Posts by eparrigin
What I’ll Remember: Interning at WRQC
Sloane wraps up her time by sharing what she’s learned during interning across multiple programs at World Relief Quad Cities.
My time as an intern has come to an end. Only a short 300 hours later, I can cross off an internship experience that works towards my degree: Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication (MJMC). I’m thankful to have been given this opportunity.
At World Relief Quad Cities, I have worked in a lot of different programs. I started off helping caseworkers in the Afghan Placement and Assistance program. I was introduced to the process of casework and everything that goes along with Afghan resettlement.
Meeting families and helping them out was an awesome experience, and very rewarding. The work that goes on at World Relief Quad Cities truly changes clients’ lives.
I’ve been interning in Communications at the same time and have done a lot with it. Comms gave me the chance to interview amazing people in the Quad Cities for multiple stories, and I feel like my writing has made a difference. I also really enjoyed working with social media.
During the last few weeks of my internship, I worked with Family Literacy. I loved helping out with childcare and spending time with the kids. The parents and children seemed to really bond over learning together.
This internship gave me a world of experience and I am very grateful to have been part of the team. When looking back at my time I had with World Relief Quad Cities, I can only think of good things.
I remember going to help out families and taking them grocery shopping. I remember interviewing awesome people in the community and learning how they give back and what World Relief offers the Quad Cities. And I remember working with the kids for the Family Literacy program, creating a bond, and having fun.
After this, I will continue to work towards my degrees in MJMC and Creative Writing at Augustana College. I’m not sure what the future holds for me, but I’m so glad I got to get this experience and work with amazing people that really love what they do.
Thank you to everyone at World Relief for what they have offered for me!
Interested in interning for WRQC? Fill out an internship application.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share people’s stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Meeting with Rep. Miller-Meeks: A step towards the path to safety
WRQC intern Rubens Gonzales discusses his trip to meet Rep. Miller-Meeks and gives his perspective on the Afghan Adjustment Act.
A legal path to safety
Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a special meeting with WRQC and Representative Miller-Meeks to talk about the Afghan Adjustment Act that was recently introduced in the Senate.
The bill would provide a legal adjustment process for the tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees relocated from Afghanistan and resettled into local American communities. It includes those who supported U.S. missions in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, since the U.S. withdrawal from the country back in August 2021.
On the way to Pella, Iowa, I rode with Afghans who have experienced displacement as refugees over the last couple of years. They wanted to give voice to the new Afghan community. More importantly, they were there to offer gratitude to representatives such as Miller-Meeks who advocate for a much more efficient legal process for resettling Afghan refugees here in the United States.
During the trip, I could see and hear how nervous some of the Afghans were. They were unsure how to tell their story.
*It is important to remember that harsh traumas and experiences have made it hard for them to recall the events that led them to where they are now. In respect to their privacy, I will refer to them anonymously.
“How are you feeling, are you ready?” I asked the man sitting next to me on the way to the Vermeer Global Pavilion.
“No, I really do not want to talk about this because it is not easy for me. I get sad just thinking about this, but I know that there will be good behind this,” he said.
The early stages of the bill
Event organizers greeted us when we arrived and led us to the meeting room. After settling down for a couple of minutes, the meeting started with introductions.
There were several groups attending the meeting. One was Rep. Miller Meeks and her staff. Another was the business sector, who were mostly representing big companies that were willing to talk about job opportunities. The other corners were taken up by World Relief, Lutheran Social Services, and the National Immigration Forum. The Afghans sat beside Laura Fontaine, our director, and the meeting began.
The meeting started with Rep. Miller Meeks explaining what is happening inside the House, and how they plan to pursue the Afghan Adjustment Act. She said the bill is still in its early stages because it was just introduced, and because they have yet to gather support from other members of the House. Nonetheless, she tells everyone that her office is working very hard, along with several other members of the House who advocates for the same cause.
Rep. Miller-Meeks shared her background as a military veteran who worked closely with Afghans during her time of service. Her experience reinforced her empathy and understanding for Afghan refugees.
After Rep. Miller-Meeks introductory statement, she gave the floor to the Afghans to speak their parts. Five members of the Afghan community shared powerful stories with similar obstacles. They expressed concerns about family, financial struggles, difficulties in coping with trauma, and frustrations regarding the slow legal process of their cases.
What it’s like to be forcibly displaced
“Everyday, we try our best to bury the thoughts in our head. But at the end of the day when it’s time to rest, I can only think about my family who I left behind.”
