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Building Community One Race at a Time
As many of our families’ children return to school, we wanted to highlight the community members who strove to make their first summer in the U.S. memorable. Running is Joe Moreno’s passion, and it’s inspired him to give back.
Returning the Favor
Joe Moreno has been heavily involved in the Quad City community for 50 years. He’s a man of many talents.
Moreno is a race director, which means he sets up road races in the Quad Cities. He has been a runner most of his life and still runs at age 65. Many years ago, Moreno was the mayor of East Moline. But his favorite thing is helping out in the community.
Giving back is something dear to Moreno. “I just enjoy giving back to the community. I just feel like we have a responsibility to do good in our community.”
Running has been a huge part of his life. It wouldn’t have been if he hadn’t received help from his own community when he was a teenager.
“When I was a young man, I was a troubled teenager and these two guys showed up on my doorstep one day and said ‘You’re coming with us.” I did. I didn’t know who they were. I thought ‘Well I’m in trouble again.”
Moreno was wrong. The two guys that showed up at his door were mentors from an organization called Youth Service Bureau. Two college volunteers changed the direction of Moreno’s life when they introduced him to running.
“They took me to the races and I’ve been running ever since.”
More Than a Race
He has done races all around the world including in Europe, all over the United States, and South America. Now, he has organized over a hundred races in the Quad Cities.
Moreno hopes he is sharing the joy of running and all the things that come with it with each race.
“[Running] gave me confidence and self-esteem. It opened many doors for me. When I organize these races, I feel like maybe I am touching another one’s life by providing this vehicle for them to excel or discover that they like running too, and it will change their life, maybe.”
His love for running brings love to the community. He started the QC Marathon and has been organizing them for 25 years. He has also organized the Firecracker Run, the Freedom Run, and many more.
Moreno thinks each race should have two things: “Every race has its purpose and its cause. You can’t just have a race to have a race. I believe there has to be a reason and a purpose. All of our races do.”
Running with Purpose
The Cinco de Mayo race in May raises money for the QC Autism Center. The QC Marathon splits the money between two organizations, Prostate Cancer Initiative and Shoes for Quad Cities Kids. The Freedom Run goes to local military families in need. The Firecracker run supports local projects in East Moline.
The most recent contribution is Runner’s Park in downtown East Moline. There is a band shelter which has live music every Sunday. The name Runner’s Park is based on the runners themselves.
“[The park is a] tangible contribution for decades and many years to come, we can say ‘Hey, we the runners built that park and donated to the city.’ I’m so proud of all those contributions.”
Moreno is a big supporter of World Relief Quad Cities and its work. For all of his races, Moreno lets refugee families and individuals run for free. He donates the entry cost right back to them through WRQC. Moreno believes that every organization should do the same.
“That’s one way I think we could help. It’s helping refugees in our community participate in these events. I think every organization should open that door and offer that type of assistance to help them, to welcome them, to make them feel better.
“I just feel like we have a responsibility, every organization, every citizen has a responsibility to help refugees, because who knows, maybe that could be us someday.”
Moreno discovered WRQC through connections in the community. He was looking for a person to help out with the kids race for Freedom Run and met Executive Director Laura Fontaine.
Because she was on the committee for the race, he got to know her and learned about World Relief. On top of his other contributions, he’s now a volunteer.
“I’m very supportive, and I want to be supportive.”
A Deep Respect
Giving back to the community is so important. Moreno applauds WRQC for its impact.
“I think we should all do more to help that organization out, because when we help refugees settle into our communities, they become better citizens and they will be contributors to our community. Let’s give them the respect and the assistance and the protection they need, they desire. That they deserve.”
Moreno believes that WRQC is a huge asset to the community. He asks the community to step up and get involved and respect, assist, support, and provide protection to those coming to the United States.
WRQC does so much good, he says, and he wants to give back.
“I wish we could all do more for World Relief Quad Cities.”
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.
Following in World Relief’s Footsteps
As many of our families’ children return to school, we wanted to highlight the community members who strove to make their first summer in the U.S. memorable. Former refugee Kokazi Elangi is doing for others what World Relief did for him.
A Simple Mission
Kokazi Elangi came to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007. Elangi came with his parents and siblings. Since then, he has gone to school at Scott Community College, started a family and became the leader of two groups.
Elangi is the leader of a local Congolese community in the Quad Cities. Along with that, he is a teacher and leader at a local church in Rock Island. The mission behind these groups is simple: help the community. These community groups welcome all.
“We welcome those who don’t speak english, need a ride, those who need to go to the hospital. You name it. We just help.”
The group is there for those who need it. Just how World Relief was there for him and his family.
