Refugee & Immigration Ministries

Our Mission

The mission of the UCC Refugee Ministries office is to involve, encourage, and accompany local churches and their members in the lifetransforming ministry of refugee resettlement as they journey toward an understanding of the plight of refugees and a compassionate response.

The Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees are people who because of war, persecution, and oppression are forced to flee their homes, leaving behind all they have known for an uncertain future. One out of every fifty persons worldwide is a refugee or an international migrant.

All refugees fear persecution in their home countries, making them unable to return. Many stay in neighboring countries languishing in refugee camps. A few will begin a new life in another country such as the United States.

One Great Hour of Sharing

All gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing are tax deductible. OGHS helps support Refugee & Immigration Ministries as well as Volunteer and National Disaster Ministries.

Members of the youth group at the Congregational Church in Exeter UCC had two choices: they could cross the border illegally and risk being caught by border patrol, or they could go through the official border crossing and risk being sent back to where they came from. Understanding the decision they were facing and it's implications was the idea behind the Big Night of Hope, a refugee simulation experience held at the Exeter, N.H., church. Read more ...

^ PIctured above ^ The youth group had a debriefing after the refugee simulation experience to discuss ways the church could help.

***CWS welcomes "deferred action" from deportation for 800,000-1,000,000 undocumented young people ...

***How you can assist DREAMers

For more news on Refugee & Immigration please visit: Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Service Newsletter

An American-Darfuri Tale: Kendra Rinas & the Moussas

Kendra Rinas, on staff with the CWS Overseas Processing Entity for sub-Saharan Africa, spent February to June 2009 in Chad helping prepare refugees' case files for final review by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Then, in March 2010, CWS relocated her to Chad, where she leads the work to interview additional resettlement candidates and start their orientation to U.S. life. Here is some of her story.

Useful Links

UNHCR at a Glance