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2020 IAFR Conference

A view of some of the participants in the online version of the 2020 IAFR Conference – photo: Tim Barnes, IAFR

It wasn’t the context we wanted. Many of us were grieving that we were unable to meet in-person…we weren’t able to give a hug, take a walk, share a meal…the list goes on.

But we pulled it off. More than 40 of us from across the globe met a few hours each day this week. We listened to those who carry the story of forced displacement. Reports were given about what God is doing around the IAFR world. Meeting in breakout groups, we shared, listened and prayed. And through the presentations and bonus sessions, we became better “reflective practitioners”.

Here’s hoping that we can gather together next year. In the meantime, my friends and colleagues, show up each day to help people survive and recover from forced displacement and keep on being “rebels for the kingdom”.

What a great few days!

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Old Things in New Ways

Preparing to share Communion with our team at the 2019 IAFR Conference – photo by Tom Albinson, IAFR

Among other things in my schedule today was work on the IAFR Annual Staff Conference, scheduled for August. Yeah, it is happening…sort of.

With travel and social distancing restrictions and the lack of a Covid-19 vaccine, trying to bring a global team together physically is not possible. So keeping with most of our other meetings, we will be taking it to Zoom.

I have to admit, there is a grieving aspect in the midst of the planning. IAFR is a relational organization and we love being together. With that said, we are committed to bring the best of who we are to this virtual gathering. Doing an old thing in a new way.

If you have attended a virtual conference that you thought went well, tell me why in the comments. I am interested to hear some good ideas.

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Call to Action

Dzaleka Refugee Camp. photo credit – Jacob Tornga, IAFR

Tomorrow is World Refugee Day. Yesterday the new statistics came out and the news is not good.

The numbers continue to move upward, now sitting just under 80 million (79.5) people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to human causes. Add a global pandemic, the continuing environmental challenges, and countries adopting policies and tactics to close opportunities for those who are most vulnerable and in desperate need of help.

I am grateful to serve with an organization where every day we get up looking to bring hope and help to those who are struggling to survive and recover from their forced displacement. In light of World Refugee Day, IAFR President Tom Albinson, has published a call to action, especially to the faith community. You can find it here.

In the midst of our challenges and difficulties, let us not forget those traveling the refugee highway.

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A Lot Has Happened…

photo credit – Cyrus Gomez, Unsplash.com

Yes, indeed. A lot has happened since my last post.

The Covid-19 lockdown extended. We have moved from late effects of winter, into spring, and now just days from summer. And we (IAFR) have been wrestling with how we continue to do relational refugee ministry in the midst of a global pandemic. More to come.

IAFR has a new website (Be sure to check it out at www.iafr.org). Changes required this blog to move and update, which has taken time to import, export, etc. But it is finally here.

And in the midst of that we, our country, our communities, our churches, and the world have been confronted once again with the issue of systemic racism that is embedded in all these…and dare I say, in each of us as well.

Yes, a lot has happened.

And there is more to come.

But we press forward listening, learning, caring , cooperating, and loving.

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Hope

Meeting at Cedarstone Partners – photo credit: Tim Barnes- IAFR

As a smaller mission, we use an outside organization, Cedarstone Partners, to take care of our financial and accounting needs. They have been a great partner over the past 5 years, making it possible for IAFR to grow in scope and impact.

One of their Managing Directors, Lisa reached out to us this week to see how we were doing and how they might help in this turbulent time. So I took the time to give her a snapshot of what we were up to and how we were operating in this time of “Sheltering at Home”.

In my reply, I used this line; “So, though stuck in place, we continue to do our best to take kingdom action as God provides and opens the door.” Her reply to me; “This line is hope.”

As we are bombarded with bad news and overwhelming circumstances, hope feels in short supply. But as I was recently reminded by a refugee pastor friend, “God will be God in all circumstances.” May this bring hope to you as it has in the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters who are displaced around the globe.

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Week 3

I am on my third week of working from home due to our state’s Shelter at Home mandate due to Covid-19. There is both good and bad to this.

