IAFR Update - November 2009

November 2009

Issue 3

The IAFR Report
International Association for Refugees

Greetings!

The IAFR Report is the e-newsletter of the International Association for Refugees, a non-profit ministry serving refugees with the aim of affirming dignity, inspiring hope, encouraging faith and improving the quality of their lives.

Tom Albinson, President

IAFR Speaks Up in Colombia

Tom Albinson speaking at the Ethne international missions conference in Colombia

IAFR president, Tom Albinson, spoke at Ethne 2009, an international missions conference in Bogota, Colombia, in November.

400 Christian leaders from 60 nationalities listened as Albinson shared about refugee realities in our world and highlighted the biblical mandate to include them within the scope of the mission of the church.

IAFR came away from the conference with new friendships in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Immigrant Church Challenges

Minnesota - Not Just For Lutherans Anymore

IAFR was recently put in touch with the leadership of one of the largest Ethiopian churches in the USA.

They are experiencing serious tensions between the first and second generations and hope that someone from an "American" church might be able to help them better understand their children and youth as they assimilate into US culture.

IAFR is looking for resources that might prove of help to this church. Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be much available.

Perhaps you can help?

If you know of any resources that might be helpful to immigrant churches facing such issues, we would like to hear from you!

Email IAFR: refmin@iafr.org

In This Issue

IAFR Speaks Up in Colombia

Immigrant Church Challenges

Where is IAFR at Work?

A Prayer for the Highway

Did You Know?

Approximately half of the refugees in the world are Muslim.

Source: Islamic Relief Worldwide

Perspective

Question: Who were the first forcibly displaced people in the world?

Answer: Adam and Eve.

The Bible says that God "banished" and "drove" them out of Eden after they had disobeyed him. These are not gentle verbs.

Indeed, we are all refugee sons and daughters born far from home.

Genesis 3:23-24

Donate to IAFR!

Your every donation makes a difference in the lives of refugees and forcibly displaced people in our world today.

Donate online at www.iafr.org or send a check payable to IAFR to:

IAFR
P.O. Box 47947
Minneapolis, MN 55447
USA

Where is IAFR at work?

IAFR is working together with churches around the world to bring hope to the Refugee Highway.

The points of a star help illustrate five core capacities that we are developing in order to accomplish our mission.

Countries of Resettlement. IAFR is activating churches to welcome and serve refugees in countries of resettlement.
Refugee Churches. IAFR is developing partnerships with refugee churches that result in mutual blessing.
Lonely Crossroads. IAFR is mobilizing the church to show up in the lives of refugees at the lonely crossroads of the Refugee Highway.
Crisis Response. IAFR is helping the church prepare and respond to refugee crises in the world.
Global Networking. IAFR is strengthening collaborative networks serving refugees.

There are many ways for volunteers to help out. We would like to hear from you if you are interested in getting involved in the global ministry of IAFR.

A Prayer for the Highway

We invite you to pray with us for Internally Displaced Refugees in Africa today.

"Father in heaven, we pray for the 12 million Internally Displaced People in Africa today - nearly 5 million of whom are forcibly displaced within Sudan.

We cannot imagine the loss, suffering, fear and exhaustion they are enduring. It is clear that there is no man made solution to be found for them. So we turn to you.

Please have mercy on them. Hear their cries and prayers. Be their shield and defender. Be their gracious provider. Be their strength. Be their healer and comforter.

May they know that you care for them and their loved ones.

Where there is a human cause behind their displacement, we pray that you would disarm those forcing others to flee. Remove their authority to harm others. Turn them upon themselves and scatter them.

You are gracious and just.

We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen."

You can learn more about internally displaced refugees in Africa by clicking here.

Thank you for caring. Thank you for praying. Thank you for helping IAFR walk alongside those traveling the Refugee Highway.

All for one,

Tom Albinson, President
International Association for Refugees