Tag: IAFR

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Planning and Preparing

photo credit: Tim Barnes – IAFR

Today was one of those days that focused mostly on planning and preparing.  A couple of major events are on the horizon which require work ahead of time.  In just a couple of weeks, the Board of IAFR will be meeting in Minneapolis for our annual face to face.  We normally meet each month by video conference call, but we always look forward to our time together in person…sharing meals, hearing how God has been moving through IAFR, spending time praying over the needs and people of IAFR, and looking ahead to how God might be moving in the future. The weekend together is always a rich time of community and encouragement.  But….it requires preparation, which will be the focus of the next few days.

Also coming up is my next trip to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi.  I will be traveling with our East Africa ministry leader, Jake Tornga.  We will be sharing more as the trip gets closer, but today was buying plane tickets and putting information together for the Malawian visa application.  There is a lot of pre-work but it is always worth it.  

And finally, we are adding another teammate to our IAFR US Service team.  April will be joining us in a couple of weeks to assist the Executive Team, so today also included preparing for her arrival.  We are very excited and know that she will have a positive impact.

So my desk reflects a lot of moving parts happening in IAFR.  Glad you all are along for the ride!!

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Post Conference

IAFR Staff 2018 – photo credit: Tom Albinson – IAFR

So much of my time these past few weeks has been in preparation for the 2018 IAFR Conference, the annual gathering of our global staff.  Despite a hiccup or two, the week went well.  Conversations, worship and devotional teaching, training and discussion sessions, times of prayer, plus fun activities led to a week of refreshment, challenge, and encouragement.  Our growing team was represented by people from the U.S., Canada, Iraq, Philippines, Somalia, Scotland, and South Africa.  What an exciting, diverse team.  

The challenges remain large but I believe we left encouraged and ready to press on.  Now back to the daily grind of living the Kingdom of God among those who have been displaced.

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Soul

Laughter even in challenging places – photo credit: IAFR

In his book called Soul Keeping, John Ortberg writes, “ In the book of Exodus, God says to his people, ‘You shall not a oppress a stranger; you know the soul of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.’ “  He goes on to write, “Everybody has a soul.  We demean people when we forget they have the depth and dignity of a soul.”

Powerful words for a divisive and rhetoric filled world.  I believe that it is easy to demean and vilify when we see people as “other” than us…when we forget they have a soul like us.  Part of our role at IAFR is to help re-humanize those who have been forcibly displaced, to help people see the “soul” of the individuals.  May we see people as God sees them!

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What Day Is It?

What a whirlwind of a week.  After arriving home last Sunday from our meetings in Geneva, I was anticipating a day of rest and recovery.  Instead, I woke up the next morning with a congested chest, a fever, and a foggy head.  There may have been some jet lag in there as well.  And that was most of my week.  Not really knowing what day it was.  

In the middle of it all,  I knew I was scheduled to speak 3 times in the upcoming weekend.  So, I worked hard to get better, prepare to speak, and try not to give my illness to the rest of the family.   I made it through the weekend with a very scratchy and funny sounding voice….and am thankful that we had some great services at Richwoods Christian Church in Peoria Saturday and Sunday.  My topic was what I have learned about Hope from working with Refugees.  It also provided an opportunity to share the work of IAFR.

My wife and I are off to Milwaukee later this morning, where we will be sharing with a house group this evening.  We are looking forward to it.  By the way, it’s Monday, right?

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Complete

The UNHCR NGO Consultation is complete.  The time was challenging, stimulating, and informative.  To see more than 600 people representing 350 organizations focused on the refugee crisis was so encouraging.  One of the highlights was participating in a workshop/discussion on Faith Sensitivity in the Humanitarian Space.  There is a recognition that faith plays a significant part in helping refugees survive and recover from their displacement.  And we must help those working, in what is often seen as a secular space, to understand the important role faith plays.

I come away from this gathering with a strong sense that IAFR is positioned well to make a significant impact, both in word and action, in the continuing refugee situation.  With that in mind, Tom and I are spending focused time today in Geneva, working on sharpening the vision of IAFR and looking ahead.  Not a bad place to be working.

