Loving Our Refugee Neighbors

Last November, Martha Wenzel and Mary Kaech taught a two-week class in Adult Ed. called “Our Refugee Neighbors: Who They Are and How We Can Love Them.” As part of the class, they provided a survey of the refugee situation globally, taught us a bit about our refugee neighbors in Phoenix, and suggested some ideas for how we as individuals, families, and as a church community might demonstrate hospitality to refugees as an expression of the love of God. In the second week of the class we had the opportunity to hear from a panel of refugees who spoke about their own experiences of being displaced from their homes, and how they eventually came to settle here in Phoenix.

Over the past several months, many parishioners have enthusiastically responded to opportunities to get to know refugee families and to begin serving in simple, practical ways. Some gathered for a meal with a refugee family. Some helped deliver household items for newly arrived families. Some participated in a Saturday seminar on refugee ministry.

Still others of us got to visit a faith-based English-language program on-site at Phoenician Palms, an apartment complex that is home to refugees from around the world. Earlier this week, 12 News aired a story on the mother-daughter duo of Georgia and Anna Sepic, who some of us have met. As “housing entrepreneurs” these two have impacted the lives of many refugees throughout our city in a very tangible way.

This Sunday, Martha and Mary will provide an update in Adult Ed. on our church’s ministry to refugees – and will share more about ways we as a congregation can be involved in the coming weeks and months, including another vision trip to Phoenician Palms on May 21. It is encouraging to see how God has already led so many to take a step of faith, and we trust that there is much more he will do in and through us as we respond to his call, extending hospitality to our refugee neighbors in the name of Christ.