“My kids ask me all the time when we can all be together again. It is hard for me to hear that they are counting every second that they are away from me.”
“It’s hard to explain to people that coming back is not an option for us. When we were forced to leave, I burned all my documents. Once we set foot back in Afghanistan, they will take my life and my family’s.”
“Behind the smile that we put on our face is the constant thought of us worrying for the lives of our friends, families, and loved ones back home. Their lives are in constant danger and we cannot do anything about it.”
These were just some of the remarks that I remember from stories told by the Afghans. Through their voice, I could feel how difficult it is for them to be where they are right now.
Looking ahead
Following the powerful statements of the Afghans, we came back to Rep. Miller-Meeks to share her empathy for their situations. She said she understood what they were feeling and would do everything she could to rally up support in the House and pass the bill.
After that, the business sector was brought into the conversation. They were excited to welcome new refugees because of the ongoing labor crisis happening in Iowa. They expressed that many jobs are available for refugees to take if they are in search of employment.
There was time for clarifications, questions, and concerns before the meeting ended. All in all, everyone felt that they were in good hands with Rep. Miller-Meeks presence and support. The Afghans hold hope for brighter days as they look forward to a more efficient legal process and to finally reunite with their loved ones after years of separation and displacement.
As a political science major, this experience was truly an eye-opener for me as I was given the chance to hear how politics work inside the House. I heard about the realities of party polarization happening here in the United States. This makes policy making very intricate, which also means that there is no definitive timeline for when exactly this bill can be passed.
Lots of lobbying and convincing needs to be done in and outside of the senate before refugees can actually reap the benefits of the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Visit our advocacy page to write to your representatives and ask them for their support of the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Rubens Gonzales interns with Immigration Legal Services team at World Relief Quad Cities. He is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Political Science and Asian Studies. He plans to attend law school after graduating and pursue Immigration Law.
Image Before Immigrant
Earlier this year, for the first time on record, the number of forcibly displaced people in the world hit 100 million. What that means is that one in every 78 people on Earth is displaced from their home as a result of war, violence, famine, and human rights violations each day.
We’ve welcomed over 3,500 refugees into our Quad Cities neighborhood since 1999. And as a member of that neighborhood, an employee at World Relief Quad Cities, and as a Christian, that number is staggering. It’s heart-breaking.
A few things come to mind as I reflect on that number. The first is that, when we talk about the 100 million, we’re not just talking about a number, we’re talking about people. These are men, women, boys and girls – of all ages, of many different races, and of incredible individual journeys that we, as Christians, are called to engage with (Matt. 25:31-45).
This is the challenge for us, as Christians, when it comes to resettlement: to put a human face on the number, first and foremost. Otherwise, the problem has a much harder time affecting us personally, and a much easier time remaining out of sight, out of mind, and certainly not right here in the middle of our communities.
These 100 million aren’t just people “over there,” either.
While many refugees do live “over there” – across oceans in refugee camps waiting to move on to a place like America where they and their families can be safe – many of them also live right here (or soon will live right here). And I don’t just mean in the country. I mean, here in the Cities – in your neighborhood.
I believe that, as pastors and Christians in the Quad Cities, we have an important question to ask ourselves: What will we do today and in the future as an incredible opportunity to fulfill our Matthew 25 and 28 mandates sits in our own backyards?
Most importantly, though, when I think of these people, I’m reminded that they each carry something they received long before they were called “immigrant” or “refugee.”
“So God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created Him; male and female
He created them.”
(Gen. 1:27)
The fact of the matter is that from the very beginning, God set in motion a pattern of imbedding every person that would be with a dignifying status – His own image.
Because of this, we should be reminded that when it comes to people – wherever they’re from – it’s personal to God. No amount of cultural differences, languages, national borders, or miles between us have ever diminished this certitude.
Pastors, since moving here in April I’ve had the joy of sitting down with you and talking about what God is doing in the Quad Cities, and I’ve shared with you how I believe immigrants and refugees are an integral piece of that movement among us.
Today, I want to challenge you (along with myself) with three things.
- Let’s get face-to-face. Let’s sit down with refugees and enjoy a meal together and take the time to hear their stories and to learn about their experiences with the goal in mind of being like Jesus who ate many meals with many people very different than Him. World Relief QC is here to walk alongside, and I promise it will fill you with much joy.
