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Photo: A refugee shelter with a message of hope

Day 6: More Than People in Need

Prayer: Father in heaven, I yield my heart and mind to you. Please help me understand your perspective of refugees and know how you want me to respond.

Refugees are more than people in need. Refugees often transcend their circumstances and become a blessing to those who welcome them.

Located in remote northwestern Kenya, Kakuma is home to one of the biggest refugee camps in the world. In spite of their isolation and existential hardships, an interdenominational association of refugee churches in the camp believes that they play an important part in God’s redemptive plan for the world.

With next to no budget, they run an Interdenominational School of Mission that offers a three-year program to equip Christian leaders to serve God. Many graduates serve as pastors in the camp today. Some have returned to their countries of origin, where they now serve as Christian leaders. Others have been resettled to Australia, Europe and North America, where they have planted churches. As one refugee pastor put it, “Kakuma refugee camp is a center from which we can tell the world about the love of God for us in Jesus!”

In Acts 8, we read that a great persecution broke out against the church. Philip was among those forced to flee Jerusalem. He sought refuge in Samaria. How did Philip transcend his circumstances? How did he become a blessing to the city in which he found refuge?

In Acts 18, we read that Aquila and Priscilla were among the Jews forced to leave Rome by order of the Emperor. They fled to the city of Corinth. The text says that they had recently arrived and were setting up a tent-making business when Paul met them. How did Paul help them recover from displacement? How is Paul an example of someone who sees forcibly displaced people as more than people in need?

Click here to learn more about life and ministry in a refugee camp.