World Relief welcomed his family in the United States in 2007. Elangi cannot express how grateful he is for what they did to help him and his family. His family was one of the first Swahili speaking families to come to the area. With World Relief, they helped them get adjusted and settled. Elangi wants to do the same for others.
Coming Full Circle
In the community group, Elangi makes sure people get what they need whether that is a friend or a driver’s license. He serves as a translator for many. He feels that what World Relief did for him, he must do for others.
Sometimes Elangi needs a helping hand. That’s where World Relief comes back into the picture. Full circle.
“We work as partners.”
World Relief helps out with things that Elangi cannot do himself like pushing for paperwork, enrolling in school or fundraising. Elangi helps out World Relief too. He points them to new translators so World Relief can help even more people.
Sharing the Love
Elangi constantly pushes for a sense of community. Within his group, he puts on events to build bonds between different cultures.
“There are two things that connect people: food and language.”
At these events, multiple cultures come together to share food and teach each other the language. Elangi invites people from all over the Quad Cities to come together and learn from each other. He always extends an invitation to World Relief and important people in the area like the Sheriff to come in and explore new things while teaching others.
Elangi believes the way to build a better community is through communication. That’s exactly what he is doing. He urges people to communicate and learn from each other. Community groups like this are so important to people already in the community or people that just arrived!
He believes all groups should have the same mission: “We help people. We respect people. We share what we know and learn from others.”
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.
Work at World Relief
For many of us, the last few years have been characterized by a deep sense of chaos, uncertainty and injustice. As suffering across the globe appears to be worsening, you’ve likely asked yourself, how can I respond in a meaningful way?
You’ve likely thought about your career path and wondered how you can make an impact in the face of the increasing suffering and injustice we see in this world every day.
Perhaps you’re wondering whether what you do really matters, or if your work is contributing to this world in a positive way.
Maybe you love what you do, but a new, or renewed, sense of purpose is calling you to a different space — one in which you can grow your talents while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaking out with the marginalized, exploited and forgotten.
Or perhaps you’re at a crossroads, challenging yourself to take a leap into the unknown, uncertain but driven above all else by a missional heart and desire to put your faith into action.
If this sounds like you, World Relief, and millions of people around the globe, need you.
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that is fighting for change that lasts, right here in the U.S. and across the globe. We bring sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems — from disasters to extreme poverty, violence, oppression, mass displacement and immigration.
For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities in more than 100 countries to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable. At this pivotal moment in time, World Relief is rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world, and we want you to join us!
- A strong sense of everyday purpose and impact as you witness lives transformed daily and hear incredible stories of hope from around the world.
- We’ve been living in a season where the problems in the news have caused many people I know to become discouraged, even despondent. But in our work, we get to witness good-news stories every day. We get to witness the ways that churches and communities are working together to bring hope and healing in places all around this country and across the globe.
Even in the bleakest circumstances, there are stories of God’s love in action through the staff, volunteers and financial partners of World Relief. I love the feeling that I work at a place where what I do truly matters; my work truly makes a positive change in the lives of hurting people. – Kimberly Hurst, Strategic Partnerships Director, Northwest.
- We’ve been living in a season where the problems in the news have caused many people I know to become discouraged, even despondent. But in our work, we get to witness good-news stories every day. We get to witness the ways that churches and communities are working together to bring hope and healing in places all around this country and across the globe.
- A highly relational and collaborative environment, surrounded by colleagues to learn from, be inspired by and foster friendships with.
- “This organization is just packed full of goodness. Each day I am surrounded by women and men with huge hearts, deep integrity and a deep thoughtfulness and intentionality that makes working alongside them a true joy. World Relief is very much a people-first environment and I have been incredibly blessed by that stance both personally and professionally.” – Francesca Albano, Sr. Dr. of Brand & Marketing
- A commitment to best practices and excellence in our work, as well as the ability to think creatively and bring new solutions to complex problems.
- I’ve found that World Relief’s collective passion extends beyond the local church and vulnerable newcomers whom we serve in the U.S. We’re passionate about who we are becoming, individually and as an organization. As we’re beginning to operationalize that passion, I think now is an excellent time and opportunity to step into this journey and behold God’s steady hand in shaping and revealing, with authentic diversity, this branch of his beloved family. – Travis Barnwell, MSW, Director of Case Management Services
- A thoughtful, faithful commitment to God’s leading through work grounded in prayer, spiritual discussion and obedient improvisation, as well as opportunities to develop and grow your individual faith.
