About Us
Empowering Refugees to Rebuild Lives with Hope
IAFR was established in 2009 in response to the need for an international Christian nonprofit agency devoted to the mission of helping people survive and recover from forced displacement. We do this in partnership with local churches, refugees churches and the church-at-large.
At the time of our founding, we did not know that the world was on the brink of an unprecedented refugee crisis that would play a defining role in the 21st Century.
We were established for such a time as this. Together with the church, we are a force for hope, healing and recovery in the world.
Why We Do What We Do
The greatest of all commandments is to love God and our neighbor.
God is deeply concerned for the welfare of orphans, widows, and migrants - including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people, the most vulnerable and marginalized of migrants.
It is God’s love for forcibly displaced people that fuels our mission. Because we believe God is actively engaged in our world, and has promised that evil, suffering, and death do not get the last word, we serve with hope.
We seek to be a tangible expression of God’s love for those who have been forced to flee their homes and homelands due to war, violence, persecution, and gross violations of human rights.
We believe that refugee churches, churches in local communities, and the Church at large, have an important contribution to make when it comes to helping people survive and recover from forced displacement, while affirming their dignity.
And so we fix our hearts on Jesus Christ as we partner with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, confident that the day is coming when the will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Furthermore, we serve forcibly displaced people in the spirit of the following documents:
God is deeply concerned for the welfare of orphans, widows, and migrants - including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people, the most vulnerable and marginalized of migrants.
It is God’s love for forcibly displaced people that fuels our mission. Because we believe God is actively engaged in our world, and has promised that evil, suffering, and death do not get the last word, we serve with hope.
We seek to be a tangible expression of God’s love for those who have been forced to flee their homes and homelands due to war, violence, persecution, and gross violations of human rights.
We believe that refugee churches, churches in local communities, and the Church at large, have an important contribution to make when it comes to helping people survive and recover from forced displacement, while affirming their dignity.
And so we fix our hearts on Jesus Christ as we partner with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, confident that the day is coming when the will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Furthermore, we serve forcibly displaced people in the spirit of the following documents:
God is deeply concerned for the welfare of orphans, widows, and migrants - including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people, the most vulnerable and marginalized of migrants.
It is God’s love for forcibly displaced people that fuels our mission. Because we believe God is actively engaged in our world, and has promised that evil, suffering, and death do not get the last word, we serve with hope.
We seek to be a tangible expression of God’s love for those who have been forced to flee their homes and homelands due to war, violence, persecution, and gross violations of human rights.
We believe that refugee churches, churches in local communities, and the Church at large, have an important contribution to make when it comes to helping people survive and recover from forced displacement, while affirming their dignity.
And so we fix our hearts on Jesus Christ as we partner with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, confident that the day is coming when the will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Furthermore, we serve forcibly displaced people in the spirit of the following documents:
Core Values
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