- Let’s impact our neighborhood. I challenge you to talk to your churches about serving the neighborhoods these refugees live in – areas like Century Woods in Rock Island. At the end of the day, doing so isn’t just filling a need or showing kindness to the foreigner among us, it’s fulfilling the Great Commission right here, right now.
- Let’s see them as image-bearers before seeing them as immigrants. When we look to immigrants and refugees in our neighborhood, let’s think and speak of them as “fearfully and wonderfully made” before the word “foreigner” crosses our minds and mouths.
I believe in the Quad Cities and its capacity to continue welcoming the foreigner and the stranger in our midst. But even more, I believe in what God is doing here, both through your churches and through our office. Would you consider partnering with us through prayer and service to bring Christ’s love to the nations in our neighborhood?
Blessings to you, today.
Feeling inspired to get involved? Schedule a conversation with Spencer. Or, request a guest speaker at an upcoming event.
Spencer Conner is the Church Mobilizer at World Relief Quad Cities. He is originally from Atlanta, GA and has served as a Student Pastor in several churches between North Carolina and Kentucky over the past decade. Spencer is married to Beth, World Relief Quad Cities’ Community Engagement Manager, and they live in Davenport, IA with their golden retriever, Tuck.
World Relief Quad Cities Awarded Grant to Launch Refugee Career Pathways Program
10/13/2022
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
Quad Cities, October 13, 2022 – This month, World Relief Quad Cities (WRQC), the only resettlement organization serving Afghan entrants in Western Illinois, was awarded a grant of $725,000 from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to launch a Refugee Career Pathways Program (RCP) aimed at helping Afghan entrants overcome the unique challenges that prevent them from using their professional experience.
“This is the first individual federal grant our local office has ever received,” said World Relief Quad Cities Executive Director Laura Fontaine. “It’s a major accomplishment, and it truly represents our passion and the high caliber of work our WRQC team puts into everything they do for our families. Our Afghan clients have the skills and training our workforce needs. This grant will allow them to pursue new careers or continue their careers, not just for their own benefit but for the benefit of the community. I thank everyone who supported the application and the work we do throughout our community to resettle refugees. We are so honored.”
The RCP program will provide culturally sensitive and individualized case management to equip Afghan entrants with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, including career advancement opportunities such as professional certification and technical education. WRQC will also coordinate with its staff members, several of whom are from Afghanistan, to ensure that the program is accommodating of the specific cultural needs of Afghans who resettle in the United States, including Afghan women with career aspirations.
“Career Pathways programming has been something our office has been dreaming of for years now. We have been really successful at getting new refugees employed quickly, but not necessarily into jobs they love, or even like,” said Employment Services Director Grace Fitzpatrick. “To have funding, resources, and time to develop a program that will support Afghans to grow into higher paying, more fulfilling jobs is really exciting. The Afghan community is new in our area, but when they do begin to get into career fields that are meaningful to them, I think we will see more community participation, and the whole QC area will be better for it.”
“To pour hours into building a set of skills, then having to push them to the side for survival – I can only imagine the frustration,” said Grant Writing and Communications Manager Erica Parrigin. “This program is going to enable people to return to their livelihoods, use their skills, use their degrees. People always ask me why I wanted to go into grant writing, and this is it.”
To be listed as a mentor for RCP clients, please contact Beth Conner at econner@wr.org. WRQC is currently hiring for a Career Pathways Coordinator and Education Specialist. Open positions will be posted at https://worldrelief.org/quad-cities/get-involved/open-positions/. Employers and educational institutions interested in partnering with WRQC may contact Grace Fitzpatrick at gfitzpatrick@wr.org.
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Refugee Mental Health: Our Responsibility
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. Refugees are less likely to seek treatment than non-refugees, but you can help lessen the stigma. Pictured above: a Problem Management Plus (PM+) training.
Generations of Stigma
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Habie Timbo, Community Outreach Case Manager and Mental Health Caseworker, explains what mental health is:
“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.”
The stigma around mental health exists in every community. Timbo believes it exists because people connect their symptoms with weaknesses or negative character traits. People may not know that invisible concerns can have the same debilitating effects as a physical illness/concern.
Stigma is prevalent in refugee communities. The cultural norms and accessibility to resources in the migration process play a role in this.
Timbo explains this further: “Many communities have their own practices that their cultures have used for generations on to address their own mental health concerns. In the U.S, systems are structured in a way that may cause fear.”
