World Refugee Day 2025

Solidarity With Refugees

On 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.

This World Refugee Day, we remember that while the Refugee Resettlement Program is on an indefinite pause, we as the church are still called to respond and to welcome the stranger in our midst. In the words of Pastor Jean-Baptiste, “It’s our duty, we have to do it, because we also were refugees. We still have that compassion when we see others are suffering.” While not everyone can relate to the experience of being a refugee, we all can point to examples of God welcoming us as we are, and extend that same welcome to those who suffer.

To mark World Refugee Day, we invite you to watch and listen to Pastor Jean-Baptiste’s story and prayerfully consider how you will respond. World Refugee Day resources for worship and further study are available on the Week of Compassion website, along with information about our ongoing Immigrant and Refugee Response. To learn more about how your church can support refugees in these times, contact Rev. Grace Kozak, Week of Compassion’s Associate Director for Immigrant and Refugee Response.

World Refugee Day 2025 - a conversation with Pastor Jean-Baptiste Ilondo, Congolese Christian Church

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OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MORE

Find worship resources, personal stories and videos, and connect to the ongoing work of ecumenical partners at the WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2025 page. 

Find more about Week of Compassion's Immigrant & Refugee Response on our website.

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If you are in the greater Indianapolis area, Allisonville Christian Church welcomes you to meet with Rev. Grace Kozak, Associate
Director for Immigrant & Refugee Response with Week of Compassion, as part of the Allisonville Forum on Sunday June 29th, 12:45pm. Lunch is served at 12:15 so please RSVP here.

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Since the Refugee Act of 1980 was passed, Disciples across the U.S. have welcomed more than 30,000 refugees to their communities. While the refugee resettlement program has faced difficult challenges, none have been more devastating than the 2025 halt of the program and stop work orders. At this teach-in during General Assembly, learn what has happened to
refugee resettlement and how Week of Compassion and our partners are responding.

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