A Story of One Refugee Spearheading a National Movement of Churches to Help Countless More
After generations of living in Laos, Daniel Yang’s family made the difficult decision to uproot their family and flee what had become a war-torn country. From Laos they traveled to Thailand, spending several years in a refugee camp. It wasn’t until 1979, that Daniel, alongside his parents and siblings, finally found themselves on solid ground in East Moline, IL. But, with the challenges of a new language, new culture and new home, how would they navigate this new life on their own?
Thankfully, a church came alongside the Yang family, helping them resettle in the United States. Through this church relationship, Daniel’s father also became the first believer in his family. Only seven years later, his father enlisted his entire family – wife and five children – to be part of helping to plant a church. This newfound faith accompanied with action embedded itself into Daniel’s family’s DNA, which is now composed of a doctor, food distributor, lawyer, engineer, and missiologist – all of whom have been part of starting new churches or ministries in their adult lives. Had they not been sponsored by a church, this lasting Kingdom legacy may not have happened!
This multigenerational impact all stemmed from the intentionality of one church who came alongside a refugee family acclimating to life in a new country.
Currently, the number of people forcibly displaced from their homes has reached the highest point in recorded history — more than 120 million individuals. In response to this crisis, a new national movement of churches called “Churches of Welcome” launched in Fall 2024.
This movement is spearheaded by World Relief, partnering with local churches to welcome and serve refugees and other immigrants. For 80 years, we have existed as a movement of the church. We believe the Local Church is a primary agent of bringing peace, justice and love to a broken world. To us, the church is a missional partner because it is at the heart of God’s plan to redeem the world.
In a full circle moment, Daniel Yang now serves as the National Director for Churches of Welcome. Where once he was a refugee experiencing a church coming alongside his family, he now comes alongside churches across the country to similarly connect them in the welcome of immigrants and refugees.
Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). This verse is at the heart of Churches of Welcome. As many of the charter member churches lead the way in response to this crisis within their own communities, they are a living picture of Revelation 7:9 – where people of every tribe, nation and language come together for a common purpose.
Similarly, despite the diversity within these Churches of Welcome–different backgrounds, histories, geography, size, ethnic composition and theological tradition– they are coming together with a unified approach of biblical welcome to immigrants and refugees. Through workshops, events, small group studies and more, each church is learning, discerning and growing together.
Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief shares, “Our mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church, and today there is no crisis greater than the displacement of more than 120 million individuals, each of whom we believe is made in God’s image. While just a small fraction of those people will ultimately end up in the United States, we want to do all we can to ensure that each is welcomed by a local church.”
Daniel adds, “While refugee and immigration issues are obviously a heated political issue at the moment for the church, this is first and foremost a missional opportunity; a chance to faithfully obey God’s commands to love our neighbors, to practice hospitality and to make disciples of all the nations.”
Churches can select from four membership pathways that best suit the needs of their congregation and surrounding community:
- Learners: Through World Relief guided workshops, book studies, and sermon guides, Churches of Welcome can invite their congregations to learn more about the issues of refugee resettlement, immigration and the practice of biblical welcome.
- Doers: Through a resource hub and community of practice, Churches of Welcome leaders will be equipped with conversations, mentorship and practical tools they need to disciple their congregations, connect with the next generation of believers and create welcome — transforming entire communities.
- Servants: Through World Relief’s Good Neighbor Team program and the U.S. Private Sponsorship program, Churches of Welcome will be given the transformative opportunity to walk alongside a newly arriving refugee or immigrant family for 6-12 months, providing tangible care, friendship and community connections for our newest neighbors.
- Leaders: Through influential ministry relationships and networks, Churches not only serve those in need as Doers and Servants, but lead and encourage others to start the discipleship journey in their churches, ministries, communities and networks.
COMING IN 2025!
Consider becoming a Church of Welcome and joining this national movement of churches from around the country as we answer Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger.