UMCL Second Mile Giving Support for Refugees
World Refugee Awareness Month is celebrated every June. A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of war, violence or persecution. According to UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency), “More than 117 million individuals have been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.” The Bible tells us that Jesus was a refugee, as Joseph fled with Mary and Jesus to escape Herod. (Matthew 2: 13-15).
Because of the contributions that our congregants have made to Second Mile Giving, UMCL has been able to assist refugees throughout the world. The UMCL Mission Committee has chosen two organizations that the Northern Illinois Conference supports - UMCOR Global Migration Response & RefugeeOne:
- UMCOR Global Migration - UMCOR works with Global Ministries to address the global refugee and migration contexts guided by four principles: the right to stay and flourish in one's country of origin; safe passage for those with no viable alternative but to leave; welcoming and belonging, a process wherein migrants, refugees, and receiving communities work together to meet the needs of new arrivals; and support for the returned to help them reintegrate with dignity into their home countries after deportation.
- RefugeeOne creates opportunities for refugees fleeing war, terror and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. As the largest resettlement agency in Illinois, RefugeeOne has welcomed more than 18,000 refugees since 1982. RefugeeOne walks alongside refugees from the moment they land at O'Hare International Airport—welcoming them to Chicago and providing furnished apartments, English classes, job search support, mental health care, youth programming, and mentors to help them adjust to life in the U.S.
Because of contributions to Second Mile Giving, UMCL has been able to support these two organizations. It’s one way we “welcome the stranger” as Jesus invited us to do.
The UMCL Missions Committee extends its sincere appreciation to all those at UMCL who contribute to Second Mile Giving. THANK YOU!!
Interested in being a part of Second Mile Giving at UMCL to support mission-focused organizations across Lake County and beyond?
Our Social Principles on Migrants, Immigrants, and Refugees
As a congregation of the United Methodist Church, UMCL "affirms the worth, dignity, and inherent value and rights of all persons regardless of their nationality or legal status. [We are] urged to build bridges with migrants in [our] local communities, to learn from them, celebrate their presence in the United States and recognize and appreciate the contributions in all areas of life that migrants bring.”