- “Since working at World Relief, my relationships with God, with myself, with my family and others have been transformed beyond belief. Areas of my life which I struggled with in the past have been restored… I know who I am… all the assets in the world cannot compensate for such newly built confidence in myself and in Our Loving Father.” – Esther Pyram, Integral Mission and Church Empowerment Zone Manager, Haiti
If you’re one of the many people feeling like you need to do more for our broken world, here’s your chance. In the midst of the chaos, there is still hope — God has a plan and you can be a part of it. We are looking for people just like you who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.
Will you apply to work at World Relief today?
How You Can Take Action for Refugees and Immigrants in Chicago
Though news channels and social media might fixate on issues on the national stage, one of the most important ways you can support your immigrant and refugee neighbors is by advocating for them on the local level. Advocating for action in your own community is one of the best ways to make a difference for the people around you – by tackling issues in your neighborhood, city, and state!
What is Community Advocacy?
First, we can define “advocacy” as seeking to influence those in positions of power, including elected officials, to enact change for those affected by a specific issue. Advocates use their own voices, positions, and knowledge to speak up and intercede on behalf of those who are suffering, in poverty, or need protection.
At World Relief, we think of advocacy as putting love into action for our immigrant and refugee neighbors, especially those who are in the most vulnerable positions. This means that we want to:
- Address structural inequality and violence
- Increase awareness of issues impacting immigrants and refugees
- Deepen empathy and understanding
- Catalyze engagement
- And ultimately, build a movement for justice!
On a local level, like in the neighborhoods of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, advocacy can mean that you become a bridge. You have the power to share with your local representatives about the issues impacting immigrants and refugees in the community – facts, stories, and needs that they might not know otherwise! And you have the ability to ask them to take action to make life better for immigrants and refugees.
Why Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees?
If you believe that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and has God-given value and rights, then you have the opportunity to be a strong voice for justice! There are millions of immigrants and refugees around the world and in our communities who are suffering and in vulnerable situations that put them and their families at risk.
Individuals, churches, and community groups have an important role to play. But we also know that our elected officials have the power to make decisions. They can create change on a much broader scale. And when we speak up, we can help them understand why it is important to help immigrants and refugees around the world and in the United States – and that it’s something we care about!
How Can I Be an Advocate?
Becoming an advocate for immigrants and refugees in your local community can take so many different forms! And at World Relief Chicagoland, we are here to help you take action in lots of different ways. We want you to know you are not alone, but part of a bigger movement. A community of advocates!
Ways to Get Started
1. Look Up Your Elected Officials
First, you can start by learning about your elected officials. Who are they? What are the issues they care about? If you are in Illinois, you can click here to search for your elected officials and use your address to find a list of people at a local, state, and federal level. In Chicago, you may also want to click here to find your ward’s alderman. Or if you are outside of Illinois, visit this page on USA.gov for help identifying your elected officials in other states.
Because these are the people you will call to share your perspective, write letters to, and reach out to for meetings, it’s a good idea to know who they are, what their focus areas are, and how you can engage.
2. Learn About the Issues Impacting Immigrants and Refugees in Your Neighborhood
If you are not an immigrant or refugee yourself, one of your first actions should be to learn more about the experience of immigrants in your community. Talking with your neighbors or others in your church or school communities can provide all kinds of insight! Ask them questions based on their own experience and what they think would make their lives better. And try talking to lots of different people to identify common themes. Don’t assume that there is only one “right” answer.
Reading and watching videos is another great way to learn! You can find all kinds of stories and helpful information from reading the World Relief Chicagoland blog. But don’t stop there! In addition to learning about the experiences specific to immigrants and refugees, (many of the biggest issues that impact them affect a broader group of people…such as people of color, religious or ethnic minorities, or low-income families), consider looking up issues like:
- Does your town have enough affordable housing?
- Are there sufficient healthcare and mental health resources?
- Do the schools in your area have enough teachers and educational supplies?
3. Take Note
As you learn, pay attention to the solutions that trusted leaders share. Organizations like World Relief are part of community coalitions and networks that share information and work to identify good solutions together. But there are plenty of experts in your community too. Take the time to ask your immigrant neighbors, organization leaders, and others what they think needs to change. And take note of what they say!
4. Mobilize
There are so many different ways you can mobilize your community to take action. Here are just a few ideas!
- Join Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) Advocacy Days. World Relief is part of RCUSA, which hosts advocacy days each year. These advocacy days bring together community members and organizations in support of refugee issues. When you sign up, you get to participate in training opportunities and meetings with members of Congress! You will get to join a facilitator and others in your community who care about refugees. Invite your friends and neighbors to join too by posting about these opportunities on social media.
- Attend city council meetings, school board meetings, and neighborhood council meetings in your area. Show up and pay attention to meetings where big decisions impacting your community are made. Additionally, you can use the information you have learned to inform your questions and bring refugee and immigrant issues to the forefront of the conversation.
