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A letter from the Director
Office Director Kenneth Primus shares an update with World Relief Tri Cities friends and partners.
Friends of World Relief Tri Cities,
Thank you for your faithful work of welcome with World Relief, creating a community of love and welcome for our immigrant neighbors together with us. We all know the past 3 years have been tumultuous. COVID, dual crisis in Afghanistan and Ukraine, along with inflation and economic change have spurred our office to adapt and grow with the times. And in this season of change, as we look for opportunities to better serve vulnerable neighbors here in our community, we are reaching out for your renewed partnership.
Local impact – Lasting change
Our staff has tripled since 2020, while our roster of active volunteers has also grown from 4 to 17. Welcoming only 49 refugees in 2021, our staff welcomed 168 refugees in 2022, plus 72 Afghan Parolees. This year we are on our way to welcome 240 refugees and we anticipate as many as 350 refugees in FY2024. We have also served 482 Ukrainian Parolees over the past 8 months! We are so encouraged by this long awaited growth.
This growth challenges us to focus not only on our clients but on our community as a whole. To better serve our community, we have planned new program opportunities that include expanded Immigration Legal Services, Vocational Language classes, semi-monthly workshops focused on life skills, and tuition assistance for vocational training and certification. Additionally we have planned for community focused âRefugee Simulationâ events to provide insight on the refugee experience, and as always, community outreach and church mobilization. We will also be supporting the Administrationâs new âWelcome Corpsâ private sponsorship program for anyone who wants to personally sponsor a refugee.
You can help
This growth is only possible together – we can’t do this without your help! Within the next two weeks weâll be posting five new, full-time positions for Caseworkers, Employment Specialist, and Community Outreach personnel. Watch our Facebook page and Open Positions Page for these postings and please share these positions with your networks or consider applying personally. If full-time isnât an option for you, then please consider Volunteering.
As always, we are also seeking donors. Rent went up 35-50% last year, but the stipend we receive from the State Department we receive for each refugee increased less than 5%. This is just the starkest example of where inflation has affected our operation.
Additional needs include transportation and housing for our Office staff. We have a 2000 Windstar that is on itâs last legs. Other than our personal vehicles, this van is our only means of taking clients to appointments, bringing them home from the airport, or helping them move into their new home. Please spread the word that we are looking for a good deal on a used van (or two).
Finally, our office space has not kept pace with the increased staff and client lists. If anyone has real estate connections or knows of some office space that might be available please let us know, (our lease expires in May). You can reach us at TriCitiesOffice@wr.org.
Thank you for your prayers, your voice, and your continued support. Please continue this journey with us as we strive to make the Tri Cites and more welcoming place!
God Bless,
Kenneth Primus
Resiliency & Hope in the Midst of Persecution
Fleeing Persecution in Cambodia
When Sithy and his wife, Saobot, arrived in the United States in March of 2022, he was not sure what his life would look like. He had been rejected, persecuted, and imprisoned for his political affiliation in Cambodia.
Both Sithy and Saobotâs siblings and other family members remain in Cambodia. While they do not have any relatives here in the United States, they have already found solace in his neighbors â both those who partner with World Relief Triad and the Cambodian community that surrounds them.
âMy friends from the Cambodian community know my story of why Iâm an immigrant,â Sithy says. âIâm a refugee because of political issues. When I was in Cambodia, I was captured and put in prison. They were pressuring me to live there. After I fled to Thailand, people followed me and tried to capture and kill me.â
He recalls the way that it felt to finally be in Thailand but not in full safety yet. âWhen I left Cambodia, I didnât have any hope,â Sithy says.
âWhen I was leaving Thailand, I had even less hope. I felt like I was floating in the middle of the sea.â
Finally, when Sithy arrived in the United States with his wife and children, he gained a hope that he had never thought possible. “Right now, Iâm happy,” he says. “I have freedom with the hope that I live in a democratic country like the United States.”
