Op-Ed’s & Press Releases

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

November 7, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s acceptance speech, World Relief President Scott Arbeiter and CEO Tim Breene issued the following response:

“For over 75 years, World Relief has worked with both Republican and Democratic administrations and with people of all political affiliations as we seek to catalyze churches and communities in service to the most vulnerable, both in the U.S. and around the world. World Relief has had the unique privilege to partner with churches to help alleviate poverty, respond to natural disasters, combat violence and oppression and resettle and rebuild the lives of more than 300,000 refugees over the past 40 years. Though leaders change, we remain committed to work with the president in our mission to serve those Jesus called the least of these.

“We recognize the growing need to continue to partner with the U.S. government to respond to urgent humanitarian crises around us, including to COVID-19, extreme food insecurity, gender-based violence, and natural disasters. We urge President-elect Biden to uphold his campaign promise to pursue comprehensive immigration reform within his first 100 days in office and to reverse current immigration and refugee policies that put vulnerable individuals in danger, especially the travel ban and the historically-low refugee ceiling. We also call on the president-elect to make good on his public pledge last week to work with leaders in the faith community to ensure the flourishing of all people and the pursuit of justice, peace and equality. We charge American churches to ready themselves to welcome refugees and immigrants in vulnerable situations, and we look forward to mobilizing more churches to welcome the foreign-born, promote peace and alleviate poverty around the world under this administration.

“The election results underscore what most Americans have felt over the past several years: that our country is deeply divided. We believe that our elected officials have a responsibility for helping to heal those divides, but so does each citizen. As a Christian organization, we particularly believe that local churches have an integral role to play in healing, a role we have seen churches lead in countries such as Kenya that have gone through bitterly divisive and even violent election seasons. As World Relief CEO Tim Breene writes in a recent reflection, Blessed are the Peacemakers, ‘Whatever our political and doctrinal preferences, we are called to be people of peace, and to love one another… It is not too late for church leaders to remind their congregations that we are all made in the image of God. And that ultimately, we will come before the throne of the Lamb together in peace, as …a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language, worshiping in adoration to our God.’”

To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.

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About World Relief

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. Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

October 29, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – On October 27^th, President Trump signed the Presidential Determination (PD) on refugee admissions, setting the refugee ceiling for FY2021 at 15,000, the lowest in U.S. history. Currently, there are approximately 80 million people forcibly displaced around the world, and due to COVID-19 and natural disasters, many of those displaced are facing greater hardships and difficulties. World Relief urges the United States to lead by example to offer refuge to those who have nowhere else to go and restore the refugee ceiling to the historical norm of 95,000.

“The issuance of the lowest refugee ceiling in history is further evidence of the administration’s lack of compassion toward vulnerable refugees and immigrants who are displaced due to conflict and persecution and facing even more dire circumstances due to COVID-19,” said World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “Despite this administration’s clear promises to protect persecuted Christians, the actual resettlement of Christian refugees from countries known for persecution drop about 90% in some cases over the last four years. We have abandoned our moral responsibility to honor our word and help the vulnerable.”

The Presidential Determination states that 6,000 previously unused spots from FY2020 were incorporated into the FY2021 ceiling of 15,000, which is an unprecedented position by the State Department. In addition, the new categories created for refugee admissions will further limit those who are eligible to be resettled through the program, including large numbers of Congolese refugees, unaccompanied minors and others. This position is an abdication of the leadership the United States has traditionally shown in times of humanitarian crises. While resettlement was paused for a time due to COVID-19 this year, the intensive national security and medical processes all refugees undergo mean that the program can and should be expanded to save lives.

“We urge President Trump to hear the cries of Americans advocating for vulnerable lives and those desperately in need around the world,” commented Tim Breene, World Relief CEO. “This decision by the administration does not represent the values that America was founded on –  like human liberty, religious freedom and equality that should extend to those facing persecution abroad. If our nation promises to be a country under God, then we must help our hurting neighbors and allow more refugees to resettle in the United States.”

Join World Relief in urging Congress and the president to reconsider and set a FY2021 refugee resettlement target at 95,000 by visiting https://worldrelief.org/advocate/.

To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.

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About World Relief:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

October 13, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – 25,000 Christians have joined World Relief, Women of Welcome, and other leading evangelical institutions in petitioning Ivanka Trump to protect vulnerable children at risk of trafficking due to the suspension of key protections under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).

Through an effort organized by Women of Welcome, the 25,000th signature came just days before the 20th anniversary of the signing of the original Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the nation’s foremost anti-trafficking law, which passed after significant advocacy from evangelical Christians.