- Lastly, learn more about World Relief Chicagoland’s advocacy efforts and how you can get involved!
Read More About How to Address Barriers
How the Affordable Housing Crisis Is Impacting Refugee Families
How to “Drive” Change by Donating Your Car
4 Ways to Read, Watch, and Listen to Powerful Immigrant and Refugee Stories
Mobilizing the Local Church – Fort Worth Edition
Very soon, it will be the 1-year anniversary of Kabul’s fall to the Taliban. If you’re like us, you remember feeling helpless as thousands of Afghan families fled for their lives, separating from their families at the airport and cramming into military aircrafts to be evacuated. And yet, so many of you did not allow that feeling of helplessness to immobilize you. Rather, so many families, churches, and groups jumped at the opportunity to help our Afghan neighbors. Northwood Church in Keller Texas is one such church.
Northwood heard about a training on how to serve Afghans after the crisis and knew they had to join in creating a sense of belonging for Afghan families. They encouraged as many church members who were interested to attend and nearly 80 people showed up! The evening was a catalyst that started the beautiful relationship between Northwood Church and Afghan families who arrived in North Texas.
“This was the catalyst that caused us to get involved. It was just the right moment.” – Niki Roberts
As Uyen Holdman, Missions Pastor at NorthWood, was looking for ways to serve the community, World Relief’s training provided the tools they needed to get involved in refugee ministry. Volunteers came together and formed teams based on specific needs of families arriving from Afghanistan. Uyen mentioned that her job “is to mobilize, serve, and engage, and World Relief provided us with a platform to do that as a church.” World Relief helped supply what they needed to serve refugees and they now work together to learn how to mobilize volunteers, gather resources, and fundraise.
Recognizing Commonalities
Niki Roberts, a member who helps lead the refugee ministry, shared with us that the first Afghan family they met was a young single mother. Niki watched young mothers from their church surround this Afghan woman with love, empathy, and encouragement. She couldn’t help but see this as a picture of how the church should love everyone. These women jumped at the opportunity to love her in the midst of her pain. “That was one of the biggest factors to mobilization, our body recognizing that they have commonalities with these people.”
In being young mothers as well, they understood an aspect of this Afghan woman’s life that not many could. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to loving others is the chasm we feel when someone is different from us. While there are differences in culture and religion, there was a deep bond in the commonality the women shared in life experience. The members of Northwood gave resources as well as time to that family.
When the second Afghan family arrived, they saw volunteers come forward to help enroll the children in school, help them receive their immunizations, and adjust to life in the U.S. Those serving with Northwood have been blown away by the kindness and hospitality they have received from Afghan families. Uyen beautifully put it, “one family says they always want to cook for us and serve us. I always say “no, no, we are supposed to be serving you.” Inevitably we believe we will be changing others by how we serve them, but it is in fact us who are changed by the process of serving.
“When you serve them you want to bless them, but you can’t deny that the blessing you receive from them is so much more abundant.” – Niki Roberts
Uyen, as well as the members of Northwood serving these families, love helping their Afghan neighbors. They believe it is not always easy, but it is worth it. “This is a learning process for our church. We learn from them as they learn from us.” As the church has learned more about how to love people, they are deeply impacted by how they in return are so loving and grateful.
Mobilization
Uyen and Niki desire to see their church mobilized to serve. “Our goal is to empower as many people as possible to share the blessing of serving others. We want to pull in our people to serve.” Niki mentioned they have a saying at their church “to live and love like Jesus.” She truly believes that serving the most vulnerable is one of the best ways to learn how to live and love like Jesus. It is not always convenient, as it requires putting other people above your own desires. This service requires dying to yourself to love like Jesus.
They shared that it is rewarding to see when they have become independent. The end goal for refugees is self-sufficiency, and it is edifying to see them stand on their own feet. It is amazing to see how the church can assist in this process when they are mobilized.
Reflections
Both Uyen and Niki reflected that it is a rewarding and humbling experience to serve refugees alongside their church body. It also challenges them to be good stewards of the blessings they have received. They know where their next meal is coming from. They have not been forced to flee their homes. They instead desire to serve those who do not have these same luxuries.
It is truly transforming to work with people who are different from you. It changes one’s understanding of how the world works around them. It has been amazing to see how their church body has worked together and given so many resources.
They both agreed that they want their people to not simply come to church, but to be the church. That is when people transform. Niki shared that it was a special blessing to see the families at Northwood with small children invest in Afghan families. “We are training the next generation to live and love like Jesus while serving these families. Exposing them to serving others is more impactful than having a lesson about it”.
