Darkness to Light: When a Family Beholds the Face of Jesus

Serving at VOR is like an adventure where, with each newly arrived family, one gets to discover the fingerprints of God who sees each family member and is continually at work to woo them home to Him. In the story below, all names have been changed for security reasons. 

In early January 2025, right before the recent ban on refugee admission and resettlement, a new Afghan family arrived in Anaheim and was referred to VOR for English classes. Lacking a car, this family needed rides to join in person, and God provided! The story, situation, and needs appeared quite familiar, until we came to know one of the three children: 20-year-old Aisha. Dragged to ESL class by her parents, Aisha hung back from the crowd, sat in the shadows, and smoked a cigarette. VOR staff Sheida, who speaks Farsi and is herself a mother of a young adult son, reached out. Aisha was surprised by this stranger who, unfazed by her cigarette smoke and defiant behavior, saw her and drew near to sit by her side. Minutes later, she started confiding about the pain, darkness, and sense of death that overwhelmed her very being. “Everything feels….black.” described Aisha. From there, Sheida took the opportunity to share her testimony and about Jesus Christ, her redeemer, life, and hope. “This hope, in Christ, is for you, too. All the darkness you’re experiencing will fade in God’s light.”

The next ESL class, Aisha came to the office, looking for Sheida. “I want to talk to you.” she said, softly and with urgency. “What you have, I want to experience for myself. I want to come to church and know Jesus more, but I’m worried about my family finding out. Please, will you pray for me?” Gladly, those present in the office came around to entrust this young woman, with her pain and her plea, to the Lord.

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Meanwhile, her father Amin and mother Asal are quickly settling into the VOR community. Amin, in particular, brings fresh energy to the classroom, being congenial, thoughtful, and always ready to share. He opens up about the sadness and worry he feels for Aisha. Aware of his limitations as a parent, he pleads with staff to talk to his daughter. “She lies in her bed like a corpse. No hope, no joy. Please help her!”

Neither parents appear resistant to discussing the gospel, but rather, observant and curious. Both in the classroom and on rides home, themes about salvation and faith have woven naturally into conversations with volunteers and staff. For example, in the car one day, Asal brought up how her middle child, 12-year-old Armon, saw a movie about Jesus. The movie was 2.5 hours long but he became so hooked on it that he wanted to watch until the end. Unfortunately, it was a school night so he had to go to bed. Since then, Armon has been curious about the Cross. Plus, it just happened to be Easter holiday at school. Asal wondered aloud about a story presentation about Jesus that she had heard while in Iran. Amin responded saying how there were likely to be discrepancies in the “Muslim version” and now they have a chance to hear the original version for themselves. From there, the family was led into a focused sharing about the meaning of the Cross and what God did, in His perfect love, to reconcile each of us to Him.

Let’s remember this family in our prayers and seek wisdom to see what God wants to do!

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For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

From Wary Newcomers to Persons of Peace – Part 3

Part 3 of 3 – A Father’s Love

In our November and December newsletters, we followed the story of transformation for two Muslim families through the prayerful, steadfast service of VOR volunteers who taught English at their home – week after week – for over a year. After a fruitful time of receiving lively updates from our volunteers about faith conversations and fun outings, we learned that this partnership was drawing to a close. God had new seasons, new directions, new plans in store – for everyone. One volunteer faced job challenges in the family. Another was about to serve overseas. The two Muslim families themselves were no longer on good terms. And the family who initially requested service was moving to a new community! Is this story (at least the chapter involving VOR) coming to a close?

Then, one day, we received three new registrations for our on-site ESL classes. They all lived at the same apartment building not far from VOR. Guess who one of them was! What happened: after the move, this family who had earlier kept a distance from VOR, is now actively inviting their neighbors (including the one featured in the November story) to come and experience this surprising community of Jesus followers— a motley crew of ordinary people committed to helping them thrive…because their Father in heaven first lavished His love recklessly on them while they were sinners. These wary newcomers have, in God’s time, become persons of peace to invite others into a space where the love and truth of Christ are daily shared.

And God’s story continues. Will you pray with us?