Individuals fear exclusion or expulsion from their main supports and cultural identity. Regardless of nationality, many deny that a mental concern could impact them.
A Need for Resources
There are resources available, but they are limited. For example, there is no provider in the Quad Cities that specializes in working with immigrants and refugees. There are also the challenges of transportation, affordability, and trust.
WRQC is developing the Refugee Health and Wellness program for in-house services. Timbo’s goal is to offer services like interventions and helping clients connect with community resources.
Like WRQC, more refugee agencies are focusing on adding mental health into their expertise.
The U.S. has started to recognize the need for mental health services for immigrant and refugee individuals. Phone crisis lines have become equipped with providing interpretation services. All Medicaid providers are required to offer interpreter services.
But, more can still be done.
Mental Health is Health
While reducing stigma for mental health is not an easy feat, Timbo has some ideas: “[We can] normalize discussions about mental health concerns early in the resettlement process. Recognize the trauma and lack of safety. Create treatments and access points that include culturally competent and cross-cultural trauma informed practices.”
Change can start with the individual. People can help by checking up on their loved ones and noticing changes in their behavior. Timbo urges people to reach out about how they are feeling.
If you notice anything, there is nothing wrong with having an intervention or a check in. It is important to give support and resources.
Timbo wants to remind everyone, “We are all responsible for making mental health a part of our health discussion so that we can help decrease stigma and build relationships for a healthy community.”
For immigrants or refugees, adjusting to a new environment can take a toll on their wellbeing. They are already disconnected from their cultural identities, so seeking out mental health services is crucial for the long run.
It is important to have support and services available for these individuals so that they are able to create mental wellness routines and can prevent further trauma or illness.
Mental health care is health care. Take care of yourself and watch out for others.
Visit our volunteering page to find out more about becoming a friendship partner to provide support in those crucial first months.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share people’s stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
More than a Job: How Liberty Packaging is Helping Refugees
Founded by Immigrants
Jack Fiterman, founder of Liberty Diversified International (LDI), was an immigrant. He wanted to include “Liberty” in the name because it’s a founding principle of this country. Founded in 1918, LDI has been a family-owned company for almost four generations. Supporting immigrants and refugees is in their foundation.
Part of LDI, Liberty Packaging is a corrugated box manufacturer with a facility located in Rock Island. Steve Walzer, their Human Resources Manager, connected with World Relief Quad Cities and gave refugees more than a job.
“Like many companies right now, we are faced with a challenge of keeping up with the demand for labor,” Walzer said. Especially in the Quad Cities.
Liberty Packaging was searching for sources of candidates that may not have always been apparent to them. They looked into multiple organizations around the Quad Cities that work with immigrants. Walzer said World Relief Quad Cities was a company they were excited to work with. He reached out to Grace Fitzpatrick, WRQC Employment Manager, to connect.
A Strong Community
Liberty Packaging brought in refugees from WRQC and showed them around the facility. They talked about the job opportunities with an interpreter.
“We wanted to make sure it was a good fit,” he said.
From there, Walzer makes sure they feel welcome and a part of the community. The company prides itself on creating a space where community is strong. The new employees are from Afghanistan, and the team has been trying their hardest to make a safe and welcoming space. The two areas that Liberty Packaging has focused on are communication and cultural aspects.
They wanted to find a solution to the language barrier. Walzer understands that each person comes in with a different level of understanding of English and that some of the employees are taking ESL classes. They have worked with World Relief Quad Cities interpreters and are now looking into telephone service that can be used for language interpretation.
Walzer also wanted to recognize their cultural needs. The new employees needed a space for religious practices. So, they built one on-site for them.
Part of the Family
“Some of us had some experience with [other cultures], so we understood that they needed a space,” Walzer said. They built a prayer room for the new employees away from the workspace, and employees have time for prayer during their breaks.
Another goal in welcoming the refugees to their work force was integrating them into Liberty’s community. They worked with their current employees to help set up support for their new coworkers, like training. Many of the employees were very embracing of the opportunity to work with refugees.
“We are still working through how we can continue to improve at all times. We are always looking to get better, but I think so far we have had really good success. The best evidence that I can offer is that all 7 that started with us are still with us,” Walzer said.
For other companies looking to work with organizations like World Relief Quad Cities, Walzer has some advice. At first, the language barrier can seem like a challenge. However, it’s important to put the time and effort into figuring out and working with each person, and to use resources.