The most important aspect of serving refugees is to remember God is in control and to not be afraid to allow Christ to transform your faith through serving others.
If you would like to learn how your church can be involved in serving the most vulnerable, like Northwood Church, click below to head to our website!
Part of the Journey: Interning at WRQC
Many local college graduates get their start by interning at World Relief Quad Cities. Sloane is excited to follow in the footsteps of Augie alumni and make a difference in her community.
Why I Chose World Relief Quad Cities
When looking for internship opportunities, I wanted to find something that would be challenging and rewarding. World Relief Quad Cities fits both of those requirements.
I am interning in the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA) and Communications teams at World Relief QC. I am going to be a senior at Augustana College majoring in Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication and Creative Writing.
Like a lot of people my age, I’m still very unsure of what I want to do after next year. I wanted to find an internship that could offer new experiences and new skills I may have not encountered before. A lot of people from Augustana College intern or even work at WRQC! I had to join the team because everyone had such great experiences.
Since I am interning for two departments, I will be doing a lot of things! The main ones I can think of are working with individuals, paperwork, home visits, interviews with families and clients, and probably a lot more! I’m excited to get started and to start really helping out the individuals that come to the United States.
Building Bonds that Last
In APA, I have already gotten to go on a few home visits. While we are there, we make sure they are comfortable in their home and if they have any questions (like how to use the stove, for example).
It’s really cool to meet and talk with the families in person and build a bond with them. Paperwork is a big part of APA but getting to see these people in person instead of on paper is amazing.
I am excited to be a part of the journey for them and making sure they are comfortable and on a path to success, whether that means self-sufficiency, getting a job, or just getting settled! Helping people is one of my passions and I think this is just a great opportunity I am grateful to have. My goal is to make everyone feel welcome and spread awareness for World Relief Quad Cities and the amazing things this group has to offer.
Interning with World Relief Quad Cities is an impactful way to gain real-world experience and prep for your career. Just fill out a form and attach your resume to apply.
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.
5 Times in U.S. History When Christians Advocated for Refugees and Immigrants
This year, the number of displaced people reached 100 million. That includes refugees, asylum seekers, and 53.2 million people displaced within their home country by conflict. And it’s a higher number than ever recorded in history.
In light of this, World Relief and other organizations have called for action – by the U.S. Government, community members, and the Church. Christian leaders are at the forefront of this advocacy, motivated by verses like Matthew 25:31-40.
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Matthew 25:31-40, in which Jesus tells His followers that caring for others is a way to serve Him directly.
A History of Welcoming the Stranger
The crisis may be greater than ever before, but throughout history, Christians have spoken up about immigrant and refugee needs.
In recent U.S. history, Christians have referenced Deuteronomy 24:14 as a moral reason to look out for the good of immigrants: “Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.”
This Scripture has inspired countless people of faith to seek justice and care for immigrants navigating a foreign culture in the United States.
At times of prevalent anti-immigrant narratives, Christians have returned to the Bible’s command to care for immigrants and refugees. At times when the Church forgot its mandate, bold leaders reminded the Church of this biblical calling.
Here are 5 Times in History When Christians Led in Advocating for Immigrants and Refugees.
Advocating for Chinese Immigrants
In the 1840s and ‘50s, work in the California gold mines and garment factories, agricultural fields, and railroads drew thousands of Chinese immigrants to the U.S. West Coast. Eventually, more than 25,000 Chinese immigrants became the state’s largest non-white minority group. They formed vibrant communities in California. But despite being only .0002% of workers in the U.S., anti-Chinese sentiment began to grow, as white workers blamed them for taking jobs and depressing wages. Chinese immigrants faced growing discrimination, exclusion from community, and new anti-Chinese legislation. Eventually, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 restricted Chinese people from migrating to the United States.
During this time, a Presbyterian pastor and missionary named William Speer became a vocal advocate for the fair treatment of Chinese immigrants. He used his relationships, knowledge of their language, and workforce data to argue against anti-Chinese legislation and even planted a Chinese Christian church in San Francisco in 1853. During his lifetime, he was vocal in opposition to racial prejudice and left a legacy of successors who contributed to fighting the racist anti-Chinese sentiment and joined with Chinese Christians to lead and channel Presbyterian support for the community.
Supporting Immigrants in the Community
At the turn of the 20th century, immigration to the U.S. ballooned. While conflicts and poverty pushed some immigrants to leave their home countries, the promise of jobs and economic opportunity drew others to the United States. Between 1880 and 1920, more than 20 million immigrants arrived – the majority from Southern, Eastern and Central Europe, including 4 million Italians and 2 million Jews. Unfortunately, many Protestants responded by working to restrict immigration and limit who could come to the United States (excluding Asians and other racial or ethnic groups) and promoting anti-Catholic messages and discrimination.