Life After Arriving in the U.S.
It is no wonder that Sithy âhit the ground runningâ once he finally was able to begin his life in the United States. Within weeks of adjusting to his new home, Sithy began working for two different people. He also received some extra funding from World Relief which covered some of his rent and utilities easing the burden of housing costs.
With the money saved, combined with the money given to him by friends in the local Cambodian community, Sithy was able to pay for his first car. Now that Sithy has hope and stability in his life here in the Triad, he has already begun to make plans for his family.
âFor myself, I need to find permanent work,â he says. âI know I will have help from World Relief and the community in the process of finding the right job for myself and my wife. I want her to continue her studies, and I plan to try and meet the GED requirements because the certificate I have from Cambodia isnât eligible here without a high school degree.â
Sithy can now use his own car to transport himself and his wife to various ESL classes, personal appointments, and eventually their future places of employment! Because of supporters like you, World Relief Triad was able to ease housing costs through locally raised funds, giving newcomers like Sithy the ability to pay for and provide his own transportation for himself and his family.
Let’s Go Together for Those Who Have Yet to Come
Over the past two years, our office has faced many challenges. In the midst of a global pandemic, a new administration led to a large influx of arrivals which forced our office to ramp up in staff members, an ongoing war in Ukraine, and the fall of Kabul which ultimately led to thousands of Afghans being forced to flee their home country. Yet, our community remained to be a sanctuary for the displaced.
We invite you to join us as we cast a new vision, together, as we go forward into the reality of an uncertain future. When you give today, you join World Relief Triad in going further than weâve ever previously dreamt possible.Â
Together, we can welcome more, like Sithy and Saobot, into a world of restored hope, peace, security and joy.
World Relief saved my life. Now, Iâm giving back.
As a nonprofit organization, we talk a lot about donations and giving back here at World Relief Baltimore Immigrant Services Office. While part of how World Relief functions is through private and public grants, we could not do what we do without people like you: people who are on the path, investing in the community to see mutual transformation happen in this city.
Former World Relief client Reza Abdoli shares about his life-changing experience that began with our sister office in Memphis, TN and why he decided to give back.
In need of help
On December 9th, 2012, I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, as an asylee. I left my home in Afghanistan because of my countryâs increasing instability, which restricted my ability to further my education.
My original intention when coming to the U.S. was to pursue a masterâs degree in computer science. But I was influenced by people I knew from home to change my career to medical or dental school. There was one complication, however. They immigrated a few years prior, were already American citizens and did not explain the roadblocks I had in front of me as an asylee if I changed my career path.
Initially, I had no idea what World Relief was â they were just another faceless organization. But when I first walked into the Memphis office, that changed.
Reza Abdoli
Nevertheless, I moved to Memphis and began trying to pursue dentistry. Soon I discovered that it was impossible to participate in dental school without permanent resident status. I was at my lowest point of life, unable to get a good job and depressed.
Just a student paying back my loans without a path forward. I was driving for Uber and working other low-paying jobs, trying to make some money just to survive. Never had I been like that before, and it was scary. I needed help.
Finally, I got my USCIS approval for asylum in 2019, and they told me about some organizations that help asylees like me. Thatâs when I first found out about World Relief.
Initially, I had no idea what World Relief was â they were just another faceless organization. But when I first walked into the Memphis office, that changed.
A new family
That first day, there was a young lady at the door to greet me. She said, âHey, how are you? Welcome!â I was like, she already knows me? Was she expecting me? They were so excited to meet me. It was comforting.
Before World Relief, I had so many problems traveling in the U.S. People would say hurtful words about me. It made me feel like, âthis is not my place, and I have to leave here.â That feeling was only made worse by my struggles with school and money.
But my World Relief case worker, Basuze, always listened to me without judgment. He and the rest of the team acted like I was a family member. I kept coming back to the office to hang out with everyone because I felt loved.