Father God, author of our faith and all of our days, would you finish what You began in these two beloved families and their neighbors? Saturate their lives with Your love, through each learning moment at ESL, patient explanation by tutors working with their children, and sincere friendship growing day by day via rides and hospitality. Only Your love can heal all the wounds and despair. Only Your truth can set each family free. Only Your light can shatter the darkness. May Your glory be magnified. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

From Wary Newcomers to Persons of Peace – Part 2

Part 2 of 3 – Breaking Chains with ABC

In our November newsletter, we shared about a divine encounter at the VOR office one “ordinary” day: a Muslim man publicly opened up questions and anguish in his heart about who God is.

For the VOR team, the journey began at least one year ago, with a different Muslim family of 6 who had received furniture from VOR but wouldn’t connect further; never did they join our community events, rarely did the father respond to messages.

One surprising day, VOR staff S received a message from the father: a request for tutoring assistance, not for the four children (who are sent to private Islamic school in place of public school), but for the wife Amina. Isolated daily from American society, unable to read even in her native language, with zero English, Amina passed her days at home, cleaning, cooking, and caring for the kids. 

BUT God, who makes all things beautiful in His time, sent not one, but two volunteers who were open to try a new way to serve: to provide in-home English tutoring for Amina. What was special about this partnership was the way God’s sacrificial love shone so quietly, patiently – week after week, for over a year. Amina’s neighbor soon joined as well. The volunteers respected the boundaries of these families, yet remained deeply prayerful as a team, loving in action, always ready to give the reason for the hope they have in Jesus Christ.

Then, we realized that the chains – tight and unyielding – had given way. And the opening of this door, led to many more doors being opened among this family’s neighbors…

To be continued.

From Wary Newcomers to Persons of Peace

Part 1 of 3 – A Glimpse of Eternity

The VOR office is a place where God’s glory can be seen daily, and  today is no exception. In Dari, a man sits wondering aloud, “What is God like? Who is God? Is He energy, is He light, what is He like? I have all these questions, and I keep asking God these questions. What can help me when I have anxiety, doubts, and fears? What do I do?” 

These questions aren’t new to VOR staff and volunteers. But to hear them uttered aloud, in a public setting, by a Muslim man, everyone in the room paused in our tasks and began silently praying for the Holy Spirit to open this man’s heart to His light.

VOR staff S, who was conversing with this Afghan man while his wife try out VOR’s Beginner English class, gently pulled out a Farsi Bible, opened to Psalm 37, and invited him to read. And he did– aloud. S shared afterwards, “At that moment, I just felt this psalm was a great example of how humans can talk to God and of God’s heart for people.” What if God himself told us what He is like? They continued reading passages from John 14, Matthew 15, Genesis 3. But it was not just the reading of Scripture that caught our attention, but the way this man engaged the word of God wholeheartedly. Others in the room observed, “Something in his voice made me want to cry.” “It feels like….he already believed.”

But first, rewind. We know that God’s love pursuit of this family began from before the foundation of the earth. For the VOR team, the journey began at least one year ago, with a different Muslim family of 6 who had received furniture from VOR but would not come any closer to this Christian organization.

To be continued.

When God Opens Doors: A Mother-Daughter Story

“Will you pray for my daughter? In Jesus’ name?” At the end of her rope, Karima pled on behalf of her adult daughter, Lamar. It’s been a long afternoon, first at an appointment at the regional job center and then knocking on doors around several shopping plazas. It felt discouraging even for Rita, the VOR volunteer, who had patiently walked Lamar through dense paperwork for an hour, only to be told there were no positions available for Lamar. None of the local businesses were willing to take Lamar, either. She doesn’t have a high school diploma, being denied education rights while waiting for almost 10 years in (unnamed country) before being accepted into the U.S. She doesn’t have much English. Employers were not going to take the risk. Back in the car and about to call it a day, the three women sat, exhausted and in unspoken despair. That was when Karima broke the silence. “Will you pray for Lamar – my daughter?”