The original letter sent on August 24th, 2020, included signatories from leaders at World Relief, International Justice Mission, World Vision U.S.,  Bethany Christian Services, the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and various other evangelical institutions. These leaders have voiced their concern to senior presidential advisor Ivanka Trump because she has been among the most vocal anti-trafficking and child protection advocates within the administration. In the intervening month and a half, tens of thousands of Americans have added their voices petitioning for the reinstatement of these protections that were halted in March due to concerns over the potential spread of COVID-19.

Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, commented, “It’s been eight months since COVID-19 gained momentum in the U.S. and key child-protection elements of TVPRA were initially suspended at the border. While the administration has resumed normal activities in many sectors of public life, operations that could mean the difference between life and death for vulnerable children have not been resumed. The threat of trafficking does not diminish during a pandemic. If anything, it accelerates. The U.S. is overdue in our responsibility to care for the vulnerable within our purview.”

The TVPRA requires that unaccompanied minors detained at the border be entrusted to the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees a network of care partners that includes many faith-based nonprofits.

“As a mother, I cannot imagine treating children in the negligent way these children at the border continue to be treated,” said Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome. “This isn’t an immigration issue, it’s a child safety issue. As an American, I cannot believe the country I love, which claims to be a haven to the weary and needy of the world, is intentionally turning a blind eye to this horrifying practice. And as a Christian, our failure to love and advocate for these vulnerable people is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus.”

To read the letter, click here. Women of Welcome, a movement of evangelical women supported by World Relief, invites concerned Christians to add their names to the letter.

To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.

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About World Relief:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

About Women of Welcome:

Women of Welcome is a community dedicated to diving into the whole of Scripture to understand God’s heart for the immigrant and refugee.

Learn more at womenofwelcome.com.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

October 12, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – World Relief, a global humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and respond to disasters worldwide, congratulates the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) for winning the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 9, 2020. This award is well deserved for an organization that has saved millions of lives around the world and for its ongoing efforts to fight hunger in regions of conflict and hardship around the world.

The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security. Last year, it provided assistance to almost 100 million people in 88 countries. World Relief partners with the World Food Programme in several countries in Africa, including Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through this partnership, World Relief has reached over 203,000 individuals in communities across Sudan and South Sudan in 2020 alone.

“The World Food Programme is absolutely deserving of the renowned and prestigious Nobel Peace Prize,” said Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief. “The global problem of hunger is getting worse around the world, as are the conflicts that exacerbate it. That’s why the UN’s work through WFP is extremely valuable and crucial today. We at World Relief have worked with the WFP through several projects and have always been impressed with their professionalism, effectiveness, and compassion in helping the most vulnerable in some of the most dangerous and dire places in the world.”

World Relief partners with churches and community leaders around the world to help alleviate poverty and world hunger. Through its programs such as Agriculture for Life and and Savings For Life, they are able to help thousands of people who may not have access to food or the means to survive. Organizational partnerships such as World Relief and the World Food Programme are critical to reaching the most vulnerable and have proven that humanitarian collaboration is an impactful way to alleviate world hunger and poverty.

To learn more about World Relief, visit: https://worldrelief.org/

Download a PDF version of this press release here.

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About World Relief

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.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

October 6, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and World Relief launched a statement titled, “A Call to Civic Responsibility: For the Health of the Nation,” inviting the evangelical church to repentance, renewal and resolve to address the critical issues our nation and world face. The full statement was published in print this morning in The Washington Post, and the NAE and World Relief discussed it in depth during a press call with a few key signatories. This statement marks the beginning of several digital advertising campaigns that will launch in national mainstream and Christian outlets throughout the remainder of the week. 

“The Bible speaks to the most challenging issues we face as a nation. With this statement, we renew our commitment to biblical values as we work together for the health of our nation. I hope many evangelical leaders will join us in affirming these beliefs as we convene a collective evangelical witness,” said Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

The statement is based on the principles of “For the Health of the Nation,” first published in 2004 by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Over the past 16 years, “For the Health of the Nation” has guided the public engagement of the NAE and its members, applying gospel principles to the issues we face as a nation.

“Not every individual in the evangelical community agrees on every issue, but the Church should be unified on these core issues if we are going to serve the world in loving our neighbors,” said Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief. The statement calls all evangelical Christians, whether Democrats, Republicans or Independents, to unite in agreement with the evangelical Christian call to seek the health of the nation for the good of all people.

Among several calls to action, it urges evangelical Christians to do their part to protect human rights and the sanctity of life and pursue reconciliation. “The national conversation around race has reached an inflection point this summer, and the evangelical church must lead in conversations that can bring about justice and peace in our communities,” said Bishop Timothy Clarke, senior pastor of First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio.

