Anglicans Help Resettle Afghan Refugees
The Rev. Pete Forbes and his church have welcomed Nawid and his family as they settle into life in Arizona.
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. - Hebrews 13:1-2
Across the ACNA
Earlier this month, ARDF sent small relief grants to ACNA churches and affiliated nonprofits to help with efforts to welcome Afghan refugees into their communities. These funds - given by donors like you - have already had a huge impact.
Pastor Hossein Ebrahimi, his wife Shahnaz, and their four children were expelled for their work with Christian churches in the Middle East. Now living outside of Atlanta, they were referred to All Saints Anglican Church in Peachtree City by an Afghan bible translator in the US, saying, “It is a good investment in the Kingdom of God. They have a lot of potential to reach the people of Afghanistan for the Lord.” ARDF funds were used to buy a used car so their ministry can continue.
In Greensboro, NC, the William Wilberforce Center has been able to hire a translator fluent in Dari and Pashto for their Anglican Afghan Asylum Initiative. This initiative connects arriving Afghan refugees with immigration legal resources.
In Phoenix, Christ Church held a donation drive for hygiene/cleaning supplies for incoming Afghans and other refugees. They collected laundry baskets overflowing with supplies for these recent arrivals. Meanwhile, Phoenix Refugee Connections (PRC) continues to offer training to churches and volunteers who are welcoming refugees. The demand for training has spiked since August as more and more churches are welcoming Afghan (and other) refugees. ARDF funds have helped PRC to meet the needs for additional trainings and resources to churches.
The Rev. Pete Forbes and his church in Oro Valley, Arizona welcomed a Christian Afghani family into their home and their hearts. This has even involved helping them practice to pass the test for a drivers license.
The stories about the wide range of activities taken by Anglicans across the province go on and on!
Yes, these refugees from Afghanistan are beyond grateful. However, the Lord is also using this crisis to change people’s hearts and to challenge these volunteers to draw closer to Jesus.
“There’s so much to glean from a long-suffering people. It has made me see myself and others in the world very differently. When I began seeing how my refugee friends’ lives parallel so much of Jesus’ life, this unleashed my faith. These individuals, who were once strangers to me, are now my friends. They are people I commune with and delight in, and I feel like I’m seeing the actual face of God when I break bread with them.”
– Mars Adema, volunteer with Phoenix Refugee Connection
We know this work is long and hard. Plan A becomes Plan B (or C or D!) when logistics don’t work out. Applying for residential status is arduous. Finding reasonable housing is a challenge. This makes us even more grateful for the scores of volunteers who are befriending these immigrants and helping them with all of the complicated and confusing logistics necessary for starting a life in the US.
This is just a brief glimpse into the activities taking place across the Province. Stay tuned for more stories and sign up for our relief newsletter to receive stories like this in your inbox.
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