However, other Christians formed organizations and associations that helped immigrants integrate into the community. The YMCA in Cincinnati hosted the first known English as a Second Language (ESL) class in 1856 to help German immigrants gain language skill. Additionally, the YMCA served Asian communities in San Francisco. Then, in 1903, the YMCA created a specific department to work with industrial workers and immigrants, a legacy continued through to the YMCA’s present day adult education classes, refugee services, and New American Welcome Centers.
Welcoming World War II Survivors
By the end of the catastrophic World War II, millions of people were displaced throughout Europe or within their home countries. Many returned to their countries of origin within a few months of the war’s end. But for others, their home countries were irrevocably changed or unwelcoming. Among these were Jewish Holocaust survivors, many of whom spent years living in displaced persons camps alongside imprisoned Nazi perpetrators.
During this displacement, Catholic and Protestant congregations organized to respond. Christians joined with U.S. policymakers to convince American citizens to sponsor refugees. And while the U.S. Government created new resettlement legislation, Christian agencies and churches planned and implemented resettlement efforts, while also advocating before the government. In 1948, the United States passed the country’s first refugee and resettlement law. As a result, the government and Christian agencies partnered to help displaced Europeans seeking permanent residence in the United States after World War II. And to welcome the newcomers into community life.
Responding to Vietnamese Refugees
In 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Act fundamentally changed the American immigration system. Specifically, it removed quotes from the 1920s that had favored racial and ethnic groups over others and limited immigration from specific countries. The Act replaced them with a preference system that emphasized family reunification and skilled immigrants. In the next five years, immigration from countries torn by conflict, such as Cambodia and Vietnam, quadrupled. During this time, particularly from the 1950s until 1980, the U.S. Government’s refugee resettlement program was inconsistent, and the U.S. did not invest in refugee assistance. However, churches and faith-based organizations stepped up to fill in the gaps and help refugees get their footing.
Sometimes, this was done reluctantly. After two decades of conflict in Vietnam ended in 1975, 2 million Vietnamese people had been killed, 3 million were wounded, and 12 million had become refugees. In response, a woman named Evelyn Mangham emerged to call the Church to welcome Vietnamese refugees. With 20 years of experience as a missionary, Evelyn Mangham cold-called churches. She quoted the Bible. And she told stories. Because of her commitment to the Church and Scripture, she worked tirelessly to convince churches to sponsor refugees from Vietnam.
In the span of a year, she had convinced churches to sponsor 10,000 refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Founding World Relief
Ultimately, Evelyn Mangham went on to found World Relief’s refugee resettlement program alongside her husband, Thomas Grady Mangham, Jr.
We can thank this woman’s tenacity and conviction for World Relief’s 40-year history of refugee resettlement. And the impact continues today! All because Evelyn Mangham read Scripture and responded, believing that the Church must welcome the stranger.
“Her impact on the lives of those who are vulnerable will be felt for generations to come… I know there was a huge celebration for her in heaven as so many people whose lives she touched welcomed her to her eternal home.”
Jenny Yang, World Relief’s VP of Advocacy
Providing Safe Haven for Asylum Seekers
In the 1980s, nearly a million people fled Central American countries, crossing the U.S. border to seek asylum. Civil war and violence pushed people to leave home in El Salvador and Guatemala to seek safety. Yet a tiny fraction of those who crossed Mexico to the southwestern United States were approved for asylum.
The change came when Christians, alongside Jewish and other faith leaders, advocated on behalf of these migrants. The Sanctuary Movement began in 1980 with a goal: to provide shelters to Central American refugees fleeing civil wars. For instance, churches provided English lessons, basic humanitarian help, and legal aid through immigration attorneys. Additionally, leaders preached sermons, organized protests, and advocated to the government on behalf of the asylum seekers. And hundreds of religious communities provided sanctuary, usually inside houses of worship.
At its height, the movement grew to include more than 500 congregations.
Consequently, the Sanctuary Movement was successfully pushing the Reagan administration to pass the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This landmark piece of legislation extended temporary worker visa programs and helped 3 million people gain legal status.
Recent History
Today, there are nine agencies that work with the U.S. Government to resettle refugees. World Relief is one of them, along with five other faith-based organizations. One is Jewish, one is Catholic, and three others are Protestant. World Relief invites churches and Christians as a whole to welcome refugees and serve immigrants in the community – regardless of the religion, ethnicity, or country of origin of the newcomers.
As these five examples show, Christians have often been on the front lines of serving immigrants and refugees. Together, they have shaped history and the future of the country. Through action in faith, the Church has moved.