Rita felt surprised. After all, Lamar and Karima were Muslim. Especially Karima, who always wore a hijab at VOR where she attended English classes. Yes, she had once heard them make rueful remarks about how women are treated in Islam, but she was not expecting a direct request for prayer in Jesus’ name. By faith, Rita entrusted the needs of this new Afghan family to the Lord’s hands….

Three weeks later: 

Volunteer Rita stepped out of the car in front of the hotel entrance. Much has happened since that divine moment of prayer inside the car. Today,  Lamar has an interview for a housekeeping job at an international hotel chain. Thanks to partnerships at Voice of Refugees, and the assistance of two volunteers who served as job mentor and digital literacy coach, Lamar finally has a chance to be considered for a position. Karima asked to come along; next to a cherry blossom tree, she snapped a picture of her smartly dressed daughter – a proud family moment. When Lamar sat down with the hiring manager, Karima and Rita trailed behind and waited in the far end of the lobby. Suddenly, Karima started hearing her heart language – Farsi. Now it was Karima’s turn to feel surprised! Since coming to America, she’s gotten used to helplessly floating in a sea of English that she doesn’t understand. Now, why is Farsi being heard – of all places – at her daughter’s job interview?

Everything became clear as Lamar walked over, followed by the hiring manager. His name was Fadi. He came from Iran and spoke Farsi. He understood the plight of refugees, the background of Afghans, and was more than happy to welcome Lamar to the team. This time, back in the car, the three women praised God for paving the way and answering our prayers! They even decided to grab a light lunch on the way home to celebrate this happy day!

Three months later: 

Lamar – and also Karima! – continue to work at the hotel. Mr Fadi continues to be kind to the family. Housekeeping work is laborious and difficult, but Lamar stays resilient, remembering the many breakthroughs made possible when they humbly prayed in Jesus’ name. Volunteer Rita still checks in regularly, awaiting God’s redemption story for Karima and Lamar’s family to unfold, one ride at a time, one prayer at a time.

To be continued!

Heba from Lebanon: God’s overflowing love

Heba is from Lebanon. She arrived in America a few years ago with her adult son. She came for a time to pick up emergency food and, after a while, she stopped coming. About three weeks ago, she reconnected with VOR and asked specifically for the phone number of VOR’s Food Program Coordinator Rania because she wanted to talk. So Rania called her. Heba shared that she wanted to come and attend English classes. So she registered and started the next week. From the beginning, Heba was friendly and happy to connect with everyone, contributing a gracious presence to the community. At first, we thought Heba was a Christian from the way she spoke and dressed. One day, Rania happened to be driving Heba home so they had a chance to talk to each other on the way. So Rania ask, “Are you a Christian or a Muslim?” Heba said, “I am a Muslim, and also a Druze, but I love Christians and among my friends in Lebanon, there are Christians. We go on trips together and I used to go to church with them.“

Rania shared, “Seeing how Heba is open-minded and loves to learn about all religions, we talked about her family and my family. I asked if I could visit her one day. From that time onwards, Heba came to class every day. She loved helping out and asked if she could be a volunteer. I invited her to come on Thursday to help with food distribution, offering to pick her up because she didn’t have a car. Last Wednesday, God opened the door for me to visit her, as promised. Her adult son was there, too, working from home. It was a relaxed opportunity for us to share our stories with each other. Heba told me about her family, and I shared with her my journey and how the Lord Jesus changed my life. I spoke to her about the Lord Jesus, and I conveyed to her the message of salvation and love, prayed for her and for the house, and I gave her the Bible. Heba expressed how happy she was about my visit and continues coming to VOR every Thursday to help distributing food.”

To be continued!

Amira from Yemen: From Animosity to Advocacy

When Amira first visited VOR, she felt cold and dismissive toward Christians. After all, she once taught the Quran to children at her local mosque. “What could followers of Jesus bring to the table when it comes to knowing God?” Her animosity sparked some tension among the VOR community and even conflict with one of the staff. As Amira continued to attend ESL at VOR, she began to share more about her life: feelings of isolation at home and anxiety about the long overdue asylum decision. Still, Amira kept a cautious distance from everyone with a hardened heart.

