STORIES
Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh // photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
an immersion in international disaster resposnse For more than three decades, Week of Compassion has partnered with Community World Service Asia (CWSA) to accompany vulnerable communities in Pakistan. This summer, that long-standing partnership took on a new dimension through the International Disaster Response Immersion Program, as seminarian Leigh Larson joined CWSA for ten weeks of ministry and learning. Leigh Larson, a student at Phillips Theological Seminary and a candidate for ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), brought her gifts as a chaplain, author, and scholar into a context of profound challenge and resilience.
BEYOND: General Assembly 20257/24/2025 Week of Compassion highlights from Memphis What a joy to gather with Disciples and friends in Memphis July 12-15 for General Assembly 2025! It is always a treasured time, to worship and learn, pray and play, and imagine together what God has in mind for each of us and all of us in this moment and in the days ahead. Here are a few highlights of Week of Compassion connections during this full and meaning-filled Assembly.
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. Accompanying Refugees5/27/2025 how one congregation serves their neighbors In recent days, our hearts have been heavy as storms and tornadoes have devastated communities in St. Louis, Kentucky, and Virginia. We grieve the loss of life, the destruction of homes and sacred spaces, and the deep disruption to daily life. In moments like these, we’re reminded of how fragile our sense of safety can be—and how vital it is to have a community that shows up with compassion, presence, and care.
The same spirit of accompaniment is at the heart of the refugee ministry at Mt. Pleasant Christian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. connect with Week of Compassion in Memphis There are so many ways to learn about – and be part of! – the work of Week of Compassion at this summer's General Assembly! a Statement on Refugee Resettlement4/23/2025  Disciples congregations have been answering the call to support refugees since 1941, when First Christian Church in Eureka, Illinois sponsored a Jewish family of four fleeing Germany. In a time when the refugee resettlement program as we know it is being dismantled, we are grateful for the ways in which you continue to respond.
From California to Virginia, Disciples are showing up for refugees, teaching English, breaking bread together, and providing basic needs while refugee resettlement agencies lose access to funding. Read a Statement on Refugee Resettlement from General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens below. As we work to understand the best ways to show up for our neighbors on the move in light of the administration’s dismantling of the refugee program, you can join Disciples across the country in their compassionate commitment to refugees. If you would like to join Week of Compassion's monthly refugee response call, please contact Grace Kozak, Associate Director for Immigrant & Refugee Response. Girls' Education in Pakistan4/15/2025 supporting partners in shifting circumstancesDear Disciples,
We are often asked about our global partners and how their work is impacted by the policies of the U.S. administration. We will continue to share the stories of their transformative work, even as we listen to them and discern the best ways to go about our mission – working with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. Thank you for the ways you connect with and invest in the ministry of Week of Compassion. Currently, all our partners are facing significant challenges in humanitarian work, both in development programs and refugee resettlement. |
