"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:34 NIV).
Jesus saw in advance that He would be a vulnerable refugee in Egypt. He chose this as part of His strategy to identify with us in all our hardships. Besides comforting us, He invites us to in turn reach out to others on their dangerous journeys as pilgrims through this world. Come join God in welcoming the stranger into our hearts and neighborhoods.
You can help care for newly arriving refugees and be a true friend to them during this difficult time of transition. Remember they are also worried for their family members back in their country. Here are ways you can make a difference:
1) Contact your conference's Multi-Ethnic Ministries Coordinator Pastor Bob Stewart. Find out what the conference is doing and what various churches are doing to see how you can partner with them. Work with your local Community Services and Personal Ministry departments.
2) Train with Reach the World Next Door. Learn how to be a true friend to a refugee, caring holistically. Discover how to share your faith in an appropriate way, giving them an opportunity to know God more deeply and personally. The training can be done individually, online, or in a small group. It will take you step-by-step into effective cross-cultural caring. Learn more and get started at reachtheworldnextdoor.com/train. Reach the World Next Door is part of ASAP Ministries located in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
3) Do an internet search for "refugee resettlement agency" for your nearest metro area. Look at the websites below to see what volunteer options they have. You may find others through your own search. Many of the agencies provide excellent training for volunteers. All agencies work with refugees regardless of their religious background. A listing of their website here does not mean that we endorse everything about their organization, so contact them and see which one best fits you. Through these organizations you will have opportunity to do many of the actions of service listed below.
Battle Creek
Dearborn and Detroit (Learn Who Has Come)
Grand Rapids (Learn Who Has Come)
Holland
Kalamazoo
Lansing
Muskegon
Traverse City
Troy
General Oversight by the Michigan State Government
4) Help Set up Apartments; Receive Refugees from the Airport; Give Ongoing Support. You can prepare apartments for new arrivals and help them adjust and thrive in this new environment. Invite your family and church members to join you. Learn as a group and then serve as a group. Do an internet search for these options in your area.
5) Volunteer to Tutor ESL or U.S. Civics or Be a Pro Bono Attorney. You can do much of this by Zoom. Local refugee agencies will show you where you can do this.
6) Refugee Youth Mentoring. Be an ongoing support to a young person trying to navigate a new culture while staying true to their family's values. Do an internet search in your area with this specific phrase.
7) Children's Programs. Consider starting one of the Club Ministries at an apartment complex to help a whole group of young people. We have done this in Houston in a way that respects differences in beliefs between Seventh-day Adventists and Muslims, focusing publicly on what we hold in common and sharing differences privately and respectfully in homes at other times. See what happened in Kansas City when Anna reached out to Nepali refugee children.
8) Help a Refugee Student Apply for Private Education. Consider what F.R.E.E. has done. Check out how the Iowa-Missouri Conference has assisted many.
9) Donate Items that refugees need. Look at the various refugee resettlement agencies to see what they need. Often they have their "wish lists" online so you can easily purchase items. As you make friends you will be able to connect them to what your local church can do through its community services department.
10) Promote these needs for others to know at Church or on Social Media. Share this page and about the things you find locally with your family, friends, and church members, inviting them to get involved.
11) Give to help Refugees
Tangibly help by asking the Michigan Conference how funds can be used. Call 517.316.1500. Additionally you can donate at asapministries.org/give. Under "Designation," select "Refugee and Immigrant Ministries" or "Reach the World Next Door." You can also call ASAP Ministries at 269.471.3026.
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Enjoy a report of God's work among immigrants in Michigan
Discover Many More Ideas on How to Tangibly Help Refugees
Explore Additional Possibilities with NAD's Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries
Michigan Prayer Cards - Download, Print and Pray
Each file has four prayer cards. Print the backside with the "Adopt an Unreached People Group" page which is at the bottom.