Gospel Justice
#refugeeswelcome
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Matthew 25:35-36
The International Rescue Committee in San Jose is a 501 (c)(3) organization that supports refugees, asylees, SIVs, and victims of trafficking in thriving in America. Each year, thousands of refugees are invited by the U.S. government to seek safety and freedom within our borders. Forced to flee conflict or persecution, many have survived against incredible odds for years. They step off the plane with next to nothing but their hope and determination.
The refugee crisis continues to be the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II. In 2016, we hosted Dr. Curt Rhodes of Questscope to share his reflections and exhortations. That summer, two Sparkers (one high schooler, and one board member) spent five weeks investigating the refugee crisis in Greece. We campaigned and raised over $46k for World Vision for a six times matching grant from USAID. Spark currently supports two refugee families in partnership with the International Rescue Committee.
Discover and learn more below:
"Refugees are persons fleeing armed conflict or persecution. These are people for whom the denial of asylum has potentially deadly consequences."
The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees)
watch & learn
"The thing about showing hospitality, of loving strangers, is when we do so, they don't stay strangers for very long. Because real hospitality goes beyond welcoming the stranger. It means embracing them, making them part of 'us'."
Matthew Soerens
