OCT 2023-SEPT 2024
For Such a time as this...
In 2024, over 122 million people had been forced to flee their homes. But we were created for such a time as this. From Sudan to Ukraine, the Middle East to the U.S., we rose together to meet critical needs. Families displaced by war found safety, children in crisis received care and communities around the world became places of refuge, healing and hope. In every challenge, the church stepped forward, demonstrating Christ’s love in tangible ways.
More than 80 years ago, World Relief was born from a movement of faithful Christ-followers sending aid to refugees in Europe after World War II. With partners like you, we boldly carried our mission into fiscal year 2024, engaging the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church.
Learn more about our 80 year legacy
3.3M+
people served globally
4.5K+
churches mobilized
76%
66%
of those served were women and children
Together, we’re creating flourishing futures for families around the world.
Imagine a world where families flourish and people experience restored relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves and all of creation. As millions are caught in cycles of conflict, climate crises and poverty around the world, this is the vision we’re making possible at World Relief.
In FY24, we took bold action alongside local churches and partners to help communities stand strong against the forces driving mass displacement and suffering in some of the world’s most vulnerable places.
564,833
people gained access to clean water
119,862
children under 6 got a healthier start through health and nutrition programs
Hope in Drought Comes From Unlikely Places
In drought-stricken Turkana, Kenya, women like Rose are finding hope in a tiny insect. Our innovative black soldier fly project is improving nutrition and generating income.
The Power of a Father’s Presence
Kabale wanted to be a good dad. But when his family fled conflict in DR Congo, he wasn’t sure how to care for them — until he connected with a World Relief Early Childhood Development center.
Churches Partner to Shine Jesus’ Light
After years of separation, Bosco and Nyiranzabandora’s marriage was saved through a ministry at their local church. With Church Empowerment Zones, churches like theirs are transforming lives.
Together, we’re forging pathways to healing for people on the move.
War in the Middle East. Famine and conflict in Sudan. Gang violence in Haiti. Earthquakes, drought and flooding around the world. Today, more people than ever before have been forced to seek refuge in a country or community not their own. Tragically, more than 40% of these are children.
For over 80 years, World Relief has responded on the front lines to global displacement in the U.S. and abroad through our distinct “here and there” approach. In FY24, we remained unwavering in our commitment to families and individuals forced to flee their homes.
62,542
Palestinians and Israelis served in the Middle East
40,345
immigrants served in the United States
Responding in the Middle East: “God Has Not Forgotten Us”
When the Al Abdallah* sisters were forced to flee their home in Gaza, they felt isolated in an empty, Egyptian apartment. But then a local church stepped in, meeting both material and spiritual needs.
*names changed
Compelled by God’s Love to Respond in Sudan
Sudan is home to today’s largest displacement crisis. Even as others have withdrawn amid the conflict, we have continued delivering life-saving aid in Sudan and welcoming Sudanese refugees in the U.S.
Boldly Engaging the Crisis in Haiti, Here and There
Violence and unrest have forced hundreds of thousands of Haitians to flee their homes. We stood by the Haitian people in their home country and in cities across the U.S., as we have for decades.
Together, we’re opening our arms to demonstrate the welcoming love of Jesus.
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells his followers, “ … I was a stranger and you invited me in … Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” At World Relief, we take Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger to heart. When families arrive in the U.S. seeking relief from persecution and suffering, we partner with local churches to cultivate communities of welcome and belonging.
FY24 was a historic year as World Relief welcomed more refugees than ever before with bold, innovative support.
12,328
Refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders resettled
15
Denominations across 17 states participated in Churches of Welcome
A Historic Crisis, a Historic Response
The call to welcome the stranger has never been more urgent. Through innovations like virtual resettlement and the Welcome Corps, we expanded our reach to welcome more refugees than ever before.
Chicagoland Churches Step Up to Help Asylum-Seekers
Anna*, an asylum-seeker and young mother from Eastern Europe, was bussed from the border to Chicagoland. A local church made sure she had a roof over her head and friends to walk with her through the asylum process.
*names changed
Uniting U.S. Churches in Welcome and Advocacy
In 2024, immigration was a national focus. We partnered with churches across the U.S. to advocate for immigrants and launch Churches of Welcome, an innovative discipleship journey.
“Jack and I both have had a heart for missions since the mid-1970s. We liked to send money … through World Relief because they could do things we couldn’t. We couldn’t be there, but we could give.”
Connie Weaver
Donor
Looking Forward
We’re grateful for all we accomplished together in 2024. And yet, as we prepared to release this year’s report, we also wanted to speak into our current reality. U.S. policy changes have dramatically reduced federal support for vulnerable communities around the world. Refugee families are separated from loved ones. Clinics and food programs have been shuttered in fragile communities. Converging crises like conflict and climate disasters continue to escalate.
But here’s the good news: We believe World Relief was created for such a time as this. And so were you. Even as we grieve the impact of these policies, we are meeting this critical moment with a renewed sense of calling. Our organizational strategy and careful planning prepared us for many of these adversities. We have a clear plan to pivot programs and adjust operations to focus on our mission-critical and life-saving work.
Simultaneously, we are witnessing an outpouring of support from our partners. The church is rising up, and we will meet this moment hand-in-hand. The stories in this report demonstrate what’s possible when we act together. But we can’t do this work without people like you. Will you continue to join us in this God-inspired work today?
A Legacy That Lasts
When you include World Relief in your will or trust, you ignite lasting change. Learn how your estate gift empowers vulnerable families to flourish, strengthens communities with sustainable solutions, and extends God’s love where it’s needed most.
