Refugee Sabbath
Promote Refugee Awareness in Your Church
Three million refugees have come to North America since 1975. God tells us how to relate to them. "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, . . . I am the Lord your God," (Leviticus 19:34).
Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries invites churches across North America to remember the 68.5 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including more than 3 million refugees who have come right here to North America. Some churches choose to focus on Refugee Awareness around the time of World Refugee Day designated by the United Nations and celebrated annually on June 20.
The North American Division and the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church designate a special day each year during the month of June for Refugee Sabbath/"World Refugee Sabbath," to raise awareness of the needs of the unprecedented numbers of refugees who have fled their homes due to war and persecution. Inspired counsel offers us insights into the significance of this development:
“. . . if we were quick in discerning the opening providences of God, we should be able to see in the multiplying opportunities to reach many foreigners in America a divinely appointed means of rapidly extending the third angel's message into all the nations of earth. God in His providence has brought men to our very doors and thrust them, as it were, into our arms, that they might learn the truth, and be qualified to do a work we could not do in getting the light before men of other tongues. —Review and Herald, Oct. 29, 1914 (emphasis supplied)
Involve Your Church! Possibilities are endless! It can be as simple as pausing for a moment of silent prayer for refugees during the prayer time at your church, or as unique as filling a Sabbath with activities dedicated to building awareness to the plight of refugees and our God-given opportunity and mission to reach out to these "strangers in our midst." Click on any highlighted words for more information.
Click the links below for ideas and resources for your Refugee Sabbath:
- Program Ideas and Resources
- Refugee Day Video and Additional Resources
- Our Moment in History by Terri Saelee - Refugees in the News - How Should We Respond?
- Elder Dan Jackson's Huffington Post article on refugees
- Scripture References and Inspired Quotes
- I was a Refugee - The harrowing story of one refugee's escape
- Information about refugees
- Map of Adventist refugee congregations around the U.S.
- How to find and reach out to refugees in your area
- Practical steps to reach out
- Reach out Personally, as a Church, and as a Conference
"God in His providence has brought men to our very doors, and thrust them, as it were, into our arms, that they might learn the truth, and be qualified to do a work we could not do in getting the light to men of other tongues" (ChS 200).
"Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor. Such an aim is set before the youth of today. The heaven-appointed purpose of giving the gospel to the world in this generation is the noblest that can appeal to any human being" (Ed 362).
Donations to Refugee Ministries help refugees and immigrants learn and experience the love of Jesus in practical ways. Your contributions help to provide:
- Church planting among unreached and barely-reached refugees and immigrants in North America
- Christian education opportunities for refugee and immigrant children
- Development of resources for reaching out to refugees and immigrants
- Networking: putting refugees in touch with those who can meet the unique needs of each people group
- Research: locating pocket communities of unreached people groups
- and much more.
Support Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries! Your contribution to the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for Refugee Ministries is tax deductible.