June is finally upon us, which means it is officially Refugee Awareness Month! This is a time to pause and reflect on the experience of the millions of people around the world who have had to leave everything behind — their homes, their communities, the places where their stories began — simply to find safety.
During this month and beyond, we are invited not only to raise awareness, but to practice solidarity, to listen to refugee voices, challenge fear and misinformation, advocate for humane policies and create communities where newcomers are welcomed with open arms.
On Wednesday, June 17 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, World Relief President & CEO Myal Greene will lead a virtual gathering to bring the needs of people on the move before God.
Let’s talk about it! 50 Conversations on Home, Belonging and Loving Your Neighbor
36.4 million people are believing in something better — and the conversations happening around your table matter more than you might think.
This World Refugee Month, we're giving you a free set of Conversation Cards to help you talk about immigration and displacement with the people in your life.
We’re excited for you to explore these topics and see where the discussions take you!
WORLD RELIEF AROUND THE WORLD Flourish in Focus: Real Stories of Hope
Shepherds in Exile: Partnering with Displaced Pastors and Churches
What happens when a pastor becomes a refugee and still chooses to serve?
After fleeing violence in DR Congo, Pastor Mafuta found himself in Nyankanda refugee camp in Burundi. The camp shelters a fluctuating population of 11,000 to 13,000 Congolese refugees. Life there is difficult — many arrive with little to survive on. For those with physical, mental or social barriers, accessing basic goods and food can feel nearly impossible.
As a pastor, Mafuta couldn’t ignore those needs. So, when he heard World Relief was gathering church leaders to help, he joined them.
The journey into DR Congo’s Ebola hotspot took more than two days, multiple border crossings and constant uncertainty, with one purpose: reaching vulnerable communities before Ebola could claim more lives. For World Relief’s response team, turning back was never an option.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded its risk level from high to very high, signaling a fast-moving crisis that’s still unfolding. The suffering has crossed borders, with confirmed deaths reported in Uganda. Together with you, World Relief is responding.
Questions about re-interviews, documentation and the possibility of detention are no longer theoretical. They are discussed quietly at kitchen tables and surface in late-night conversations.
Across our U.S. Offices, Adult Education staff and volunteers sit across from over 3,000 students each year and we listen. Teaching refugees and other immigrants can mean assuring students that against all odds — the family responsibilities and sick kids, third shift airport jobs, bills that pour in as steady as rainfall — they will learn.
The Christian Post, “World Relief responds to Ebola outbreak, US commits $13M”
“We are looking at partnering with churches because we know that when it is critical to get sensitive information, particularly about health or about behavior, it’s good to partner with trusted local entities,” says Lanre Williams-Ayedun, Senior Vice President of International Programs at World Relief
The Washington Post, “A troubling Ebola outbreak meets a weakened U.S. system”
Robert Batusa, program director for World Relief DR Congo and currently based in Goma near the Rwanda border in eastern Congo, warned that without a stronger international response, the outbreak could continue to worsen.
World Relief Initiates Emergency Response to Emergent Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo, Urges U.S. Government Response
An emerging Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is becoming the first major test of the U.S.’s stated commitment to respond to global health crises since the dismantling of USAID. Will the international community act before the outbreak spreads further?
World Relief Laments Cruel, Anti-Family Immigration Policy Change
“This is the latest step in an effort to systematically dismantle legal immigration, and it will have devastating consequences on families. Our faith as Christians teaches us that God established the family unit and that what God has joined together, no one should separate …”, commented Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief.
Did you know that recurring giving, like a monthly donation, is one of the most powerful ways to support our mission — to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church — long-term? Even small amounts add up significantly over time. For example, a $10 monthly gift becomes $120 in a year.
When you join The Path, together we provide:
Relief for emergent needs in the wake of crises and destabilizing events
Resilience with wrap-around care that cultivates strength, agency and hope
Restoration through the church, creating communities of compassion, justice and belonging that enable multi-generational flourishing
Because of a $150,000 Challenge Gift from generous supporters, every gift made today has the power to go further. Give once to double your impact, or become a new monthly partner and triple your impact in your first month. Together, we can help up to three times as many families receive the support they need.
P.S. We know not everyone is in a position to give today, but you can still take a meaningful step. When you make a pledge, there’s no immediate donation required. Instead, you’ll be added to a reminder list so that when a giving opportunity for World Refugee Day opens you’ll be invited to turn that commitment into action.
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church.
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church.