Today, Christians have another opportunity to act. And it’s at a pivotal time. Just like Christians throughout U.S. history, those who join World Relief are motivated by faith. And like Christians in the past, we have a calling. In response to a crisis, we can move together. Because of our faith and in light of the need, we can love our neighbors as Christ loves us.
And we can welcome the stranger.
A Look Into Casework: Marci Arreguin
Many local college graduates get their start by interning at World Relief Quad Cities. After her internship, Marci stayed on the team to become a caseworker.
Intern to Caseworker
Marci Arreguin is a caseworker at World Relief in the Quad Cities. Just recently, she graduated from Augustana College and majored in Public Health and minored in Women and Gender Studies. Just like me, Marci started as an intern here.
While at school, someone from World Relief came to speak to one of her classes.
“Right after that, I knew that is what I wanted to do,” Arreguin said.
Arreguin was ecstatic when she was chosen to intern for WRQC. She started interning in August 2021 for the first semester of school for her Public Health major. She included World Relief in her senior year project and came up with ideas on how to help out welcoming processes for the families at the airports.
After the internship ended, she started working part time. Now, she’s a caseworker.
What a Caseworker Does
There is a whole process for new arrivals of families and individuals. Each one works with a caseworker just like Marci.
I asked her to explain the process and tasks of being a caseworker.
“It all starts from the airport arrival,” she says.
Before a family arrives, there are people working behind the scenes to set up their homes so they can move in right away. Sometimes, if the home is not ready yet, the family stays in a hotel for a short period of time.
Moving into a new home in a new country is an unsettling experience. Arreguin described how she helps: “We ask them if there is anything they need or if they have any questions when they get settled in. But, basically, we make sure they feel welcome in their new home.”
The day after arrival is very important for a caseworker and the families. It’s a day where the caseworker really gets to introduce themselves and create a bond with the families. However, there’s a lot of paperwork involved. The caseworkers set up the families with WRQC’s core services, like English classes.
Arreguin explained some other tasks. She takes them to their appointments, makes sure they have food, or makes sure they have things they need like WiFi or a phone. One key task is “just being there for them.”
“We are the people that they can rely on because some people come and know no one. Just making sure that they know that you are there for them. That’s my favorite part of the job,” she said.
The Goal
Like all things, there is always a goal you are striving for. There is an outcome you hope for.
The goal of casework, Arreguin said, is “to make sure that you can prepare them well enough so that when they are out of the program, or when they can, they will be able to go out into the world and live in the U.S. This is how I think about it: if they don’t know how to do something, we have to be the ones to help them, teach them, and to be there to mentor them.”
Caseworkers are there to make sure they are comfortable and set up on a path to self-sufficiency and settlement. Just like Arreguin said, they are the mentors.
From her experience this far in casework, she has observed something crucial. Because the families put so much trust into their caseworkers, “you have to be someone that they can trust.”
Her favorite part of casework is helping clients, and most importantly seeing them grow. Eventually, they settle in, become independent, and do things on their own.
Caseworkers help every step of the way while the families adjust to the U.S. After the family’s program is finished, caseworkers get to see and hear about the amazing accomplishments these families have achieved, all thanks to them and WRQC.
Interning with World Relief Quad Cities is an impactful way to gain real-world experience and prep for your career. Just fill out a form and attach your resume to apply.
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.
Why We Welcome: Faith-Based Refugee Resettlement
During the month of June, World Relief Quad Cities hosted Dr. Emily Frazier as part of her ongoing research on faith-based refugee resettlement in the U.S. Dr. Frazier is investigating the work of faith-based groups in order to understand how and why local communities welcome new Americans.
Faith-Based Organizations and Refugee Resettlement in the U.S.
Historically, the U.S. has resettled more refugees than any other country in the world through the UNs’s third-country resettlement system. However, over the past few years, the U.S. program has faced a series of challenges. Funding cuts and shifting arrival numbers have altered local resettlement agencies’ capacity to welcome the most vulnerable to American communities.
Coupled with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, resettlement agencies across the country depend more than ever on the assistance of volunteers, local congregations, and community networks to continue their valuable work responding to the needs of the displaced.
The national network of resettlement agencies like World Relief receives, places, and welcomes displaced families to communities nationwide. In the Quad Cities and across the country, WR works with community partners to empower the church to serve the most vulnerable.
World Relief is not alone in their mission. Research indicates that over 70% of all resettlement work in the U.S. is faith-based, including Jewish, Muslim, and Christian organizations. However, not all religious Americans are supportive of refugee resettlement. Recent research reveals evangelical Protestant Christians as the least likely among Americans to support welcoming refugees to the U.S.
