World Refugee Day 20256/17/2025 Solidarity With RefugeesOn this World Refugee Day (June 20), the Refugee Resettlement Program in the United States is in a completely preventable crisis. Since the US Refugee Admissions Program was put on hold on January 20, more than 10,000 refugees worldwide have been left stranded, many having sold all their possessions in preparation for their journey to the United States when their flights were abruptly cancelled in January. A further 124,000 refugees were approved to come to the United States but had not yet had their travel booked.
Among those refugees are the Richard family and Ékutschou family, both families who are members of the Disciples of Christ in Congo and were being sponsored by Congolese Christian Church in Indianapolis to come to the US after escaping war in their own country. While we cannot tell the story of every refugee currently facing this crisis, we are grateful to Pastor Jean-Baptiste Ilondo for his willingness to share his own story with us, in conversation with Rev. Sandra Gourdet. prayers for Holy Week & Easter - 20254/10/2025  Beginning Sunday, followers of Christ mark a holy season. As Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations rest to each side, days of thoughtful reflection find their place in between.
For generations, the faithful have made meaning through worship, ritual, and song. Week of Compassion offers these prayers for each day, binding us to God and one another. May you find this a truly Holy Week. "Building More Than Houses" Nearly 20 years ago, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina made an indelible mark on the city of New Orleans and her people. The storm shed light on the overwhelming vulnerabilities within structural systems that disproportionately affect marginalized persons, particularly Black and brown communities, and indigenous tribes and lands. In the decades since the catastrophic 2005 hurricane season, communities across southeast Louisiana remain disconnected from structures that could and should provide assistance and resources.
Special Offering 2025 : HEARD AND SEEN1/14/2025  For more than a week, massive wildfires have been burning in Southern California, scarring thousands of acres, destroying thousands of homes and structures, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Week of Compassion remains in frequent contact with pastors and regional leaders, responding as needs emerge and joining partners in conversation about the long-term recovery ahead.
This disaster is just one of many – including hurricanes, war, and famine – to which Week of Compassion is still responding. Increasingly severe and frequent weather-related and human-caused disasters continue to fragment communities around the world. Adding to the destructive impact of disasters in these regions, political unrest and climate change continue to increase the number of displaced persons worldwide and complicate the work of recovery. |
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