By Father Matt Woodley, Interim Cathedral Dean
In many places throughout Scripture, God reveals his heart for the sojourner and the oppressed (such as Ex. 22:21-23, Mark 12:28-31, Matt. 25:35, Heb. 13:2). He calls his people to love the poor and marginalized and to live out the gospel mandate to love our neighbors.
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.“ -Lev. 19:34
“The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless…” -Psalm 146:9
In response to this call, Resurrection has partnered with World Relief for more than 25 years to provide friendship and services to refugee and immigrant families. Several members of Resurrection work for World Relief, volunteer to welcome and support newly arrived refugee families, and give generously to this work.
International law defines a refugee as someone who leaves their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for one of these five reasons: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
On January 24, World Relief and other refugee resettlement agencies around the nation received a “stop-work order” by the federal government. “As part of the order, the federal government cut all funding to the program, which helps refugees settle in the Chicago area,” according to this article and video from NBC Chicago.*
Barb Galli, a Rez member and the Senior Employment Specialist for World Relief Dupage, said:
“Here in our local offices we are heartbroken about this order — we work intensively with our newly arrived refugees, including persecuted Christians and others from minority religions persecuted for their faith, particularly in the first few months after they arrive, to help them adjust to life in the US, and become self-sufficient. This stop-work order creates a challenge. We will continue to do as much as we can as we scramble to supply housing, basic needs, and vital support services for the 119 individuals that arrived this month without the promised financial support from the federal government.”
World Relief is calling on the Church to respond to the current crisis by donating and volunteering to help.
Here’s How You Can Help:
Sign a Christian Statement on Refugee Resettlement in support of the refugee resettlement program
Volunteer with World Relief (Be a Friendship Partner, Transportation Assistant, or Join a Good Neighbor Team)
>>Come to the volunteer training at Resurrection on Monday, February 24, 6:30-8:30pm. Learn more here.
News Articles & Videos:
NBC Chicago Article and Video Interview at the World Relief office, “Chicago Refugee Resettlement Organization Receives Stop Work Order from Federal Government,” January 27, 2025
CNN Article, “Advocate Groups Ordered to Stop Aiding Refugees Who Have Already Arrived in U.S.,” January 24, 2025