He and the rest of the team acted like I was a family member. I kept coming back to the office to hang out with everyone because I felt loved.
REZA ABDOLI
World Relief was like a chain holding me together. I was struggling so deeply I was even planning to break up with my girlfriend because I had no money and knew I could not support us. World Relief kept my life together, and I still have my now-fiancé in my life.
World Relief pushed me to continue my education, and I returned to my passion for computers. I found the cheapest online program and got my masterâs in computer science. I knew when I first came to the U.S. that I could make a living if I got a degree, but I just needed some help to get there.
Whether it was government paperwork, monetary assistance or encouragement, World Relief guided me. Through this guidance, I was finally able to get a good job.
A few months ago, I bumped into Basuze at the Memphis airport. He was there welcoming someone new who was arriving in the U.S. That was an emotional moment for me. It helped me realize how far Iâd come and how much I wanted to give back.
Paying it forward
After my encounter with Basuze at the airport, I told myself that I would give a portion of my salary every month to World Relief. And every time I got a raise or promotion, I would increase my giving. And thatâs what Iâm doing. Iâm not making millions, but I can now live without fearing the next day. And I want to do my small part to make that possible for the next person.
I give to World Relief because Iâve experienced first-hand that they use their funds wisely. Whether helping with moving, providing furniture, offering career guidance or helping financially, World Relief is putting its funds towards the good of others. Whatever is asked of them by the people they served, they step up.
I still have the check receipts of what World Relief gave to me. I still have them! Thatâs how much they mean to me. World Relief gave me the opportunity and the courage to pursue what I dreamt about, and it is important to me that I can be a part of making this possible for others.
World Relief gave me the opportunity and the courage to pursue what I dreamt about, and it is important to me that I can be a part of making this possible for others.
REZA ABDOLI
For me, giving back is both financial and relational. Because of my job, Iâm now living in Los Angeles. Since moving here, Iâve made an effort on my own to connect with other Afghan families in my community.
When visiting with them, I always encourage the younger people to get a degree, even if itâs the cheapest one available. I didn’t spend much on my master’s degree. It was less expensive than the classes I took in dental school, which Iâve never used. But if you get a degree and find a job to support yourself, you can live the dream! It is possible here.
I feel blessed to be able to share my story with my Afghan community and people like you. I hope that my story will encourage and help others to pursue their goals.
My hope is that my story also urges people to be kinder to immigrants. They have had enough hardship in their life. When someone comes to World Relief, they are there because they seek your help. There may be language barriers and cultural differences. Thatâs okay. Take time to understand them. They need that. If they were in a good place in their life, they would not have come to World Relief. When someone comes to us for help, the least we can do is be more patient, be a good listener and spend more time with them.
We’re so grateful to Reza for sharing his story with us. Through generous monthly giving such as Rezaâs, our office can continue cultivating a welcoming and supportive community for asylees and other vulnerable immigrants from across the globe in need of immigration legal services. Consider joining him to pave The Path to lasting change! Follow this link for more info on how to become a Pathmaker today.
Nathan Spencer is a former Communications Intern for World Relief. A recent graduate from the University of Memphis with his M.A. in Journalism and Strategic Media, Nathan continues to volunteer for World Relief as a copywriter.Â
Reza Abdoli is a former client and current donor of World Relief . While in Memphis he also served as a volunteer in various capacities at the World Relief office. Since leaving Memphis, he has made a point to connect with his Afghan neighbors and advocate and mentor immigrants in his new community. He also holds a Masters degree in Computer Science and resides in Los Angeles California.
The Long Road to Citizenship: Prince’s Story
Our Team at World Relief Baltimore Immigrant Services Office works daily to further our clients’ paths toward naturalization. This recent story from our sister office in North Carolina inspires us as we walk along the long road to citizenship with our Baltimore neighbors.
