Afghan Refugee Aid & Church Invitations

In response to the number of resettled Afghan refugees in communities in the United States, Send Relief, the combined compassion ministry of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, is facilitating coaching to help churches engage their new Afghan neighbors. This coaching is a limited-time project and will only be offered for another five months.

The United States has evacuated thousands of Afghans to the U.S.

The majority have been resettled, but many still remain to be settled.

While the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban has created immense tragedy, many Christians sense unprecedented opportunity as previously difficult-to-access people are now making homes in the U.S. Christians are stepping up to engage these neighbors, compelled by the scenes that dominated the news a few short months ago.

Send Relief recognized the relocation efforts as an opportunity for local churches to respond. Dana Bomar, Send Relief’s Afghan refugee response specialist, began coaching approximately six months ago and has observed that many churches are eager to reach out, but often feel unsure about how to begin or how to take their efforts further. She said the coaching is designed to meet them where they are and help them move forward.

The coaching process typically begins with an online video call with an individual or church leader to assess their current efforts. Whether they are looking to boost an established international ministry or are just beginning their efforts, she offers suggestions on how to connect with their Afghan neighbors, presents practical ways they can serve them in their communities and offers advice on spiritual resources for Afghans in their heart language.

To find out how your church can become better equipped to serve your Afghan neighbors, fill out the contact form at sendrelief.org.

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In a First-Person piece on Baptist Press, Lynn Prior with Lifeway Christian Resources offers some suggestion on how you can invite someone to a Sunday School class or small group.

Prior says Christians tend to think there’s a special or secret way people are successful in inviting others to join them in church.

He says it isn’t so complicated. In fact, he says, it starts with asking.

“Nothing beats a personal invitation,” he writes. “A generic announcement from the pulpit is not a personal invitation. Neither is an online or printed invitation. I’m talking about a personal invitation from you.”

Ask together. Even better, get one or two of your group members to join you in the conversation.

Ask anywhere. As you model for your group members how to invite others into the group, encourage them to invite people anywhere and anytime – whether they meet them at church, on a neighborhood walk, at a school function, wherever.

Ask and answer questions. You can do a lot – even a short conversation – to dissipate any questions or fears a potential group member might have.

Find more stories at BaptistPress.com.