Host Country Economy
Host Country Economy
Host Country Economy
Local Churches
Local Churches
Local Churches
Long-term Relationships
Long-term Relationships
Long-term Relationships
Reciprocity
Reciprocity
Reciprocity
Respect & Dignity
Respect & Dignity
Respect & Dignity
Meet Our Team
Listed alphabetically by first name
Andrew Sandeen
Northern Colorado Team
Andrew Sandeen
Northern Colorado Team
Andrew Sandeen
Northern Colorado Team
Andy Pollock
Sarajevo Ministry Leader
Andy Pollock
Sarajevo Ministry Leader
Andy Pollock
Sarajevo Ministry Leader
April Palmbos
Director of Operations
April Palmbos
Director of Operations
April Palmbos
Director of Operations
Bethany Ringdal
Mpls/St. Paul Ministry Leader
Bethany Ringdal
Mpls/St. Paul Ministry Leader
Bethany Ringdal
Mpls/St. Paul Ministry Leader
Brett & Becca McNew
Lille France Team
Brett & Becca McNew
Lille France Team
Brett & Becca McNew
Lille France Team
Chong Bee Vang
VP of Advancement
Chong Bee Vang
VP of Advancement
Chong Bee Vang
VP of Advancement
Dawn Kilian
VP of Staff Development
Dawn Kilian
VP of Staff Development
Dawn Kilian
VP of Staff Development
Dr. George Kalantzis
Senior Fellow of Theology
Dr. George Kalantzis
Senior Fellow of Theology
Dr. George Kalantzis
Senior Fellow of Theology
Emma Crim
Ukraine Response Team
Emma Crim
Ukraine Response Team
Emma Crim
Ukraine Response Team
Ilir Cami
Ukraine Response Ministry Leader
Ilir Cami
Ukraine Response Ministry Leader
Ilir Cami
Ukraine Response Ministry Leader
Jacob Tornga
US Regional Leader
Jacob Tornga
US Regional Leader
Jacob Tornga
US Regional Leader
Jaydon Crim
Ukraine Response Team
Jaydon Crim
Ukraine Response Team
Jaydon Crim
Ukraine Response Team
Josh Levin
Mpls/St. Paul Team
Josh Levin
Mpls/St. Paul Team
Josh Levin
Mpls/St. Paul Team
Kate Cami
Assistant to the President
Kate Cami
Assistant to the President
Kate Cami
Assistant to the President
Laura Longino
Northern Colorado Team
Laura Longino
Northern Colorado Team
Laura Longino
Northern Colorado Team
Rachael Lofgren
Communications Coordinator
Rachael Lofgren
Communications Coordinator
Rachael Lofgren
Communications Coordinator
Rachel Uthmann
Director of Training
Rachel Uthmann
Director of Training
Rachel Uthmann
Director of Training
Rev. J.P. Gatera
Refugee Church Consultant
Rev. J.P. Gatera
Refugee Church Consultant
Rev. J.P. Gatera
Refugee Church Consultant
Sarah Miller
VP of International Ministries
Sarah Miller
VP of International Ministries
Sarah Miller
VP of International Ministries
Sarah Pollock
Refugee Education Curriculum Developer
Sarah Pollock
Refugee Education Curriculum Developer
Sarah Pollock
Refugee Education Curriculum Developer
Shahrazad Mohamed
Winnipeg Ministry
Shahrazad Mohamed
Winnipeg Ministry
Shahrazad Mohamed
Winnipeg Ministry
Shanna Doughty
Northern Colorado Ministry Leader
Shanna Doughty
Northern Colorado Ministry Leader
Shanna Doughty
Northern Colorado Ministry Leader
Sharon Tonzo
Atlanta Ministry Leader
Sharon Tonzo
Atlanta Ministry Leader
Sharon Tonzo
Atlanta Ministry Leader
SJ Holsteen
Lille France Ministry Leader
SJ Holsteen
Lille France Ministry Leader
SJ Holsteen
Lille France Ministry Leader
Tim Barnes
Executive Vice President
Tim Barnes
Executive Vice President
Tim Barnes
Executive Vice President
Tom Albinson
Founder and President
Tom Albinson
Founder and President
Tom Albinson
Founder and President
Board Members
Listed alphabetically by first name
Kate Makowsky
Kate Makowsky
Kate Makowsky
Kristel Lehner
Kristel Lehner
Kristel Lehner
Rev. J.P. Gatera
Advisory Board Member
Rev. J.P. Gatera
Advisory Board Member
Rev. J.P. Gatera
Advisory Board Member
Shahrazad Mohamed
Advisory Board Member
Shahrazad Mohamed
Advisory Board Member
Shahrazad Mohamed
Advisory Board Member
Stan Diddams
Treasurer
Stan Diddams
Treasurer
Stan Diddams
Treasurer
Stephen Freed
Chair
Stephen Freed
Chair
Stephen Freed
Chair
Tim Barnes
Advisory Board Member
Tim Barnes
Advisory Board Member
Tim Barnes
Advisory Board Member
Tom Albinson
Tom Albinson
Tom Albinson
Van Chounlamountry
Secretary
Van Chounlamountry
Secretary
Van Chounlamountry
Secretary
© IAFR 2024
All rights reserved
© IAFR 2024
All rights reserved
© IAFR 2024
All rights reserved