The statement urges evangelical Christians to take political action that aligns with biblical callings. “Evangelicals too often allow the marriage of political agendas with their understanding of faith. This is too narrow a conception of Jesus’ teachings. We are called to love all our neighbors, not only those who resemble us and our political preferences,” said Rev. Jeanette Salguero, senior vice president of NaLEC, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and co-lead pastor of The Gathering Place in Orlando, FL. And Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of NaLEC and co-lead pastor of The Gathering Place in Orlando, FL, also said “We signed onto this statement because we believe that a broad evangelical witness encompasses more than just one or two singular issues. And we must choose to support through prayer those carrying the burden of leadership.”

Evangelical Christians are invited to repent of the ways they have failed to perfectly engage with these issues. “We must inspect our hearts, own our inconsistencies and commit to listening to our neighbors and loving others well by the ways we choose to engage in the public sphere and care for our shared spaces.” said Jo Anne Lyon, vice chair of the board of the NAE.

 “It’s time for the evangelical community to inspire a new commitment to values-based public policy and stand up for the issues that are central to the health of our nation. The principles in this document provide a platform from which evangelicals can engage in much needed common action,” said Jenny Yang, vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief.

“In a time when our democracy itself is strained to the breaking point, evangelical Christians are called to be a healing presence, as we seek to bless our neighbors and advance the common good,” said Galen Carey, vice president for government relations with the NAE.

World Relief and the NAE aim to reach a wide audience and invite as many evangelical Christians as possible to sign in agreement with this call to action. To learn more and add your name, visit http://www.forthehealthofthenation.org.

Download a PDF version of this press release here.

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About World Relief:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

About the National Association of Evangelicals:

Founded in 1942, the National Association of Evangelicals includes more than 45,000 churches from 40 denominations and serves a constituency of millions. The NAE provides resources, connection and influence to help evangelical leaders navigate complexity with clarity and foster thriving communities.

Learn more at NAE.net.

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***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

October 1, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE –  With the end of FY2020 and a proposed ceiling of 15,000 for FY2021, World Relief calls the administration to engage in meaningful consultations with Congress to increase the refugee ceiling to 95,000 for FY2021. Furthermore, World Relief warns that the prolonged absence of a Presidential Determination (PD) has life and death implications for many waiting in limbo around the world. Unnecessary delays in continuing the U.S. refugee resettlement program in FY2021 means families will remain separated, religious minorities will continue to live at risk of persecution and unrest, and displacement will continue to exacerbate vulnerabilities for women and children in particular.

“The administration’s failure to observe its legal obligation to consult with Congress and set a refugee ceiling before the beginning of a new fiscal year is deeply concerning,” said World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “The White House has made explicit promises to protect persecuted Christians abroad. Sadly, we have not seen these promises honored through a robust U.S. refugee resettlement program that has been a lifeline of protection for persecuted Christians. Instead, we’ve seen the resettlement of refugees from countries known for persecution drop about 90% in some cases over the last four years. This is unconscionable. We urge the President to increase and sign the PD as soon as possible”

The Refugee Act of 1980 set the precedent for the president to set an annual target for resettlement for the following fiscal year by September 30. While the stated resettlement target for 2020 was 18,000 – an historically low number – fewer than 11,000 were actually resettled. This year, the Report to Congress was sent to Congress late on September 30, but no meaningful consultation meetings have happened, nor has a PD been set that reflects U.S. leadership in responding to global need. Further, the report reflects a concerning conflation of refugee resettlement and asylee processing – processes that are distinct and reflect U.S. obligations to protect those fleeing persecution in different ways.

“The initial public health concerns at the onset of the pandemic that led to the suspension of the program were worth heeding. However, the State Department and partner agencies have worked together to institute certain public health measures to ensure that refugees arriving in the United States do not pose a public health risk. These measures include screenings, temperature checks and a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. We strongly believe that it is not only possible to resettle refugees safely, but it’s essential,” commented Tim Breene, World Relief CEO. “The overlapping global refugee crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic present challenges for anyone around the world facing underlying insecurities, and now is not the time for the U.S. to drop the ball.”

Join World Relief in urging Congress and the president to set a FY2021 refugee resettlement target at 95,000 by visiting https://worldrelief.org/advocate/.

Download a PDF version of this press release here.

###

About World Relief:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

September 16, 2020

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – Today, Musee Bath, a global company that creates handmade bath products, announced the launch of their sister brand and all-natural skincare line, PrettyInside, which will contribute a portion of all of their profits to women refugees through World Relief. Their generosity will fuel World Relief’s work helping refugees find housing and employment, learn English, and create long-term support systems in their new home.

