Category: Refugees

Categories
Local Conference NEWS Refugees

Empowered Students: Making an Impact through Community Action

In March, at the Southwestern Union Convention snack bags were made by attendees and sent for the service project ‘More Compassion’ in El Paso. Along with the snack bags, the older students from El Paso Jr Academy, known as the upper graders, enthusiastically packed hygiene kits, blankets and the bags of love for the homeless. The Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) students and local college students distributed these bags all around El Paso as immigrants and homeless are scattered throughout the city.

Also, the hygiene kits, made at the convention are being requested by Dallas County Emergency Management, along with blankets, hand sanitizer and bottled water that will go to benefit refugees as they are transferred out of Dallas, offering them some comfort during their challenging journey.

Deborah Gendke, Associate Director of ACS Texas Conference shared a deep expression of gratitude to all who participated in the Union Convention and service project. Their involvement made a significant difference in the lives of those they reached.

Categories
Community Community Development Local Conference NEWS Refugees

Chesapeake and Wisconsin Conferences Help Afghan Refugees

ACS teams in various conferences such as Wisconsin and Chesapeake are providing assistance to refugees arriving from Afghanistan. Wisconsin Conference ACS Director, Alice Garrett, has been in collaboration with the Wisconsin VOAD (WI VOAD) and Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) to help more than 12,000 refugees who are currently being housed at Fort McCoy. They have put together a needs list consisting of new clothing and shoes. Garrett is reaching out to our local churches to collect and deliver goods consisting of new clothing and shoes. “I am so grateful for our churches generosity and money has been turned in so we can purchase some things the Fort is in need of,” said Garrett. “So far, I have good help and we will be able to make this happen,” she added.

Chesapeake Conference ACS team members are also responding to the Afghanistan crisis by providing emotional and spiritual care to the evacuees. There were 36,000 who arrived at Dulles airport in Virginia and thousands of others who arrived in Philadelphia. “These are people who are having to completely restart their lives. Many are experiencing shock. We’re here for them in these moments of change, stress, and loneliness. We’re here to show them care and love and to let them know that they’re not alone,” stated Ignacio Goya, ACS Director for Chesapeake Conference. Click here to read article by the Chesapeake Conference.

Ignacio Goya, ACS Director for Chesapeake Conference, stands in the processing center for refugees arriving in the United States through Dulles airport. Photo Credit: Chesapeake Conference.

 

Categories
Food Aid Local Conference Refugees

Grand Rapids Refugee Food Drive

The Michigan Conference Office family helped feed 420 Rwandan and Burmese refugees in Grand Rapids on May 24, 2020. The director of Michigan Conference Multi-Ethnic Ministries, Bob Stewart, informed the Conference ACS director, Chelli Ringstaff, that there is a need for food in the Grand Rapids refugee communities. There was no question in her mind about what she should do; she knew she had to help. Bob started organizing with the local pastors on the numbers that needed to be fed, while Chelli was figuring out how to get the three items that they really would like – rice, beans, and sweet potatoes. “It seemed that it was nearly impossible to get large quantities of anything. I just kept hitting wall after wall. Not knowing what to do, I took a walk with the Lord and asked for His guidance on what I should do, then the thought came to my mind – ASK THE OFFICE,” said Chelli. So, she ran home and sent out an email to the office and within an hour she had 1,000 pounds of dried beans, 880 pounds of sweet potatoes, monetary donations, and volunteers to buy and pick up the food! They even had a driver! The Conference ACS associate director, Terry Dodge, stepped up and was willing to drive the trailer of food to the two locations.

On the day of the distribution, officers of the Michigan Conference and their families had set up stations at both locations, ready to serve! Those who served were Jim & Gail Micheff; Mike and Cheryl Bernard with their sons, Aaron, Ben, and Caleb; Pastor Bernard; Pastor Cin; and Chelli and her family Justin, Elijah, Emma, and Enoch. At the second site were Royce and Laurie; Wes; Marion; Levi and Liana; and Bob Stewart. They were able to give away 1,800 pounds of dry beans, 1,600 pounds of rice, 2,800 pounds of sweet potatoes, and lots of boxes of bananas donated by Bob Stewart. They served a total of 420 individuals; around 106 families. “This whole project was blessed and led by the Holy Spirit and the generosity and love of those in the office and the ACS leaders of the NAD,” stated Chelli.

Categories
Community Refugees

U.S. Border Crisis

The recent humanitarian crisis has left many organizations looking for resolutions to the separation of immigrant children and parents taking place at the Texas-Mexico border. While those in our political leadership discuss what is proper or fair, we have a responsibility to live up to our stated mission within ACS DR “serving communities in Christ name.” The North American Division has called together a number of Ministries who are interested in determining how to best respond as a body in a coordinated way. The ACS DR Team has reached out to some of our local and national partners who work in the Refugee community. Marshall Gonzales, Texas ACS/ACSDR Director, is in communication with some of the local partners such as the Texas VOAD, Emergency Management, and others. We are also in communication with our National partners to find ways on how we can be of service.

There are some activities currently going on at the Border to help those who have been impacted by this crisis. Here is a link that educates us on some of the things taking place. Catholic Charities is the lead organization of the activities on the scene, having worked in this area for the past 15 years. W. Derrick Lea, NAD ACS DR Director, has reached out to them to discuss a possible collaboration. They discussed the Respite Center and Day Care where children and families were being held and all the things associated with keeping them housed, clean, and fed.

Please, let us keep the affected families in our thoughts and prayers as they survive these trying times.

Categories
Local Church Refugees

Italy SDA Church Welcomes Refugees

A predominantly refugee church in southern Italy emphasized the World Refugee Day during their June 17 Sabbath morning worship service. The service which included refugee stories, a concert, reports, and interviews were live streamed. The church which is located in Castel Volturno, a town 21 miles northwest of Naples, has opened its doors to welcome migrants that are coming in mostly from Libya. Some were already Adventists before they arrived, some found faith on their journey, and some were introduced to the Adventist faith after getting in touch with the church. Read first-hand stories about refugees and the trials they endured in their homeland, the struggles they encountered during their journey, and the challenges they continue to face in their new home, Italy.

Click Here for Full Article

Categories
Events Refugees

World Refugee Day – June 20, 2017

  1. Write a message of encouragement for your refugee neighbors. Go to the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AMRARIM/ which was created between two NAD identities, Adventist Muslim Relations and Adventist Refugees and Immigrants Ministries, so that you could have a positive voice, and share ideas. Share this page with others and help us spread the word.
  2. Pastors and church leaders, visit your local mosque, or Islamic center. Introduce yourself, let them know that you are an Adventist leader who has a distinct calling to reach out to anyone with a message of hope and wholeness. Ask how things are affecting the Muslim community, offer a prayer and ask for any way in which it will be possible to bring a better interfaith understanding, and foster stronger ties between neighbors.
  3. Hospitality meals – This can be done in an individual level, or can be a collective initiative. Your church may choose to offer a hospitality meal for the local mosque. The kids could prepare a banner saying, “we love our neighbors” and sign it, and let them know that our food is clean, so they can freely come to our tables. That we want to bless them, and get to know one another.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH REFUGEES:

Adventists for Refugees

Friendships for Hope

Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries

F.R.E.E – Friends of Refugees providing Education and Empowerment

RESOURCES:

Refugee Awareness Sabbath Program Ideas & Activities

Ideas on Starting a Refugee Ministry in Your Church

Practical Ways to Reach Out to Refugees