis only grows. Paths to support are increasingly complex, and the response of the faith community is more important than ever. Millions have resettled in the U.S. over the years, often assisted by faith communities living out the call to provide radical welcome and hospitality to all of God’s children.
Where do we start?
Refugee response requires communities ready to welcome refugees, preparing to serve even before a crisis arises. Week of Compassion offers support and resources, connections to experts, and helps communities stay ready and welcoming.
- PREPARE: Learn how your congregation can welcome refugees, connect to a resettlement office, and support sponsoring congregations.
- ADVOCATE: Follow the advocacy and education of our partners at Church World Service (CWS).
- GIVE: Support Week of Compassion and partners working to meet urgent needs in immigrant and refugee response.
- CONNECT: Get Week of Compassion emails, and follow us on social media for stories, reflections, calls to action, and opportunities to connect.
For more information, contact Rev. Grace Kozak, Associate Director for Immigrant & Refugee Response.
RESOURCES
As churches and communities care for immigrant and refugee neighbors amid shifting policies, here are some helpful resources.
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Toolkits, Apps, & Resources for Print or Download
Justice & Advocacy Ministries at Disciples Home Missions offers this Refugee and Immigration Ministry Tools page, containing curated articles, explainers, videos, and action alerts. Designed to be downloaded and shared in newsletters, social media posts, or emails to interested individuals.
Obra Hispana, Week of Compassion, and Disciples Immigration Attorney Jonelle Ocloo, have prepared bilingual one-page resources: Conozca Sus Derechos (Know Your Rights) and Recursos de Inmigración (Immigration Resources).
Bot also available in 11x17 poster size: Conozca 11x17 / Recursos 11x17 
The National Immigration Legal Services Directory lists free or low-cost legal services, and is searchable by state, county, or detention facility.
Every one, at every time, has certain basic rights. The National Immigration Law Center has "know your rights" and many other resources in English, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Spanish.
The Know Your Rights iPhone App is available in 16 languages. It has the ability to read rights aloud to an ICE or law enforcement agent, send a message to an emergency contact, includes a consulate search and a sample family preparedness plan. (Developed by the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium. Does not collect personal data.)
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Disciples Justice Ministries Immigration Webinar,
featuring Disciples Immigration Attorney Jonelle Ocloo, Esq. Changes for Refugees
Know Your Rights
What Your Church Should Know
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RESPONSES
As the needs of immigrant & refugee response evolve, Week of Compassion maintains ongoing responses of welcome.
To expand our support for congregations engaged in refugee, asylum-seeker, and immigrant support, the Equity Grant for Refugee Response is designed for Disciples congregations that are a part of NAPAD, La Obra Hispana, and National Convocation. Congregations may have an existing refugee ministry, or an idea for a new venture, that can benefit from grant support. This grant focuses on ministries that might be outside the usual ‘refugee response’, creating avenues for congregations who are establishing innovative ways to address the concerns and needs of the refugee, migrant, and immigrant communities.
In 2023, Week of Compassion's Immigrant & Refugee Response Summary Report showed more than 70 Disciples churches responded to the needs of refugees, evacuees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in their communities. Thousands of people from all over the world saw the support, care, and compassion of Disciples who welcomed the stranger with radical hospitality and love. Review the summary and find opportunities to connect.
A refugee is someone who flees home and country owing to ‘a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion’. Many refugees are in exile to escape the effects of natural or human-made disasters.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY (June 20) is designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe, an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives. Resources are available annually to mark World Refugee Day with your congregation. |
Responding in AFGHANISTAN
In the fall of 2021, as the government of Afghanistan collapsed and families were rapidly evacuated, Week of Compassion reaffirmed refugee response as an ongoing priority and employed increased resources to support local churches. Dozens of congregations, across multiple regions of the Disciples church, helped Afghan families to establish a new life in an entirely new place under deeply stressful circumstances. Out of the desperation and disconnect of this crisis, opportunity and community thrived.
Responding in UKRAINE
Multiple phases of care and response have unfolded since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022, as the war carries on and the needs of the Ukrainian people continue to emerge. Our local partners continue to work to build and support programs to care for internally displaced persons and refugees in this crisis. As the situation constantly shifts in Ukraine, Week of Compassion will continue to find ways to empower ecumenical partners and Disciples congregations engaged in the work of refugee support.
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Even after many years, Week of Compassion remains attentive to the people of Syria, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, among others. Week of Compassion continues to respond through our global and ecumenical partners, including Global Ministries and Church World Service, for the sake of the affected communities, as their stories affect the needs and responses of resettlement work in the United States. Through these and other partners, we support advocacy and legal support for immigrants and resettled families around the world where those fleeing violence and persecution can find find hope, opportunity, community, and most importantly, the promise of a better future.