“These individuals coming in from a different country, are motivated, and want to work. Some employers might say I don’t know how to make [success] happen, you can make it happen,” Walzer said.
Interested in hiring refugees? Visit our employment page or reach out to Grace at gfitzpatrick@wr.org for more information.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share people’s stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Welcoming in Muscatine: Ketsia
WRQC partnered with Muscatine to assist with Ukrainian refugees and launch its first pilot office – it also become a place of refuge for Ketsia.
Time Running Out
On August 25th, Ric Smith received a phone call from Laura Fontaine, WRQC Executive Director. One of Fontaine’s former interns, Ketsia Faraja, desperately needed a place to live. A mistake in paperwork had delayed Ketsia’s visa extension.
Ketsia is from South Kivu Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She had just finished her degree at Augustana College in International Business and Political Science and secured a job with the International Relief Committee in Chicago.
She applied for a visa extension to work for two years here in the States, but the extension was denied. Then, she had to re-apply, and the process will take up to 90 days.
Finding Refuge in Muscatine
Suddenly, Ketsia’s plans were thrown off course. She found herself without a place to live. Never having been a refugee, Ketsia became an accidental refugee of tangled bureaucracy.
She made contact with her former employer at WRQC, Laura Fontaine. Laura had been working with a group in Muscatine for several months to resettle immigrants. She called Ric Smith, who then reached out to several people in the Muscatine group who had offered housing. The response was quick and gracious. Within 24 hours, Ketsia was able to move into an apartment in Muscatine.
Ketsia will be in Muscatine until her visa extension comes through and she can move to Chicago to work for the IRC.
Muscatine residents were invited to a welcome potluck on Friday, September 9. That evening, Muscatine officially welcomed Ketsia along with the Luka family from Ukraine and Pascal Ramadhani.
Written by Ric Smith
Helping Families Learn, Together: Family Literacy
School is in session and so are family literacy classes. Both the adults and children get to learn English and have fun with this program! Leah Hodge tells us all about it.
Family Literacy and More
Leah Hodge is the Education Manager at World Relief Quad Cities. Hodge is in charge of the Family Literacy program and the Youth Mentoring program. There is an upcoming Family Literacy program starting this September. The program will teach English as a Second Language program (ESL) with childcare.
Spring Forward, which offers free after school and summer programs to students, puts on the program. Many other organizations and schools have worked with Spring Forward to put on this program. WRQC has been involved for about 4 years now, and the program is important to the community.
“No one in the community wanted [the Family Literacy program] to drop off, so groups stepped in to help keep it going,” said Hodge.
The families attend this program for free. Volunteers from the community play a huge role, and people from all over help out. There are retired professors, teachers, social workers, moms, and many more. Many of the volunteers are comfortable with teaching and are comfortable assisting the adults and the youth.
Volunteers help out in one of the two areas: teaching or childcare. Volunteers can teach the adults English or help in class, or they can help out with childcare. Childcare can be anything from holding a baby for a few hours to helping the little ones learn English as well.
It Takes a Village
While it is an academic program, one of the biggest goals is for the families to feel like they’re part of the community. A chunk of the class is dedicated to getting out in the community and seeing what it has to offer. Family Literacy has brought in community members like St. Ambrose students and the fire marshall. PBS Kids paid the program a visit last year as well.
They also try to include field trips into the program like visiting schools, going to the library, or even going to a farm!
Hodge wants people to know this program is very rewarding.
“The volunteers make it a really welcoming place to be and a place where learning happens,” she said.
Volunteers are able to see the progress in the students and create a bond. The program gives the families a sense of belonging and offers a safe environment to learn and grow.
Hodge encourages anyone who is interested in Family Literacy to reach out and complete a volunteer application.
Feeling inspired to get involved? Click below to fill out a volunteer application. Or, request a guest speaker at an upcoming event.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share people’s stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Welcoming in Muscatine: Pascal
WRQC has partnered with Muscatine to assist with Ukrainian refugees and launch its first pilot office. For Pascal, this opens a world of opportunities.
Work that Hits Home
Pascal Ramadhani is Congolese, but has never lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was born in Tanzania. His family fled the war in Congo a generation before. Soon after his birth, his family moved to a refugee settlement in Tanzania where they lived for twelve years.
The entire family was able to immigrate to the U.S. when Pascal was thirteen. They settled in Glen Ellyn, IL, later moving to Moline. Pascal finished high school at United Township High School and then attended the College of DuPage for two years before he had to go to work to help support his family.