Then, one very hot summer day, Amira asked a VOR staff member Viola to bring her home. Viola replied, “Yes, of course.” During the ride, she asked hesitantly if she could be dropped at the school near her home. Again, Viola replied, “Yes.” Feeling incredulous, Amira said, “You’re willing to be here for me while I wait to pick up my daughter?” In the same way, Viola said, “Sure.”

After that day, there was a noticeable change in Amira’s demeanor. Everyone at VOR felt the transformation. Amira began to develop trust and became a regular at VOR. From there, Viola continued journeying with her. In particular, she helped Amira apply successfully to a training program in early childhood education. After 6 years of focused effort, Amira started her work at a school. She loves attending our community events and brings her daughter along. Once, she even asked if she could sing the song __________ (need Viola to fill in).

Last week, again in Viola’s car on the way to an appointment, Amira reflected on something that happened recently.

“I posted about VOR on my Facebook page. I wanted to express my gratitude. My life started with VOR. VOR helped me with driving, with jobs, and everything I need.” In response, her friend posted a public comment about Islam and Christianity. And Amira found herself actually speaking up for Christians! “I wrote back, encouraging my friend to trust Christians more. If you want to start your life here in America, start with VOR and followers of Jesus.” How amazing it is to witness Amira’s change in attitude, from animosity to advocacy! It’s humbling to see how God can use our everyday choices to be kind and generous to show Christ’s love and soften a hardened heart.

And the story continues…

Abdul from Afghanistan: Word in Progress!

We met Abdul’s family through a referral by our Afghan friends living in the same apartment community. A gentle soul, Abdul is a father of three sons and husband to Najiba, who has cancer. Thanks to rides provided by the VOR network (click here to join our ESL bridging fleet), Abdul attends our ESL program diligently, with his quiet, appreciative spirit. One day, being the first person to arrive in the classroom, he noticed a copy of the Bible on the teacher’s desk. He picked it up and leafed through the pages.

When the teacher saw this, she asked, “Would you like a Bible in Farsi?”  He nodded, “Yes.”

Thanks to God’s abundant provision through our partners, there was a copy available at the VOR office! So that very day, Abdul started reading God’s Word for himself. He would read before class and during the break, when everyone else went down for coffee, tea, and community. When it came time to go home, he carefully placed the Bible back on the teacher’s desk. And this has continued for a few weeks now…will you pray with us for Abdul and his search for truth?

“Dear Lord, You are the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through you. You promise that those who seek, shall find. You have pursued Abdul in Your love and seen his family in their pain. We pray in Jesus’ name for your living Word to be planted on good soil in Abdul’s heart. Surround the family with Your compassionate servants to journey faithfully with the family. Move the family to call on Your name and know your grace and mercy in their lives. Have mercy on Najiba as she receives chemotherapy, strengthen her in Your hope, day by day. Comfort the three sons who are new to this country and worried for their mother and about the future. May Your name be praised in this household, as Your light swallows up the darkness and death hovering over the family and as You lead them in Your way of peace.”

Press Release: Loving Our Neighbors Volunteer Rally

For Immediate Release
Voice of Refugees (Anaheim, CA)
Contact Email: vor@vorservices.org

On March 8th, 2024, three Orange County non-profits that serve refugees via different approaches gathered together for a much-needed conversation. With over 40 local church representatives and engaged volunteers attending, the half-day event “Loving Our Neighbors” kicked off with a time of quiet reflection and worship.

Attendees were invited to walk down the hall and read the words of actual refugees in our midst. Before delving into numbers and statistics, everyone was reminded that each refugee is a fellow human being— with names, faces, stories, and family— created in the image of God.

Each organization then took turns to introduce their mission and programs.

Home For Refugees USA was founded in 2016 by Minda Schweizer, who was serving campus ministry when the refugee crisis caught her heart. Without any background in refugee work, Minda stepped out by faith and in obedience into God’s adventure to embrace and equip refugees arriving in America. Today, HFRUSA has trained and coached over 165 “Home Teams”  to help newly arrived refugees to navigate their first year in the U.S. It is also one of the Private Sponsor Organizations collaborating with Welcome Corps, is a U.S. government community service program that launched in 2023 and allows everyday Americans to privately sponsor refugees from around the world.

