In a year when U.S. headlines were dominated by immigration, an upcoming presidential election and conflicts and disasters causing record-breaking global displacement, U.S. churches wrestled with how to turn their biblical call to welcome the stranger into meaningful action.
Fortunately, we’ve been walking hand-in-hand with churches for over 80 years, helping them respond to crises around the world. This year we stepped even further into this calling by mobilizing communities of believers through our new Churches of Welcome initiative and impactful advocacy actions rooted in scripture, prayer, compassion and conviction.
WIth these efforts, FY24 was a year of transformation, growth and hope. Churches stepped up in new ways, demonstrating the power of the Gospel in action, advocating on behalf of refugees and other immigrants, and shifting the conversation in local faith communities and on Capitol Hill.
Churches of Welcome: Mobilizing the Church to Welcome Through Action
In FY24, we laid the groundwork for our official launch of Churches of Welcome — an innovative discipleship journey that equips American churches to welcome the stranger. This initiative acknowledges that every church, regardless of its size, resources or prior engagement, has a role to play in welcoming, supporting and advocating on behalf of refugees and other immigrants who have been forced to flee their homes.
“Churches of Welcome is about mobilizing and equipping the church to live out its biblical calling,” said Daniel Yang, national director of Churches of Welcome at World Relief. “We want to come alongside any church that desires to be part of this mission, providing them with the tools and support they need.”
Through coaching consultations, digital training and service opportunities, churches join in a customized disciple journey to raise up leaders and mobilize members and small groups to welcome immigrants and refugees in a way that is mutually transformative.
In its first year, Churches of Welcome has already made a big impact:
- 8 Charter Member Churches made commitments to help launch Churches of Welcome with financial and promotional support, shaping the movement’s foundation.
- 3 Church Network Partnerships were established with the Christian & Missionary Alliance, MYBLVD and the Diaspora Network, who committed to create opportunities for churches in their denomination and networks to join Churches of Welcome, broadening the initiative’s reach and influence.
- Nearly 400 church leaders were engaged through Churches of Welcome events, resources and training.
These numbers reflect a growing movement within the U.S. church of congregations stepping up to embody the biblical call to welcome the stranger. Through Churches of Welcome, pastors and leaders are being trained, church members are being mobilized and communities are being transformed.
A Church Transformed Through Welcome
For Krista, a ministry leader at Grace Capital City in Washington D.C, a Churches of Welcome partner, this initiative has been more than just a resource — it has been a catalyst for renewal within her church and community.
“Before we partnered with World Relief, our church had a heart for immigrants and refugees but didn’t know where to start,” Krista recalled. “We wanted to help, but we lacked the knowledge and structure to engage in a meaningful way.”
Through Churches of Welcome, Krista’s church received training on biblical hospitality, cross-cultural engagement and practical ways to support newly arrived refugees. They learned about the challenges many immigrant families face like navigating complex legal systems, overcoming language barriers and finding community in an unfamiliar place.
Soon, that knowledge turned into action. Krista’s church launched a Good Neighbor Team and was paired with a refugee family. Team members provided transportation, job search assistance and English language support as the family adjusted to life in their new community. Most importantly, they built genuine relationships, ensuring that those they served felt seen, valued and embraced as part of the church family.
“What we didn’t expect was how much this ministry would change us,” Krista shared. “As we walked alongside our new neighbors, our own faith deepened. We saw the gospel in action — not just in what we were doing, but in how God was transforming our hearts.”Thanks to their faithful commitment to loving the stranger, Krista’s church is now used as a model in Churches of Welcome for other congregations seeking to minister to their refugee and immigrant neighbors. Their story is a testament to the power of Churches of Welcome — not just to help immigrants thrive, but to strengthen and renew the church itself.
Elevating a Biblical Vision for Immigration Through Advocacy
In addition to Churches of Welcome, World Relief partnered with and mobilized local churches across the country to advocate for just and compassionate immigration policies. In the midst of the 2024 election season, national conversation on immigration was marked by division and misinformation. However, as a long-time leading voice in this space, we were not deterred from engaging in hard discussions while working to elevate a faith-driven, fact-based and biblically grounded perspective.
In FY24, our advocacy efforts focused on three key areas:
- Educating and mobilizing faith communities: we spearheaded roundtable discussions, spoke to church leaders and pastors and provided resources and action steps to help churches engage with immigration issues from a biblical perspective.
- Engaging with policymakers: We worked alongside legislators, often in partnership with pastors and church leaders, to advocate for policies that uphold human dignity, protect vulnerable immigrants, ensure secure borders and provide pathways for legal status.
- Challenging misconceptions through data: We partnered with Lifeway Research, the Integral Alliance, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Evangelical Environmental Network and Open Doors US to release important data and reports which countered common myths and encouraged more informed, compassionate dialogue on immigration, displacement and global crises.
One of the most significant moments in our advocacy work in FY24 was the release of a Lifeway Research study that surveyed 1,000 American evangelical Christians. The survey revealed that they hold more nuanced and thoughtful views on immigration than commonly believed. The study uncovered that:
- 77% wanted Congress to act on significant immigration reforms in 2024
- 71% believed the U.S. has a moral responsibility to receive refugees
- 75% supported a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants (including 72% of white evangelicals and 66% of evangelicals who supported Donald Trump for president in 2020)
- 91% believed U.S. immigration policies should protect family unity
- 91% believed U.S. immigration policies should recognize the God-given dignity of each person
- 78% supported immigration reforms that pair improvements to border security with a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who pay a fine and meet other requirements
For many, this study was a wake-up call. The narrative that American evangelicals are overwhelmingly opposed to immigration is not only misleading but fails to reflect the true heart of many believers. The findings underscored that the church is not as divided on this issue as some might think — and that there is real potential for faith communities to come together in support of just and compassionate policies.
This research, along with ongoing advocacy efforts, has encouraged more pastors, ministry leaders and church members to lean into conversations on immigration with both conviction and grace. We saw this in action when over 600 pastors, leaders and evangelical Christians from all 50 states signed an open letter to both Republican and Democratic 2024 presidential candidates urging them to uphold biblically-informed principles when it comes to building immigration policy. Alongside these efforts, World Relief invited 34 pastors to Washington, D.C., to meet with their congressional representatives about bipartisan immigration reform and the need to keep our promises to Afghan allies through the Afghan Adjustment Act. Throughout the year, our Advocacy Team also held more than 50 events where pastors and church leaders were equipped to speak up on key immigration issues, including a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, pathways to legalization for agricultural workers, and permanent protections for some long-term recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Strengthening the Movement as We Look Ahead
Our calling is clear: to equip churches across the U.S. to be places of welcome, justice and transformation. As we look ahead, World Relief remains committed to expanding the reach and impact of Churches of Welcome and strengthening our advocacy efforts alongside church leaders and their congregations.
None of this would be possible without the faithful generosity of our donors. Your prayers, support and financial gifts have empowered churches to take bold steps to welcome refugee families, raise up advocates and reshape how communities engage with the immigration conversation. You are a vital part of this growing movement.
At a time when global displacement is at an all-time high and immigrant communities face increasing challenges, we need the church to keep stepping up with biblical compassion and conviction. Together, we can be a light in the midst of the immigration conversation, pointing not to fear or division, but to Christ’s call to love, welcome and stand with our neighbors in this urgent moment.
Learn how your church can join the movement at churchesofwelcome.com