I saw evidence of this again when invited to speak at an online missions conference in Latin America this month. The focus of the gathering was The Global Refugee Crisis and the Role of the Church. It was facilitated from Buenos Aires by our like-minded friends at Conexion Oriental. Over 180 people from all over Latin America participated.

A pastor from a small church in Tijuana shared how they have assisted 1500 refugees and migrants since 2018! A missionary from Latin America serving in Lesbos (Greece) shared how they are assisting the 13,000 refugees displaced by the fire that ravaged Moria refugee camp. How encouraging to see the Church show up like this in the lives of our displaced friends!

The conference showed a Spanish version of IAFR's video "Introduction to the Refugee Highway" (below) to communicate global refugee realities and a biblical perspective.

I highlighted six important ways the Church is well-suited to help people survive and recover from forced displacement.

Governments and humanitarian agencies are not able to do what a healthy local church can do to strengthen hope and resilience by offering (1) safe and supportive community, (2) life-giving faith and (3) emotional healing. The church is also well suited to (4) extend opportunities to learn helpful new skills. And churches can help rehumanize refugees by (5) recognizing and affirming them as people with a valuable contribution to make to their new society. Finally, churches can (6) advocate on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers in ways that create space in the hearts and minds of others for refugees - so that place can be restored to our dis-placed friends.