World Relief Authors Release New Edition of Seeking Refuge: The Human Face of the Global Refuge Crisis
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Number of people forced to flee their homes doubled since first edition
Contact: Lauren Rasmussen, media@wr.org, 802.310.4255
BALTIMORE, Md. – Today, current and former World Relief staff Matthew Soerens, Stephan Bauman and Dr. Issam Smeir bring clarity to the church on a complex and emotionally charged topic in the release of a new edition of Seeking Refuge: The Human Face of the Global Refugee Crisis (Moody Publishers).
Few issues in today’s global landscape spark more urgency —or more debate—than the refugee crisis. More than one hundred and seventeen million people worldwide have been forced from their homes due to war, persecution, and conflict – a figure that has roughly doubled just in the past decade since the publication of the first edition. As the crisis grows, so does the divide between those who argue for a moratorium on refugee admissions for reasons of national security and those who believe that, with proper vetting, the United States should continue its long tradition of welcoming refugees and other immigrants.
“Over the past decade, the scale of the global refugee crisis has increased dramatically, but the U.S. government has stepped back, receiving fewer refugees than ever in the half-century history of the U.S. refugee resettlement program,” says Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief. “More than ever, our conviction is that it’s a vital moment for the church to demonstrate God’s love for refugees, both through advocacy and in practical acts of service.”
Drawing on extensive experience with refugee communities through their work at World Relief, a global Christian organization that for decades has partnered with both the U.S. State Department and with thousands of local churches to assist in refugee resettlement, Soerens, Bauman and Smeir offer practical insight, rigorous research and a biblically grounded perspective to help readers navigate the confusion and controversy surrounding the crisis. Thoroughly updated from the original version of this book published a decade ago, this new edition responds to the dramatic changes to refugee resettlement over the past several years, while pointing to unchanging biblical truths that should shape Christians’ response.
“When confronted with images of families fleeing violence or stories of innocent lives lost, many Americans wrestle with fear, compassion and uncertainty,” commented Stephan Bauman, former president and CEO of World Relief and co-founder and chief executive of Together International. “At some point, we must grapple with these tensions, but we firmly believe that Christians need not choose between personal safety and biblical welcome. Instead, the church is called to engage in meaningful solutions that begin with love and compassion.”
“When so many people are on the move, the church, both here in the United States and around the world, has an unprecedented opportunity to live out our faith,” commented Dr. Issam Smeir, mental health program manager at World Relief. “Even with the best of intentions, though, sometimes the church does not know how to respond to individuals who have endured profound persecution and loss. Our hope is that this newly updated book will be a practical resource for responding in biblically-rooted, trauma-informed ways to this growing global crisis.”
Seeking Refuge calls people of faith to respond with wisdom, courage, and compassion—grounded not in fear, but in mission-driven, fact-based engagement. Even in the midst of profound suffering, the authors remind readers that God is at work, building His church and expanding His kingdom through the global movement of displaced people.
Praise for Seeking Refuge include:
“This book is a powerful, persuasive case that the people of Christ should care about the vulnerable, including those fleeing from danger. Its message is even more crucial now than it ever was before. Read this book with an open mind and a Christ-shaped conscience.”
—RUSSELL MOORE | Editor at-large, Christianity Today
“In the decade since the first edition of Seeking Refuge came out, debates and views about immigration have only gotten more difficult and divisive. Yet, the global refugee crisis has only grown more pressing. With biblical arguments and empirical data, this new edition again helps evangelical Christians sort through some of the issues with clarity, conviction, and compassion. Most importantly, we are pointed to the heart of God for all people and reoriented toward the mission to show and share the love of Jesus with all nations, whether across the world or across the street.”
—ED STETZER | Dean, Talbot School of Theology
“In a culture that has devolved into self-centered individualism, the church has a tremendous opportunity to express Christ’s love for the refugees landing on our doorsteps. In fact, a failure to do so is simply a failure to be the body of Jesus Christ. Rooted in solid research and the authors’ vast experience, Seeking Refuge both challenges and equips the church to take action in the face of the growing global crisis. This is an essential book for such a time as this.”
—BRIAN FIKKERT | Coauthor, When Helping Hurts, and president of The Chalmers Center at Covenant College
“Seeking Refuge is a timely resource that draws us in with real stories of people who often find themselves unexpectedly strangers in a new land, and the book provides tools for anyone to take action to make a real impact on the lives of our new neighbors and in the global conversation around refugees.”
—JENNY YANG | coauthor of Welcoming the Stranger
“Seeking Refuge is a must-read introductory book for Christians to understand and respond to one of the most controversial topics of our day: the global refugee crisis. The book gives the reader a broad exploration of the issues without losing sight of the individual stories that bring the crisis down to earth. If you want to know what it practically means to obey the command ‘love those who are foreigners,’ this is the book for you.”
—RICH NATHAN | Founding Pastor, Vineyard Columbus; Director of Pastoral Residency, For Columbus
“The refugee crisis is complex. The authors have outlined the complexity and yet at the same time are giving a solid biblical base from which to respond. The nascent voices yell loudly, but the authors are calling us to follow the ‘still small voice’ of truth in which we experience true power in action. Guidance for these days!”
—JO ANNE LYON | General Superintendent Emerita, The Wesleyan Church
“Seeking Refuge is the best work to date when it comes to understanding present realities, global challenges, and practical responses to refugees in light of our kingdom citizenship. Filled with numerous stories and easy-to-understand explanations of technical matters, Bauman, Soerens, and Smeir have provided the church with a call to action and excellent assistance along the way. If you are looking for a one-stop shop to be informed, challenged, and led, then you have found it here!”
—J. D. PAYNE | Thomas Welby Bozeman Professor of Christian Ministry, Samford
University; author, Strangers Next Door: Immigration, Migration and Mission
“At a time when culture prioritizes individual protection and self-preservation, Bauman, Soerens and Smeir rightly call Christians to prioritize our neighbors, especially those fleeing persecution. Thoroughly researched and theologically grounded, this book is a must-have for any missions-minded Christ follower.”
—BRI STENSRUD | Director, Women of Welcome; author, Start with Welcome: The Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation
“This highly readable and informative volume is the resource for God’s people who hear about the global refugee crisis, have some questions, and don’t know what to do. Inspiring and clarifying, groups in local congregations and groups of Christian citizens can apply the authors’ practical and faithful recommendations immediately. I am profoundly thankful to God for inspiring such a biblically based and moving book.”
—STEPHANIE SUMMERS, CEO | Center for Public Justice
Link to order: ChristianBook.com, Amazon, Bookshop.org