The Good – I really do like my home office. As I already work remotely from the IAFR main office located in Minneapolis, my home office is where I started more than 5 1/2 years ago. With windows on two sides, I love the light that streams in on these spring days.

My wife has moved her business into our basement and she and my daughter are keeping very busy, doing their best to keep it sustainable in this challenging time. But we do run into each other regularly, as we navigate up and down the stairs. Being on this journey together, makes it seem more doable.

The Bad – Everything has changed. Yesterday I had to write a difficult letter to one of our partners in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp, informing them of an indefinite delay on a project that we are working on together. Canceled travel, concerns about future resources, challenges of individual’s commitment and attention to the project while dealing with the pandemic, and also the potential impact of Covid-19 on the refugee contexts in which work…all this has led to this delay.

These realities are true, not just in Dzaleka, but in many of the places where IAFR is present. As an organization that values relationship, showing up where the displaced find themselves, and looking to bring hope in difficult situations, we are now wrestling with what does our work look like at the moment.

And yet, with challenge comes opportunity. Working together with our refugee friends and churches in the Kakuma Refugee Camp, a plan, resources, and materials came together in a short amount of time, for these churches in the camp to become soap/water distribution sites. One small way to help fight against the Covid-19 potential. And we are looking at other similar opportunities.

So each day, my IAFR colleagues and I get up and despite our current reality, look for the chance to bring hope and tangible actions to those whom are most vulnerable.

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Moving forward in 2020

2020 is in full swing…and it is ramping up to be an exciting and challenging year for IAFR. Challenging because the number of places and conflicts that produce forcibly displaced people continue to rise. Exciting because of the people, churches, and resources that God seems to be sending our way, allowing us to step into these situations.

Refugee situations in Asia have come our way, and for the first time it feels like we are being pulled to respond. In times past, we have not had the bandwidth to do so. Currently, we are considering situations in Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Some of us are planning to show up in one or more of these locations this spring.

2020 is also a year where continued work on our organizational infrastructure will be a focus. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it.

Actually, this infrastructure facilitates our IAFR community to be more effective in serving, funding, and showing up in the places that God opens up for us. I am grateful for my operations/admin team that is willing to jump into this area with me.

So we are hanging on, moving forward each day, and faithfully showing up where we are needed.

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Visiting

One of the favorite parts of my role is visiting our IAFR locations, scattered around the world and here in the U.S. During the visits, I am able to bring a listening ear, an encouraging word, good questions, and possibly some strategic thought.

Shanna, Northern Colorado Ministry leader (left) and Sarah, US Regional Director (right) in the IAFR office in Fort Morgan, Colorado.

Recently I was able to visit our location in the Northern Colorado, where Shanna, our NCO ministry leader, works with refugees from around the globe.  Drawn to this rural community for the agricultural job opportunities, like working in a meat packing plant, the challenges are many as our resettled friends adjust to their new country.

After serving three years in this location, I am excited that Shanna and her family have committed for another 2 years.  There are plenty of opportunities and a need for teammates to join this effort to help people survive and recover from their forced displacement…and the need to call the church into this space as well.

Today, I am off to Athens, Greece to visit with our newest partners.  Stay tuned.

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A Roof is on the Way

It wasn’t that long ago, that I received a message from one of our pastor friends at a church in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp.  God is moving in this refugee church and they have outgrown the space in which they are meeting.  As you can see from the picture, the members decided to meet out in the open rather than turn people away. 

Members at one of the refugee churches meeting outside.

Now a few weeks later and in partnership with IAFR, a roof is taking shape over a new space, which will provide protection from the searing sun or the coming rains.  I plan to visit this church in the fall and can hardly wait to worship with them.  We love partnering with refugee churches.

A roof going up over the refuge church

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Prayer for the Day

IAFR staff praying together at a training. photo credit – Tim Barnes, IAFR

In the times we are living, this small prayer stood out to me from my morning prayers…

O God, save us from ourselves,

from double standards

and divided hearts,

and give us light and life ,

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

From the Daily Prayer – Church of England