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Wheaton, Illinois

Brad Rosengren – Cedarstone Partners, Jacob Tornga – IAFR. photo credit: Tim Barnes – IAFR

Yesterday, Jake Tornga (IAFR  – Director of Project Management/East Africa Regional Leader) and I spent the day in Wheaton, Illinois.  We have several key partners in Wheaton.   One of them is Cedarstone Partners, who provide all the financial services for IAFR.  They have played a significant part in the positive growth and development of our organization.  Brad Rosengren, our point person, does an incredible job keeping us on track.  Jake and I spent a few hours with Brad, learning more about some of our systems.

Another key partner is Tyndale House Foundation (THF).  Their generosity has provided resources for several key IAFR projects and general ministry needs.  THF has also been a source of connection to other organizations and services which are able to benefit IAFR.  We had a very encouraging meeting with a representative from THF, both to report on the work of IAFR and to share our gratitude.

As I headed home, Jake remained in Wheaton to participate in the Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) conference taking place this week.  HDI is another partner with whom we have worked in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.  Our own Jean Pierre Gatera, former refugee pastor/church leader in Kakuma and now a member of the IAFR team, is also presenting at the conference.

It was a good and fulfilling day.

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World Refugee Day

The updated Refugee Highway Map – IAFR

World Refugee Day is a day set aside to remember the millions of people around the world who have been displaced due to persecution, war and conflict, and violence.  Despite the negative rhetoric coming from governments and politicians, these women, men, and children have demonstrated incredible courage and resilience in some of the most horrific circumstances.  They deserve our attention and our action, however small it may seem.

If you are interested in learning more about the current state of displacement, you can check out the latest Global Trends Report which is being released today as part of  World Refugee Day.  You can find it here.  You can also find many resources from IAFR here.

May God give us wisdom and courage to step into a very difficult issue.

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68.5 Million

Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi – photo credit: Tom Albinson – IAFR

The new displacement statistics came out this week.  68.5 million.  That is the number of people who are forcibly displaced globally due to “persecution, conflict, or generalized violence” (UNHCR Global Trends – Forced Displacement in 2017, p. 2).  This is an increase from 2016 and again, a record-setting high number.

We have been told that most people cannot comprehend that number of people.  The number is so large, that it is too difficult to get a sense of it’s impact.  Maybe it’s like looking at a large forest and not really seeing the individual trees. 

But those 68.5 million are individuals…moms, dads, brothers, sisters….some young (52% are under the age of 18), some old…some come in families, some come alone.  Many more children are fleeing on their own.  Most come running for their lives and the lives they love.

But one thing…they all come as Human Beings.  Just like you and me.  And we Must Do Better in how we respond as individuals, as families, as churches, and as countries.

By the way, tomorrow (June 20 – World Refugee Day) I will post a link to the UNHCR Global Trends if you want to get a sense of the whole picture of forced displacement.

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Travel Day

Today is a travel day.  Tom Albinson and I are headed to Toronto for the next couple of days to meet with our colleagues at IAFR Canada.  We, together with the leadership of IAFR Canada form the IAFR International Roundtable, which meets in person twice a year and monthly by video call.  

The next two days will be spent in prayer, reporting, planning, and working on those things that help IAFR better carry out our mission.  Prayers appreciated.

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Monday Meetings

3030 Coffee shop, Peoria, IL – photo credit: Tim Barnes – IAFR

Mondays usually mean meetings.  But I had two additional meetings today, one planned and one unexpected, at one of my favorite local coffee shops.

The first meeting, which was scheduled, was with a journalist from a local community paper.  She is very interested in the work that I and the rest of my colleagues do with IAFR and has a huge heart for the refugee crisis.  Her desire is that more people would learn about what is going on.  We are looking at the possibility of a series of articles and stories.  Stay tuned.  More to come.

At the same time, I unexpectedly ran into a friend who recently booked me to speak at his church this summer.  We have a long history of friendship, and it was great to catch up and discuss a little about my upcoming talk.

Can I also just add, that I am excited about the opportunities that I have been given to speak about my work with IAFR, both in and outside of Peoria.  If you are interested where I will be speaking or traveling the summer, you can check it out on the tab labeled “Where I Will Be”.