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Church Engagement

We believe that when the church is mobilized to achieve its full potential, it has the power to change our world. We believe that when the church is mobilized to achieve its full potential, it has the power to change our world.

Our mission is centered on equipping the local church to serve the most vulnerable.

This means that our success is to help churches succeed in what Jesus is calling you to do: love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39) and to welcome the stranger (Matt. 25:35).

How will your church welcome next?

Whether you lead in the pulpit, from the pew, or out in the streets, your people are ready to love the stranger. Let us guide you and your congregation as you become a church of welcome.

Access our resources below

Pastors and World Relief Staff share experiences meeting each other and growing their relationship over many years.

Empowering Local Churches

At World Relief Western NY, we've been partnering with churches across the region for over 2 years, helping them join in God's plan to bring lasting change to our world. Our passion is to create partnerships that support and empower local churches to serve immigrants and refugees in vulnerable situations.

7 Reasons We Believe The Church Can Change The World

We believe that when the church is mobilized to achieve its full potential, it has the power to change our world. We believe this because:

1. The local church is God’s plan to reveal his mercy, compassion and truth to people around the world.
2. The local church is the largest social network on the planet and has the ability, authority and permanency to do far more than any government institution or non-profit organization could.
3. The local church is led by local, trusted community leaders — those with an inside voice and understanding that no outside organization can bring.
4. The local church has the influence and moral authority to shape behaviors rooted in biblical values of love, compassion and justice.
5. The local church offers the greatest hope of reconciliation between classes, tribes, ethnicities and political parties, unifying people under a common identity in Christ.
6. The local church can restore dignity and bring hope to the suffering, forgotten and marginalized by reaching out to the most vulnerable in its community and answering God’s call to love.
7. The local church is empowered by the Holy Spirit to do more than human wisdom and efforts could ever possibly accomplish alone.

"Church health can’t be defined by attendance or budgets alone. Rather, by how well our congregation is loving their neighbors and coming alongside the most vulnerable in our community and around the world. As a partner, World Relief has played an important role in equipping and mobilizing our church to step into the lives of the vulnerable both here and around the world."

– Nathan Nelson, Missions Pastor

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