1. Refugee Sunday 2015 Showing God’s love…
©UNCHR G. Gubaeva

2. “I was a stranger and you invited me in.” - Matthew 25:35

3. God has called us to reach out in love to refugees.
©UNCHR R. Nuri

4. Refugees do not choose to be refugees.
©UNCHR A. McConnell

5. Refugees are forced out of their country because of threats to their personal safety.
©UNCHR M. Hofer

6. Like each one of us, a refugee is an image-bearer of God who hopes for a safe life and opportunities to thrive.

7. Refugees are parents, grandparents, and guardians who want to provide for their loved ones.
©UNCHR E. Colt

8. Refugees are children and teenagers who need care and safety.
©UNCHR B. Sokol

9. Today, due to war and persecution there are more people fleeing their homes than at any time since World War II.

10. There are more than 50 million forcefully displaced people worldwide.
©UNCHR Massoumeh Farman

11. Violent conflict in Iraq and Syria has added to the refugee crisis of today.
©UNCHR S. Sisomsack

12. Through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program Canadians have the opportunity to offer protection and a new home to refugees.

13. With the support of Christian Reformed congregations in Canada, over 1,000 refugees have been sponsored and resettled in the past ten years.

14. To sponsor a refugee family is to mirror the love of God by serving as “a refuge for the oppressed” (Psalm 9:9a).
©UNCHR A. McConnell

15. One way churches may sponsor refugees is through the Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) Program.

16. In the BVOR Program, churches and the government together share the costs of the sponsorship.
©UNCHR B. Sokol

17. However, recent changes to the private sponsorship program have added new challenges for refugees.

18. Challenges include:
new restrictive rules limiting which refugees can be sponsored
lengthy and complicated application documents for sponsors and refugees
very slow processing

19. Canadian churches have both a deep responsibility and a powerful opportunity to care for refugees in the midst of these challenges and the growing crisis.

20. When you support World Renew’s Refugee ministry, you are advocating for refugee families and giving them critical support as they resettle.

21. Your gifts make World Renew’s Refugee ministry possible
Your gifts make World Renew’s Refugee ministry possible Please give generously.

22. To learn more about refugee sponsorship, call the Refugee Office at World Renew at or visit our website. worldrenew.net/refugeesponsorship

23. New this year through World Renew’s website: "Journey with Me: Stories that Change Lives,” an interactive workshop for churches about refugee justice.

24. Thank you for standing with refugees!
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
- Matthew 25:40

25. in partnership with