Reflecting on September as the time of year that we celebrate citizenship with #CitizenshipDay, a day inviting, âAmericans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship,” we invite you to continue reading to learn about one of our own’s story, Prince Mushunju and his wife, Laurette!
Becoming a citizen affords a lot of privileges and is an arduous process that can be uncertain for some. Prince Mushunju, Employment Services Coordinator at World Relief , reflects on his and his wife’s experience one year since they received citizenship.
“To experience the respect that is had for a U.S. citizen — Now that we have passports, we see a very big difference in the respect people give us,” he says. “We’ve traveled to the same countries! So we can see the difference. Americans don’t always appreciate their privilege in being born in this country.”
Searching for Home
When Prince and his wife first arrived in the United States in 2015, they were expecting their first child. After living in a refugee camp in Uganda for nearly 12 years, they were ready to find a home. They decided before they had even arrived that America would be their home. “We considered this to be our home. So one of the first things we did was ask the question of what can we do to become permanent residents. How do we become citizens? We asked this from the first year.”
Prince can’t help but smile when he reflects on those first few days and weeks arriving in the U.S. He says that they even thought that they were being resettled in New York City because that’s where their first flight was landing. After weeks of research, Prince then had to readjust to the idea of actually living in Greensboro, North Carolina — “very different from New York,” Prince laughs.
“They picked us up from the airport and took us to a small house,” he says. “But even still, the love of the country helped us. We knew we needed to get that citizenship to feel like we were home.”
Enduring towards Freedom and Joy
The journey towards citizenship involved a lot of work that Prince says made his wife and himself feel like they were back in school. Since they had to apply individually, there was always the fear that one of them might get citizenship while the other didn’t.
“We felt joy and freedom once we learned we’d gotten citizenship,” Prince says. “There are things a citizen can do that someone who doesn’t have a permanent status cannot do. Now that we’ve come as refugees, and have gone through that process as well as the process of becoming a citizen, we feel like, ‘Wow. I can breathe and start living.'”
One way major way that their lives have changed now as citizens is not only in the way they travel (Prince and his family are planning to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo soon so that his children can see where he comes from), but also in applying for their parents and other family members to come to the U.S. now.
“The process will be much easier as citizens and not refugees now,” Prince says. “As long as Iâm working and donât have a record, they can come.” He concludes with a smile that it should be less than two years until they are all reunited.
At World Relief Balimore Immigrant Services Office, we are invested in providing holistic care for our clients, which includes assistance in legal immigration services, often. If you would like to learn more about this program or give towards it today, click below.
Finding Hope in “DACA” – Interview with Jazmin
Creating belonging happens in so many ways in Baltimore and cities across the United States where World Relief has Immigration Services, like this story from our sister office in Sacramento, CA. Â
Jazmin grew up believing she wouldnât have the opportunity to graduate from college and start a full-time career. When she was a junior in high school, she met with the Immigration Legal Services team at World Relief who helped her apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and walked alongside her through every part of the process. Â
We sat down with Jazmin and asked her a few questions about her experiences:Â
Tell us about yourself and about your family. Â
I moved to California when I was 5 years old – my Dad came back to Mexico and picked me up from my grandparents’ house. Adjusting to the rhythm of school and learning a new language was incredibly difficult, and I grew up with a lot of stress because I didnât think I would have the opportunity to go to college â it was a battle figuring out how I would be able to support my family. Â
But when I was a junior in high school, World Relief was able to help me out. They filled out my DACA paper work and guided me through the entire process. Thanks to them, I attended and graduated Sacramento State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management and Engineering. My Dad was a construction worker, so I jumped into it with the best faith â Iâve now worked for company that Iâm currently at for the past 5 years and have been able to help my family quite a bit. Â
This was all because of DACA; without that policy, I wouldnât be able to have these same opportunities I do now. Â
How did you meet the World Relief team? Â
My point of resource was the Mexican Console â they hosted workshops and World Relief was one of the organizations that sponsored me. They gave me resources, sent my application, and paid fees â they walked alongside me through the entire DACA process. All I needed to do bring was myself, and they processed everything else and kept everything up to date. It would have been incredibly hard for me to do it by myself; I felt very secure with World Relief handling everything.Â
How has DACA helped you? And how has World Reliefâs legal team helped you in securing your future?Â
Thanks to DACA I was able to go to college, I was able to work legally and start compiling 401K and savings and building credit, and ultimately, I was able to help my family. Right now, I am saving to buy a family home â immigrants buying property with a low-income background is impossible.