“World Relief is extremely proud to partner with PrettyInside and their mission to demonstrate the beauty of women around the world,” said Jenny Yang, VP of advocacy and policy at World Relief. “We believe all individuals are uniquely created with inherent dignity and value, and we’re thrilled PrettyInside chose to give generously to our work empowering female refugees as they rebuild their lives in the U.S.”

PrettyInside’s newly-launched, female-founded brand offers five face masks made with clean ingredients that celebrate womanhood, each named after a unique characteristic that make women beautiful. They will donate 10% of their online retail profits, 5% of all wholesale proceeds and 100% of all profits from a unique tote bag to World Relief’s work empowering female refugees and their families to start fresh in America.

“The PrettyInside team is incredibly excited to be partnering with World Relief,” said Leisha Pickering, founder and CEO of Musee Bath. “We’re so thankful for the work they do that makes a difference in the lives of so many women around the world.”

Today, more than 70 million people have been forced to leave their home, fleeing for their lives and seeking refuge in the United States. For over 75 years, World Relief has been coming alongside families displaced by violence, poverty and injustice and helping them start over.

To learn more about PrettyInside and their products, visit their website at prettyinsidebeauty.com.

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About World Relief:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

August 24, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – Today, leaders from World Relief, International Justice Mission, World Vision U.S., Bethany Christian Services, the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and various other evangelical institutions sent a letter to Ivanka Trump, one of the administration’s most outspoken advocates for victims of human trafficking, urging the White House to protect vulnerable, unaccompanied minors who have been put at risk by the administration’s suspension of key provisions of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).

The TVPRA ensures that unaccompanied minors apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border be afforded due process, protecting them from harm – including threats like trafficking, persecution or other kinds of exploitation – and entrusting them to the care of the Department of Health and Human Services, which manages a network of care providers, including many faith-based non-profit organizations. However, the protections afforded through the TVPRA have been halted since March due to health concerns related to the potential spread of COVID-19, leading to ongoing expulsion of unaccompanied minors who pose no safety nor health risks, sometimes after unregulated stays in hotels.

“We must not allow COVID-19 to serve as a pretext for abandoning our national commitment to standing for vulnerable children and against the scourge of human trafficking. Our faith compels us to speak up for these children,” the letter concludes.

“For a generation now, fighting human trafficking has been a core concern for evangelical Christians, drawing on the legacy of Christian abolitionists like William Wilberforce, for whom the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act was named,” commented Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief. “Evangelicals rightly advocated for provisions of this legislation that are designed to protect vulnerable, unaccompanied children, and cheered when President Bush signed the act into law in 2008. Our biblical convictions will not allow us to stay silent now as this law is flouted under the pretext of COVID-19. As a nation, we can and we must both protect public health and protect children from the threats of trafficking, violence and exploitation.”

Chris Palusky, president and CEO of Bethany Christian Services, said, “Motivated and guided by our faith, we at Bethany Christian Services are committed to protecting children and speaking out when their safety is threatened. We provide temporary foster homes and support for those the TVPRA was designed to protect – children and youth who have been victims of violence, trafficked or have watched family members be murdered before their eyes. To summarily return these children back into the arms of those who wish to harm them under the guise of protecting Americans from COVID-19 is a violation of our own laws and a stain on the conscience of our nation. Let us protect vulnerable children; we’re ready to serve.”

“IJM knows firsthand, from our frontlines work around the world, that children are uniquely vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. The TVPRA ensures that these precious unaccompanied children are protected from trafficking and exploitation through safe and secure placements directed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),” said Philip Langford, IJM U.S. president. “We urge the Administration to uphold the protections and care that our country has promised to deliver for these children as mandated in the TVPRA.”

“COVID-19 has exacerbated our national human trafficking crisis in various ways,” commented Shayne Moore, anti-trafficking fellow at Wheaton College’s Humanitarian Disaster Institute. “The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has reported a 200% increase at their call center. But in terms of trafficking risks to unaccompanied children, COVID-19 is the pretext, not the actual cause, of the disaster that has been unfolding for months. Our government, working with carefully trained partners, has the capacity to provide care for traumatized children while respecting public health protocols, but is instead expelling them back to situations of danger. It is essential that we protect the most vulnerable during this unprecedented time by fully complying with the TVPRA.”

To read the letter, click here. Women of Welcome, a movement of evangelical women supported by World Relief, invites concerned Christians to add their names to the letter.

