BALTIMORE—As World Refugee Day nears, key Christian agencies, including Lutheran World Relief, are calling on American Christians to pray for refugees from conflicts and persecution worldwide – and to take tangible action on their behalf.
The 2017 #PrayForRefugees campaign begins June 14 and continues through June 20, World Refugee Day. Prayer resources can be found at prayforrefugees.com and will be shared via Twitter at #prayforrefugees.
The campaign will focus on the work of LWR in assisting Syrian refugees on Day Two: Praying for the crisis in Syria.
“The American people have a long history of responding with compassion to the cry of the poor and oppressed, particularly in times of war, disaster or other calamity. Our faith compels us to prayer and action to accompany local communities and partners in the places we serve, and to help those who are forced to flee their homes as they struggle with the challenges of extreme poverty, natural disaster and war,” said Daniel Speckhard, president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief.
“We are grateful for the support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including local churches, Pathfinder clubs and individuals who volunteer with us to ensure refugees feel welcomed and have their basic needs met. Please lend your prayers to bless those who are serving, as well as for the millions of refugees, internally displaced and stateless people in difficult situations around the world,” said Jonathan Duffy, president of ADRA International.
More people have been forced from their homes and their countries today than in generations. As we know from Scripture, these people — the exile and the stranger — are close to God’s heart. Prayer is a powerful way to begin addressing this monumental crisis. Christians across America and around the world should be on their knees urgently asking God what He would do through us to serve refugees,” said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision.
“Today is the day of prayer and action for global refugees. There are more displaced peoples and refugees in the world than ever before. We urge followers of Jesus everywhere to stop, bend a knee, and cry out to God on behalf of the global refugee. And may our prayers pierce deep into our hearts to move our hands and feet toward action on behalf of these 60 million who cannot go back to their homes today,” said Jeff Palmer, CEO of Baptist Global Response International.
“We are all part of one family and when our brothers and sisters are suffering, we need to answer the call to help them. As the refugee crisis continues around the world, we pray that all displaced people find a place to call home where they and their families can live a life of dignity,” said Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Vice President of US Operations for Catholic Relief Services.
Globally, more people are currently displaced than at any time in recent history, including following World War II. More than 65 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes; more than 21 million have had to flee their home country.
Participating agencies include the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Baptist Global Response, Catholic Relief Services, Lutheran World Relief, World Vision, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and #We Welcome Refugees.
For more information, visit http://www.prayforrefugees.com/about/