With World Relief helping with the DACA process, it makes you feel like your case is always taken care of; I really appreciate them. Â
What has been your overall experience as an immigrant in California? Â
I have a mixture of feelings. I think on the good side: itâs humbling. Just to know that you come from a different country and youâre trying to make it here. Because of DACA itâs not as limiting, without it itâs scary. I went through anxiety growing up without DACA because I couldnât follow the traditional steps of going to college and would have to work illegally. Itâs scary, it still is. Itâs still all up in the air politically, but Iâm trying to take care of the advantage.
What changed in your day-to-day life after you were approved for DACA?Â
My routine – just going to school and finding a good job changed. My lifestyle and quality of life changed. I donât feel like I was negatively impacted at all – without DACA, college wouldâve cost three times as much â I graduated without debt and held a good job even before graduation. I never saw a dentist until started working full time â now I have so much better quality of life and insurance.
What would you like people to know about the DACA process? Â
For the people applying for DACA, Iâve known a lot of people have had complications. I know DACA will eventually will expire â a lot of times you never know when the application is going to bounce back. Having resources like World Relief ready and able to help is necessary â I always needed to be sure that this application is in good hands. It can be sensitive paperwork. DACA is important to have valuable resources. Â
For people who donât know what DACA is, itâs not our fault that weâre in this situation (illegal), itâs needed for us to continue to live. And I know that DACA wasnât given to everyone, which is unfortunate, but itâs special and appreciated. Itâs a gift to a small portion of immigrants.
I hope that it shows people the benefits of giving immigrants legal status and I wish it was for everyone; Iâm very grateful that I fall into the small group of immigrants given a chance. Itâs proof that immigrants can give back to this country.
I consider it a success story for my parents; they brought their daughter not born here and gave her success being here. It truly is a success.
World Relief Baltimore Immigrant Services office helps so many individuals like Jazmin fulfill their dreams and provide for their families. Consider becoming a monthly donor and help us continue creating belonging in Baltimore City and County â click here for more information. Â
The Long Road to Citizenship: Prince’s Story
Reflecting on September as the time of year that we celebrate citizenship with #CitizenshipDay, a day inviting, âAmericans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship,” we invite you to continue reading to learn about one of our own’s story, Prince Mushunju and his wife, Laurette!
Becoming a citizen affords a lot of privileges and is an arduous process that can be uncertain for some. Prince Mushunju, Employment Services Coordinator at World Relief Triad, reflects on his and his wife’s experience one year since they received citizenship.
“To experience the respect that is had for a U.S. citizen — Now that we have passports, we see a very big difference in the respect people give us,” he says. “We’ve traveled to the same countries! So we can see the difference. Americans don’t always appreciate their privilege in being born in this country.”
Searching for Home
When Prince and his wife first arrived in the United States in 2015, they were expecting their first child. After living in a refugee camp in Uganda for nearly 12 years, they were ready to find a home. They decided before they had even arrived that America would be their home. “We considered this to be our home. So one of the first things we did was ask the question of what can we do to become permanent residents. How do we become citizens? We asked this from the first year.”
Prince can’t help but smile when he reflects on those first few days and weeks arriving in the U.S. He says that they even thought that they were being resettled in New York City because that’s where their first flight was landing. After weeks of research, Prince then had to readjust to the idea of actually living in Greensboro, North Carolina — “very different from New York,” Prince laughs.
