Each year on June 20, we observe World Refugee Day. It’s a time to recognize not just the suffering refugees endure, but also the resilience and humanity of people forced to flee their homes because of violence, persecution or instability. Today, there are between 120 and 150 million people displaced around the world. It’s the highest number since records have been kept and an eye-opening reminder of the human impact of the global refugee crisis.

For International Ministries (IM), serving refugees is a priority rooted deeply in Scripture’s call to welcome the stranger and walk alongside displaced people with compassion, hope, and justice. It is more than a humanitarian response. For IM, it is a response to the gospel of Jesus Christ!

With displacement at unprecedented levels, it is hard to find a place in the world untouched by its impact. As a result, nearly every IM global servant encounters displaced people as they minister. For some, serving immigrants and refugees is the primary focus of their ministry. For many others, displaced individuals and families have become part of the communities they already serve.

No matter their specific ministry priority, global servants are living out this calling in practical, Christ-centered ways. They offer friendship and education. They advocate and welcome. They listen to and encourage people navigating the uncertainty. Together with ministry partners and through your faithful support, IM global servants embody the truth that refugees are not problems to solve, but neighbors to see, know and love.

In Spain, Marci Carvalho and María Angélica Mainecul serve immigrants and displaced families through two nonprofits they co-founded: Corazon Amigo (Friendly Hearts) and Puente de Confianza (Bridge of Trust). These ministries are designed to restore dignity and create belonging through literacy classes in English and Spanish, cooking classes and community-building activities. Marci and María are providing practical care and spiritual encouragement to help refugees feel welcomed and valued.

Near the Thailand-Myanmar border, Eric and Yuree Lembke walk alongside displaced Karen communities who have endured years of instability and forced migration. Their ministry focuses on theological education and vocational training. From language and ministry courses to sewing and engineering classes, the Lembkes provide encouragement, education, and discipleship to children and young adults. For Yuree, this work is deeply personal. As a child, her own family fled violence in Myanmar, giving her firsthand understanding of displacement and resilience.

Larry and Rebecca Stanton partner with local churches throughout Hungary and Serbia to serve vulnerable people, including refugees traveling the Balkan route. Through tangible care and community support, their ministry reflects a simple yet profound truth: hospitality can become holy ground when churches and individuals open their hands and hearts to those in need. 

For Ray Schellinger, ministry often begins by listening. As IM’s global consultant for immigrants and refugees, Ray walks with people, hearing their stories and seeking to understand their experiences and needs. He helps connect refugee ministries with churches and global servants, expanding their network of services. He also leads teams in cross-cultural immersion experiences, which invite participants to encounter the realities refugees face. These moments move people to see refugees not as distant strangers or part of a headline, but as people with stories, dreams, grief and courage. 

World Refugee Day invites each of us to ask what it means to welcome the stranger in Christ’s name.

1. Be Praying 

On June 20, start with prayer. Pray for

• families separated by war.
• those forced to flee persecution.
• refugees facing famine, extreme poverty and uncertainty.
• children and families learning to adapt to unfamiliar cultures.
• churches, global servants and ministries serving displaced communities.

2. Learn More

Get to know the IM global servants working directly with refugees. Read their journals or subscribe to their newsletters. 

3. Build Friendships

Be intentional about building relationships across cultures, whether that is as a family, individually or as a church. Volunteer with a local refugee ministry and listen to the refugees’ stories.

4. Dedicate Time

During services, pastors and leaders can take time to teach about biblical hospitality and God’s heart for displaced people. Sunday school or small group leaders can share with others what they’ve learned. Consider partnering with local organizations to host educational events, helping people understand the realities refugees face.

Scripture continually calls God’s people to remember the vulnerable and welcome the stranger. On World Refugee Day, and every day, let’s see refugees through the eyes of Christ rather than through the lens of crisis, recognizing that each person is made in God’s image and is worthy of dignity, hope, love and belonging. 

On June 20, will you join us in responding to this call? Pray for refugees around the world. Learn their stories. And extend welcome right where you are.