Some evangelical leaders, churches, and organizations such as World Relief have engaged in advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees. Still, research suggests a gap between the public positions of evangelical leaders and the laypeople in their pews. The gap is especially noticeable when it comes to welcoming refugees to local communities.
Welcoming the Stranger in the Quad Cities
Despite coordination at the national level, the local reality of resettlement varies significantly from place to place across the country.
There may be less national support for refugees among certain Christian groups, but the local picture is different – in places such as the Quad Cities, community groups from both secular and faith-based traditions have partnered with World Relief to expand the organization’s capacity and welcome refugees.
Frazier’s current project seeks to understand the motivations and implications of this support and partnership, especially with local faith groups and faith-motivated volunteers.
As of July 2022, Frazier’s project has included several months of in-depth interviews, observations, and contextual research. In coming months, she will continue to recruit participants for research interviews, and plans to implement a wide-reaching survey of community partners, volunteers, staff of World Relief, and other affiliated individuals in order to understand broader faith-based trends in support for refugee resettlement in the Quad Cities.
Your Input Matters
Dr. Frazier would like to publicly thank all those who have given their time and expertise as a part of this project thus far – this research would not be possible without the support of participants like you!
If you would like to learn more about or in participate in this research through a survey, short interview conversation, or other medium, please contact Dr. Frazier at eblackard@gmail.com or connect with her via Twitter @efrazier_geog.
Emily Blackard Frazier, PhD, is a researcher and assistant professor of geography at Missouri State University. Her research interests include forced migration and refugee resettlement, faith-based organizations, and welcoming communities. She has lived and taught in communities across Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas.
A Father’s Reflections on Welcoming Refugees
Garrett Pearson, World Relief North Texas Office Director, shares his reflections on how being a first time father has impacted how he views loving and welcoming the most vulnerable.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. – John 15:9.
This passage where Jesus comforts and encourages his disciples in steadfastness has steadied me throughout my life.. Knowing the deep love God has for his son extends to me from Jesus is something that has shined as a light in times of despair. And yet, over the past year, the verse took a deeper meaning with the birth of my son.
A Perspective Shift
When I saw our baby for the first time, my whole perspective shifted. I looked into the eyes of someone I would lay down my life for. Moreso, this was someone I would reorient my life for. Someone I can create a place for him to belong, grow, and create in our world. I marveled at the little things: his delight at playing in mud for the first time, the light of unfettered joy that spreads across his face when he sees a cat, or the way he reaches out to touch and feel the familiar faces of family and friends. I love my son, and these words from John 15 make me marvel anew at the love Christ has for us.
My first year as a father has also been my first year as Office Director at World Relief North Texas.
Less than a month after my son was born, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. Over 100,000 people were forced to flee their homes, livelihoods, and families. Not even one year after that, Ukraine was invaded. Many of those families joined more than 100 million globally displaced from their homes. Viewing war, suffering and displacement through the lens of fatherhood has been a new experience for me.
As we play in our backyard, I think of the families whose homes were leveled by machines of war, destroyed beyond recognition.
As we introduce new foods and enjoy my son’s bewildered reactions, I think of people struggling to survive every day because they are cut off from basic necessities, like food and clean water.
As we go to the park and see all sorts of people in our community – parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, I think of the millions of people who are discriminated against and forcibly separated from their families because of their race, religion, nationality, social/political group, or sexuality.
As I hear my son’s little voice say “mama,” I think of the reality that roughly 70% of refugees are women and children.
I cannot comprehend the full extent of pain, suffering, or loss people are facing moment by moment in our world. In one sense, there’s a certain amount of the hardships of the world I shelter our son from. Yet, I’m reminded that fathers and mothers across the globe cannot simply turn off the bombings, invasion of soldiers, or pangs of hunger. They step forward into a relentless unknown. New and unfamiliar are the oppressive constants that have become facts of life.
So what do we do?
We can use the privileges, platforms, and resources we have to advocate for the most vulnerable from a place of love. The love God has for his child is the same love that Christ has for you, for our neighbors, for refugees and immigrants.
Fatherhood is a precious gift, I sincerely believe that in this first year of parenthood. It’s opened my eyes more fully to the Father’s love and the love Jesus has for all of us. And at World Relief, we believe that welcoming refugees and immigrants is an important and biblical way to embody Christ’s love for those in need. Welcoming isn’t just what we do — it’s who we are. So we invite you to join us and together let’s build a place where every father, mother and child, who has lost more than can be imagined, might find a new home to belong in that same love.
Learn how you can serve the most vulnerable in North Texas with World Relief HERE.
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