“They picked us up from the airport and took us to a small house,” he says. “But even still, the love of the country helped us. We knew we needed to get that citizenship to feel like we were home.”
Enduring towards Freedom and Joy
The journey towards citizenship involved a lot of work that Prince says made his wife and himself feel like they were back in school. Since they had to apply individually, there was always the fear that one of them might get citizenship while the other didn’t.
“We felt joy and freedom once we learned we’d gotten citizenship,” Prince says. “There are things a citizen can do that someone who doesn’t have a permanent status cannot do. Now that we’ve come as refugees, and have gone through that process as well as the process of becoming a citizen, we feel like, ‘Wow. I can breathe and start living.'”
One way major way that their lives have changed now as citizens is not only in the way they travel (Prince and his family are planning to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo soon so that his children can see where he comes from), but also in applying for their parents and other family members to come to the U.S. now.
“The process will be much easier as citizens and not refugees now,” Prince says. “As long as Iâm working and donât have a record, they can come.” He concludes with a smile that it should be less than two years until they are all reunited.
At World Relief Triad, we are invested in providing holistic care for our clients, which includes assistance in legal immigration services, often. If you would like to learn more about this program or give towards it today, click below.
Sudanese Student Begins First Semester at Local University
Darelsalam Karama’s family arrived in the United States in 2018 when she was fourteen. In those four years, Darelsalam was placed in many different environments that brought about many challenges. “We started at Thomasville Middle School, and everything was so different from Sudan,” she says. “My native languages are Arabic and Zaghawa, so I went to the newcomer’s school. I was more comfortable there because there were a lot of refugees just like us.”
After just four years since she arrived in the United States, Darelsalam has received a full ride to High Point University.
After six months at the newcomer’s school, Darelsalam’s English was at a level of proficiency that she was able to transfer back now to high school. “Even though English is not my first language, I made my parents proud because I made straight A’s the first semester,” she says.
She points to the motivation and support of her family and her ESL teacher as what carried her to apply for college. “Someone I’ll never forget is Judith, my ESL teacher at High Point Central High School,” Darelsalam says. “I’m very thankful for her. She is a really sweet woman with a great heart.”
Still, even after Darelsalam knew she wanted to apply for college, she wasn’t sure how to proceed. This is where the World Relief Triad team and their Youth Mentoring Program came to light.
“I knew I wanted to go to college by my junior year, but even that felt too late,” Darelsalam says. “It was hard to plan or think about college because I was still learning. But I talked to many people who encouraged me and helped me write my college essay, fill out applications, and apply for scholarships — Mostly, Kyle and Rowan were extremely helpful.”
Kyle Bahm, Youth Mentoring Coordinator for World Relief Triad, says that Rowan Geukgeuzian, High Point University intern at the time, was able to assist Darelsalam where she needed it. “But Darelsalam doesn’t need much help,” Kyle says about Darelsalam. “Sheâs motivated. She can do things independently, so I just check in and ask if she needs help.”
Kyle speaks about the ease and comfort students like Darelsalam provide him in his work. “When someone is self-motivated, like Darelsalam, and they just need a little bit of guidance, it allows me to focus on others who may need a little more assistance,” he says. “It also encourages the younger siblings and sets an example. That helps me to challenge some of the other families’ oldest children to do the same for their peers and younger siblings.â
Darelsalam speaks of her siblings, and her entire family, as the source of her motivation. “My siblings help to motivate me, and my parents. They didnât argue or try to change my mind. They are super supportive. I hope my siblings all can go to college as well.”
Darelsalam began her first semester at High Point University only a few weeks ago, now. Currently, she is enrolled as a biology major as she wants to become a family medicine doctor, and will be taking other foundational courses to improve her reading, writing, and time management skills. She is looking forward to working at the community clinic as a volunteer and Bonner Leader, a program at High Point University that “seeks to transform the lives of students as well as their campuses, local communities, and nation by providing access to education and opportunities to serve.”