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About World Relief:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

July 29, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – Today, the Trump Administration issued a memo that, for the moment, allows recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to continue to renew their DACA protections and work authorization, while reducing the validity of each renewal to one year (from two) and restricting new DACA applications. Last month, while World Relief celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision halting the administration’s previous attempt to terminate DACA, it underscored the need for permanent congressional action. Now, given the administration’s actions today, the urgency of congressional action is all the greater.

“While we’re grateful that the administration has not, at this point, again sought to terminate DACA, today’s actions present new hardships for Dreamers, requiring a renewal application and accompanying fee on a more regular basis and seeking to prevent new applicants,” commented World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “Furthermore, the memo makes clear that rescission is still ultimately quite possible, which means that hundreds of thousands of young people will continue to live with the fear that the government may ultimately mandate the loss of their jobs or even deport them to countries that they cannot even remember. The harm would extend further to these young people’s families, including hundreds of thousands of young children of DACA recipient parents, and to their employers and churches.”

“Today’s announcement underscores the need for Congress to act in such a way that would please the vast majority of Americans – including more than three out of four white evangelical Christians – who want Dreamers to be able to continue to stay and work lawfully in the U.S.,” Arbeiter noted, citing a June 2 CBS News poll.

As it has done for many years – but with new urgency – World Relief calls upon Congress to pass a legislative solution for DACA recipients and other Dreamers, allowing those who meet appropriate qualifications to apply for permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

“We’re thankful that the House of Representatives has already taken action, passing the American Dream and Promise Act, on a bipartisan basis last year. We urge the U.S. Senate to take up the bill, or similar legislation, as quickly as possible,” urged Tim Breene, World Relief CEO. “Now is not the time for political maneuvering, but for coming together on a bipartisan basis to enact the will of the vast majority of the American people.”

World Relief’s network of immigration legal services programs stands ready to assist as many individuals as we can to determine what today’s announcement will mean for them and to assist those who qualify with applications. World Relief invites local churches and individuals to stand with DACA by providing financial support to subsidize the cost of these legal services, to ensure that as many individuals as possible can access authorized, competent, affordable legal counsel.

To learn more about DACA, visit World Relief’s website: https://worldrelief.org/daca-and-dream-act-101/, and for giving opportunities, visit: https://worldrelief.org/dreamers/.

About World Relief

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. In the U.S., World Relief provides authorized, affordable immigration legal services through a network of local offices and by providing technical support to scores of church-based legal clinics.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

July 14, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE – Today, World Relief, a global humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and respond to disasters worldwide, announced the launch of The Path, its monthly giving product designed to help individuals sustainably give to create lasting change in our world. 

The Path is a community of people who are dedicated to investing in long-lasting transformation in our world. By joining The Path, donors gain access to exclusive updates to better understand the problems facing our world and to learn how we can be part of the solution, together. Donors will receive stories of hope and compelling impact reports that prove how their commitment to the journey has transformed the lives of the most vulnerable. Joining The Path connects donors to World Relief’s staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries all over the world through virtual events, prayer chains, and social media.

“The brokenness of our world today can be overwhelming, confusing and leave us at a loss for what next steps we can take to play a part in fixing it,” said Tim Breene, World Relief CEO. “We created the Path to build a community of generous givers who sustainably support our work and empower us to continue working to break the endless cycle of suffering. We hope Christians and compassionate individuals will join us in forging a path forward toward lasting change that brings hope, healing and restoration to the vulnerable.”

World Relief’s generous donors have already stepped up in incredible ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of March through June of the COVID-19 pandemic, World Relief has seen an average monthly donation increase of 297.81%, relative to corresponding months in previous years, with the highest peak in April at 454.26%. Though the public health crises have created dire scenarios for many Americans, World Relief donors see this challenge as an opportunity to step in and provide support for others during hardship.

“World Relief has been partnering with generous givers to end extreme poverty and protect the most vulnerable around the globe for over 75 years,” said Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief. “If we’ve learned anything, it’s that the fight for lasting change isn’t just a moment — it’s a movement. We’re excited to see how our partners’ monthly gifts become a powerful tool in the fight for lasting change.”

The Path community will help World Relief respond to urgent needs by mobilizing our global network of churches and local volunteers. In the aftermath of natural disasters and crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, World Relief provides emergency humanitarian aid including cash assistance, food & water, shelter, and psychosocial support to those in need. Our life-changing programs address the whole person – economically, physically, socially, and spiritually – to create long-term stability in areas around the world. In partnership with local churches and community leaders, World Relief works alongside local volunteers to capitalize on their inherent strengths and resources in each community to create sustainable solutions that address their unique needs.

To learn more about joining The Path, visit www.worldrelief.org/thepath/.

Download a PDF of this press release here.

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About World Relief

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.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.