5 Resources for Refugee Ministry
From Bible studies to picture dictionaries to legal advice, we’ve got a round-up of helpful resources as you walk alongside the displaced that God has brought to our cities, neighborhoods and communities.
Books Unbound: Dari, Pashto & English Picture Dictionaries
“I work with Afghan women newly resettled to Charlotte, many of whom speak little to no English. These picture dictionaries from Books Unbound are amazing! Bright colorful pictures that represent Afghan culture make for great conversation starters. And with the Dari/Pashto/English words for each page, we can have a mutual learning session as my Afghan friend teaches me a new vocabulary word while I teach her the English word. So much fun.” There are also coloring pages as well as resources focused on Rohingya and Syrian populations. BOOKS UNBOUND
MyRefugeeClaim.ca Informational Website
Created by Kinbrace, myrefugeeclaim.ca is a wonderful tool for refugee claimants in Canada to understand how the asylum process works, what to expect and how to access resources both nationally and locally. The goal was to make the refugee protection system easier for all refugee claimants. There’s so much here! The website also a useful guide for churches, ministries and individuals who are walking alongside the displaced and are new to the legal intricacies of the refugee claimant process. “This is one of the best resources for refugee claimants that I always recommend.”
ESL Bible Studies Resource Library
If you’re teaching an ESL class and want to incorporate the Bible into your lessons OR if you’re planning an English Bible study for beginning English speakers, this fabulous collection of ESL Bible studies provided by SOCEM could be exactly what you need. Studies range from those for the very low level English speakers to advanced students. “I’ve bookmarked this site because I refer to it so often as I plan my classes!”
Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics
Written by Mark & Luke Glanville, Refuge Reimagined provides a theological framework for refugee ministry and political advocacy. By making the case for a kinship ethic that focuses on hospitality and neighbor love, this book calls the church into a deeper understanding of welcoming the stranger, as well as how that plays out in national & global politics. “This book has strongly influenced our ministry, and I would recommend it!”
Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier
What happens when misunderstandings arise in cross-cultural situations? Too often we misinterpret the experience and can inadvertently cause damage to burgeoning friendships. Foreign to Familiar is a practical guide to help you make sense of the many miscommunications that can come up with friendships between people of different cultural backgrounds, with helpful advice on how to navigate it successfully! “I used this the other night to help my sponsorship team talk about cross-cultural challenges we’re experiencing.”