World Relief is a global humanitarian organization launched after World War II. The Garden Grove office has operated since the 1970s to helped displaced families from Vietnam. Like HFR, World Relief supplements the work of resettlement agencies, by offering support that goes beyond the short 90 days of formal Reception & Placement case management. SoCal World Relief provides immigration legal services and programs for youth and children. In recent years, SoCal WR’s Church & Community Engagement Director Jose Serrano has provided leadership for a network named Good Neighbor Team Task Force that convenes monthly connections among diverse stakeholders that assist refugees in Orange County.

Voice of Refugees began serving refugee families from Syria and Iraq, back in 2009. Moved by the plight of fellow Arabs fleeing war, three friends in Christ— who were themselves refugees and immigrants from Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine— launched a furniture distribution program out of a home garage. Today, VOR welcomes new families weekly through word of mouth and partner referrals. In particular, positions volunteers to journey with families via services such as ESL, food and furniture, driving training, job mentoring, tutoring, and community events. The relational emphasis fosters opportunities to point refugees toward the light of God’s Word and true refuge in Jesus’ love.

Next, a lively panel discussion commenced with representatives from all three organizations. All attendees were invited to consider the facts vs. myths regarding displaced people, to learn about the multiple ways to help, and to share questions for the panelists.

Selected Highlights:

• While there are over 110 million people displaced worldwide, fewer than 1% of them are formally resettled.

• Both refugees and asylum seekers are subjected to the same rigorous screening by six different government departments before they are approved for the pathway to residency in the United States.

• Asylum seekers are similar to refugees in that they flee the same atrocities and seek the same protection, but they lack access to most governmental benefits. After 6 months of filing for asylum, individuals receive authorization to work as they continue the waiting process, sometimes taking 5+ years.

• It takes a village to help a refugee family, but it is worthwhile as we strive, as followers of Jesus, to love and honor each person created in God’s own image.

Selected Questions:

• In what ways can we engage and mobilize the youth and next generation to help refugees?

• How can I encourage my church community to care about refugee families resettling right in our neighborhoods?

• What are the steps for onboarding and training before serving refugee families in various roles?

• I give rides to an Afghan family that is so sweet yet barely speaks English, nor do family members appear to be connected to job opportunities. How are they able to afford the expensive rent in the long term?

• Where do we go from being heartbroken to playing our God-given roles to help?

Next Steps:

• Home For Refugees offers regular information sessions for churches interested in forming a Home Team: https://www.homeforrefugeesusa.org/volunteer

• World Relief offers immigration legal services for displaced individuals and a rich repository of resources about the refugee crisis: https://worldrelief.thinkific.com/courses/welcoming-the-stranger-individual-socal

• Voice of Refugees offers year-round opportunities to serve one-time, weekly/monthly, or 1-on-1 with refugees: https://linktr.ee/vorservices

Specific to serving Muslim families:

Bridges, offered by a certified instructor from the Crescent Project, is a 6-week training that closes gaps in your understanding of Muslims, and learn how to respectfully connect. It will involve presentations, Q&A, and hands-on journeying with Muslims through a final week event. VOR hosts this training in person, for a more interactive and focused experience and lasting outcomes. The next session will kick off in April 2024! To express interest, click here. 

Epilogue:

Loving Our Neighbors Volunteer Rally succeeded in bringing together organizations, churches, and community members concerned about the refugee crisis and ready to take the next step. We caught a beautiful glimpse of God’s bigger picture in which He prepares and positions His children in all kinds of roles: whether it is to welcome, to educate and advocate, or to journey deeply into the heart, in order to show His love to all people who are displaced from home and far from Him. Through this tapestry of gifts, we see how God never lets us go, no matter how far we think we have drifted, no matter how much we feel abandoned. Jesus our Lord calls us to join Him in His long-suffering love for every child, every woman, every man, every one created in His own image. But this event is just a beginning, as each attendee now must consider: Will I now return to my busy life, unchanged, or will I take on a new way of living: of seeing the least of the brothers and sisters of Christ, and loving them in action?

