ABCUSA: Remember World Refugee Day June 20

[Jayne, Andy]

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 06/06/08) - Of approximately 14 million refugees
and asylum seekers worldwide, close to nine million have spent more than
five years in refugee camps. These people have had to flee their
homelands for fear of persecution because of race, religion,
nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social
group.
 
The General Assembly of the United Nations has designated June 20 as
World Refugee Day to highlight refugees' right to protection from
persecution and fear for their lives.
 
National Ministries encourages American Baptist congregations to salute
the spirit and courage of refugees by observing World Refugee Day during
June.
 
"In the 60 years that the United States has been welcoming refugees,
American Baptists-in partnership with Church World Service-have been on
the forefront of this outreach to those fleeing persecution and
oppression," says Kenneth George, National Ministries' national
coordinator, Direct Human Services. "As we acknowledge this World
Refugee Day, it's essential we continue our long tradition of welcoming
the stranger by embracing the large numbers of refugees from Burma,
Africa and the Middle East today. And we must advocate for global
policies that address the underlying causes that lead to persons fleeing
their homelands."
 
Free resources for observing World Refugee Day are available online from
Church World Service (churchworldservice.org). A flyer, suitable for use
as a congregational bulletin insert or handout at community events,
tells the story of Osman Koroma, a blind teenager from Liberia who is
thriving since resettlement with his family to Michigan. A worship
resource includes a call to worship, invocation, scripture selections
and benediction. 
 
Since 1948, National Ministries has helped to transform the lives of
more than 98,000 refugees by supporting American Baptist congregations
across the country that sponsored these uprooted and displaced
individuals and families so they could build new lives.
 

Andrew C. Jayne 
American Baptist Churches USA 
Mission Resource Development 
http://www.abc-usa.org/