WRQC hired Pascal as a caseworker in summer 2021. The work, assisting refugees from a variety of countries, quickly became Pascal’s life passion.
Helping Muscatine Welcome
In June 2022, the Muscatine Rotary Club invited WRQC Executive Director Laura Fontaine to speak at a meeting. She brought along two of her staffers, one of which was Pascal Ramadhani.
After the meeting, Dr. Naomi DeWinter, president of Muscatine Community College, invited Laura and her two staff members to tour the college. In the course of conversation, Pascal mentioned that it was a lifelong dream of his and his mother’s to finish a college degree.
One thing led to another. Pascal is now living in Muscatine and has begun classes at MCC. He continues his work as a case worker at World Relief, but his eye is on the prize: a college degree.
A Welcome to Muscatine Potluck was held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Friday, September 9, to honor Pascal, Ketsia Faraja, and the Luka family from Ukraine.
Donations for Pascal, Ketsia, the Lukas and other new arrivals may be made to the Community Foundation of Muscatine’s World Relief Muscatine County Fund and sent to Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, 104 West Second Street, Muscatine, IA 52761.
Direct volunteer help will be welcome in the form of friendship, introduction to Muscatine services and amenities, shopping expeditions and other assistance.
For more information, contact Ric Smith at stceciliason@machlink.com or leave a message at 563 272-1646.
Written by Ric Smith
Faithful Immigrants
A Familiar Passage
There’s an important lesson I learned recently when reading through a passage a lot of us are familiar with in Hebrews. When I was growing up we called the passage the “Hall of Faith.”
I won’t take the time to write it all down here, but it’s located in Hebrews 11:4-40. When you read through it, you’ll immediately see the author mentioning name after name of people in the Bible who all did incredible things during their lives “by faith.”
And I love that – that God, via this author of Hebrews, would take the time to celebrate the faith accomplishments and the journeys with Him of normal people who lived lives on the same planet you and I do.
It’s encouraging to know that God pays attention to our struggles and accomplishments down here and can use those stories to encourage others to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,” and to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” (Heb. 12:1-2)
But today, as I sat in a coffee shop in downtown Davenport, something caught my attention about many of those folks mentioned in the Hall of Faith…
Some of them were immigrants and refugees.
Immigrant and Refugee Experiences
Did that catch you off guard? Yeah, me too. It’s not something we typically think about in those terms. But that doesn’t make it any less true. Think about it, Abraham (11:8-9) “went out, not knowing where he was going…in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob…” Sarah, Abraham’s wife is mentioned there too.
Moses (11:23-29), the man chosen by God to lead the nation of Israel out of slavery and into the Promised Land, started his life off as a foreigner in a country that wasn’t his home. And even after growing up in Egypt, he left what had become “home” to him to go back to the Promised Land – a place he had never been before.
Later in Hebrews 11 it mentions Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (11:33-34), guys who were all immigrants from the land of Israel in Babylon.
But Hebrews 11 isn’t the only place in the Bible we run into these kinds of “faithful immigrants” either. Though not mentioned in the Hall of Faith, people like Hagar (Gen. 21:14), Ruth (Ruth 1:1-6, 16, 2:10), and even Jesus (Matthew 2:13-15) are all spoken of as sharing an immigrant/refugee experience of seeking better, safer lives in places that were not their home.
An Invitation to Welcome
So what’s the point? World Relief works diligently and daily to serve the most vulnerable, and we invite churches all over the Quad Cities to partner with us to do the same.
And when we do – when we agree to serve and love the wanderer, the foreigner, the immigrant and the refugee – we find that we’re serving and interacting with people who are a lot more like people in the Bible than we are.
This is the thing about refugees and immigrants in our community – each and every one of them, because of their unique experiences, can help us see a little more of the movement of God and the kinds of lives He often uses to accomplish great things here on Earth.
So today, I invite you to welcome them, love them, and get to know them. I promise, your life will be enriched as a result.
Blessings, friends, on this wonderful Monday.
Feeling inspired to get involved? Schedule a conversation with Spencer. Or, request a guest speaker at an upcoming event.
Spencer Conner is the Church Mobilizer at World Relief Quad Cities. He is originally from Atlanta, GA and has served as a Student Pastor in several churches between North Carolina and Kentucky over the past decade. Spencer is married to Beth, World Relief Quad Cities’ Community Engagement Manager, and they live in Davenport, IA with their golden retriever, Tuck.