“It’s really fun for the most part; though I’m learning how to balance my time with working and going to classes,” she says. “I volunteer eight to ten hours a week, but I can also put these hours on my resume, which is good.”
After sharing her journey from Sudan to North Carolina in her college application essay, Darelsalam continues to share her story as a way to possibly inspire those who came from similar situations such as herself. “I just wanted to show where I started, and what my struggles were,” she says. “I hope it encourages others who are in similar situations.”
You can help empower other individuals similar to Darelsalam today. Click the button below to learn more about how you can get involved with our Youth Mentoring Program at World Relief.
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 â 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.
âI was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.â
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 â50s, 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 stateâs 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 â 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 YMCAâs 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 warâs 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 countryâs 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. Governmentâs 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 Reliefâs refugee resettlement program alongside her husband, Thomas Grady Mangham, Jr.
We can thank this woman’s tenacity and conviction for World Reliefâs 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.â
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 â 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.
How to Sustain Your Compassion When Headlines Fade And Problems Persist
How can I be a part of creating change that lasts when Iâm too exhausted to even turn on the news? How can I sustain my compassion when headlines fade but problems persist?
We live in an interconnected world. Sometimes, that thought can feel warm and fuzzy, conjuring up images of unity and togetherness. But today, it can also feel overwhelming.
Across the globe, weâre seeing how the worldâs challenges are connected and complicated, and they canât be solved overnight. Like in Kenya, where Turkana County is currently experiencing its fourth consecutive season of drought â a crisis made worse as the war in Ukraine has turned âagricultural fields turned into battlefieldsâ and blocked the export of millions of tons of wheat and maize. As a result, food prices are rising and millions of people are at risk of malnutrition and starvation.
Even before Ukraine, the world was already bending under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic. Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban continued to need resettlement. Men, women and children in South Sudan were experiencing historic flooding, and southern Haiti was still recovering from a devastating earthquake and political upheaval after the assassination of their president.
At World Relief, we know you want to be a part of creating change that lasts. Yet as one crisis compounds another, youâre likely asking yourself â How can I create change when Iâm too exhausted to even turn on the news? How do I stay engaged and sustain my compassion when headlines fade but problems persist?
Dennis Mwangwela has been working at World Relief for more than 20 years. He currently serves as the Director of Integral Mission for International Programs. In the wake of Haitiâs earthquake last fall, we asked him how he continues to have hope and persevere in his work even when it feels like progress gets wiped away by conflict or natural disasters.
His words are a call and an encouragement to all of us as we lean in and look for ways to sustain our compassion when hardship persists and headlines fade.
âBiblical hope is different from being optimistic. Biblical hope is enduring even in the most difficult circumstances because itâs not based on what I see, but itâs based on Godâs unchanging character and promises.â â Dennis Mwangwela
Hear more from Dennis in the interview below:
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, youâve likely asked yourself, how can I respond in a meaningful way?
Youâve 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 youâre 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 â 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 youâre 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 worldâs greatest problems â from disasters to extreme poverty, violence, oppression, mass displacement and immigration.
For over 75 years, weâve 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.
- Weâve 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 Godâs 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.
- Weâve 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.
- âThis 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.â – 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.
- Iâve found that World Reliefâs collective passion extends beyond the local church and vulnerable newcomers whom we serve in the U.S. Weâre passionate about who we are becoming, individually and as an organization. As weâre beginning to operationalize that passion, I think now is an excellent time and opportunity to step into this journey and behold Godâs 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 Godâs leading through work grounded in prayer, spiritual discussion and obedient improvisation, as well as opportunities to develop and grow your individual faith.
- âSince 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 youâre one of the many people feeling like you need to do more for our broken world, hereâs your chance. In the midst of the chaos, there is still hope â 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?