Posts Tagged ‘Refugees’
It Takes a Village: The Community Behind Every New Beginning
When Iryna arrived in Spokane on December 31, 2022 at 10 p.m., in the quiet hours of New Year’s Eve, she wasn’t celebrating the start of a new year. She was stepping into an entirely new life. Originally from Limon, Ukraine, Iryna had built an established career as an occupational engineer with a degree in…
Read MoreStories of Strength: Women Rebuilding Their Lives in Chicagoland
This International Women’s Month, we celebrate the resilience, courage, and determination of women who have rebuilt their lives after displacement. Meet Lilly, Kateryna, and Noor—three women whose journeys remind us how strength, opportunity, and community support can help families flourish.
Read MoreState of the Union Fact Check: Truth and Compassion
In the State of the Union address, we heard a lot about immigration. When this topic is discussed on a national stage, it’s worth asking: What are the facts? And how should we respond?
Read MoreTrauma Revisited: Refugee Detentions Stoke Fear
“Being a refugee is not a privilege … Nobody wants to be a refugee,” says Edward Mosantu. He speaks from experience. In 1997, Edward fled violence and instability in DR Congo, seeking safety and stability as a refugee in South Africa before moving to the U.S. on the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program. Today, he works as…
Read MoreHarsh Immigration Policies Didn’t Stop Them: A Syrian Refugee Family Rebuilds
Zainab arrived in America at the last possible moment, and through grit, faith, and a community that showed up when systems fell away, she and her children began turning survival into stability—and strangers into family.
Read MorePlanting Faith, Sharing Hope: From New Beginnings to Global Impact
One day in 2007, shortly after arriving in Aurora as refugees from Burma, Pastor Manar Chai found his wife standing in the doorway, crying. Though grateful to be in the U.S., the early months were marked by isolation, bitter cold, and long walks to the grocery store without a car or community. “Sometimes it was so hard,” he recalls, “we thought, ‘Just send me back to Burma.’”
Read MoreThe Joy We Seek
From late-night shifts to early-morning classes, my students show what hope in action looks like. Their stories of courage and perseverance remind me that restoration is possible — even in the most unexpected places.
Read MoreMake Room: Heart of Las Posadas Navideñas in a World of Crisis
I remember holding a small candle, walking with my church family through the cold night, the sweet aroma of hot ponche (essentially Mexican spiced fruit punch) surrounding me while singing in harmony and knocking on doors.
Read MoreThe Hope We Have
As families seek refuge from danger and uncertainty, we have the opportunity to embody Christ’s call to welcome the stranger. Your support sustains this work of hope, healing, and hospitality. Together, we can be the light that guides families forward.
Read MoreOn Earth as It Is in Heaven: A Prayer for Every Tribe and Nation
Each week as I pray “Thy kingdom come,” I’m reminded that God’s vision for His kingdom is vast, growing, and beautifully diverse. My hope is that we would long for—and live toward—a world that reflects heaven’s welcome for every tribe, nation, and tongue.
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