Refugee stories changed our lives

Allow me to introduce you to some of our newest staff, Emma and Jaydon Crim. They are based in Slovakia and serve with our Ukraine Response team. We recently asked them, "Why do you serve forcibly displaced people?" This is their answer.

Because of refugee stories

It was through listening to the stories of refugees that God broke our hearts for the circumstances that refugees face. This stirred in us a desire to be involved and stand alongside displaced people. But Slovakia wasn't where we expected to end up because Eastern Europe was never on our radar.

We visited Ukraine in April

We visited Ukraine in April. Our hearts were broken afresh by what is happening there. There are no words. When we walk the streets of Lviv and Kyiv, we feel the anger and pain of injustice. We see the devastation of three years of war and so much uncertainty within the eyes of civilians regarding when and how it will end.

A highlight was spending time with the people. The more we spend time with our Ukrainian friends, both those inside and outside of Ukraine, the more we feel God's heart of compassion and empathy for them. This strengthens our commitment to walk alongside them in ways that strengthen resilience and that help them continue their journey toward recovery from the tragic losses they are experiencing.

Partnering with local leaders

Our primary focus is on supporting and partnering with local leaders within the Ukrainian community and other organizations as they care for the ever-evolving needs of those displaced by the war. As opportunities arise, we will integrate our backgrounds in emotional support and storytelling into our work.

Our ministry is in response to refugee stories

We have been deeply impacted by refugee stories, many of which include horrific tragedy as well as hope-filled resilience and healing. As these stories have influenced us to walk alongside uprooted people, we know firsthand the transformative power of storytelling and how it can push us towards more than mere sympathy or pity, but rather towards genuine, compassion-fueled action.

Why we do this work

When people ask us why we do this work, our answers are similar but unique to each of our individual experiences. For Emma, God has called her to help people find home and belonging. So many people have had their homes taken from them due to circumstances outside of their control, and now they don't know where they belong, which is incredibly painful.

For Jaydon, our ministry flows out of his identity as a person of faith and a follower of Jesus. We are called to walk alongside others in their suffering and care for each other. Walking alongside our refugee friends is what this work is all about.

CLICK HERE to learn more about IAFR's Ukraine Response work!