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:37-40

Layan from Syria: From tears to eternal refuge

Today’s sharing is contributed by VOR staff R, about how the Holy Spirit worked in the heart of a single young woman, Layan.

“Blessed be the name of the Lord. Layan, a 24-year-old Muslim girl from Syria, whom I have known for about 4 years, used to come to VOR, and it has been four years since she has not come. Three weeks ago, God arranged for me to meet her again at the January Women’s Breakfast. A week later, Sister B invited all the women to her house, and I was there. Sister B shared her testimony and in the end, she asked all the women if anyone had a prayer request.

The girl and I were standing in the kitchen. I asked her, “Do you need us to pray for you about anything?” I felt that she wanted someone to pray with her, but she was ashamed. She said to me, “It’s all about work and marriage.”

I took her to Sister B and we started praying for her. She started crying, and after we finished she went to the kitchen, crying. We went home in the evening at 10:30pm. Layan sent me a voice message: “When you prayed for me, I started crying a lot and felt a sense of peace. I kept crying on the way home and at home as well and I felt like I was praying. I’ve had trouble sleeping for a long time, but that night, I slept comfortably and I heard someone’s voice telling me, “Don’t worry, sleep and rest.” Since then, I have been at peace and continued to sleep well. Even my treatment of my family has changed, and they felt this and said to me, “You have changed.”

Layan asked me: “Is it because of this thing that I am doing or the prayer that I prayed when I felt comfortable and at peace while I cried a lot? Did I do something wrong and God will hold me accountable for it?” 

I told her, “It is certainly not a mistake, and the Lord will not hold you accountable for it. On the contrary, God wants us to go to Him, ask, pray, and place our worries, anxieties, and fears with Him, and He will comfort us.” He said, “Come to me, all you who are tired and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

She said to me, “Thank you very much. You comforted me with your words.” She began reaching out to me every day for two weeks, and we kept in touch.

Yesterday after we visited another Arab lady, I talked to Layan and met with her. I picked her up from home and we went to a coffee shop. I shared my testimony with her and spoke to her about the Lord’s love. She received the message of love and salvation and how the Lord changed my life and my heart, comforted me, compensated me, and guaranteed me eternal life when I went to him and surrendered my life and my heart to him. I spoke to her about the Lord Jesus and about salvation and redemption.

Finally, I told her, “God loves you and wants to comfort you, change your heart and life, and guarantee you eternal life. Do you accept Him by faith and believe in what He did for me and for you, that He should come and die in your place and in my place, so that He might give you salvation and forgiveness of sins?”

She told me, “Yes.”

I told her, “Would you like me to pray with you and accept the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life and surrender your life completely?”

She said, “Yes.”

I prayed with her and surrendered her life to the Lord. And she accepted the Lord as her savior. I told her, “Ask Him and He will show Himself and His love for you.”

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The Lord is good and great! 🙏🙏
May the name of the Almighty Lord be glorified.
The Lord is doing a great work.
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever. 🙏

Reem from Syria: Special Needs, Special Grace

Daily, we see families walk into VOR looking distraught; feeling lost and overwhelmed, because their first 10-15 days in America were nothing that they expected. Often, families find themselves stuck inside a motel room. All they can do is wait: for a phone call, for new paperwork, for a ride. Days pass by with zero progress. Yet, each new day at the motel means another cut from the family’s one-time welcome money. The situation is as dismal as it sounds.

Daily, also, we see the same families walk out of VOR, visibly transformed. Relief. Gratitude. Big smiles. Big hugs. Scroll down for the experience of a Syrian refugee, in her own words.

Reem, a Syrian mother of three adult children, arrived in Orange County 5 months ago. One of her children, Rana, has Down’s syndrome; the additional burdens of caretaking compound the stress and uncertainties of resettlement. After two weeks, we received good news from our case manager Viola (who walked closely with the whole family) hat Reem passed her behind-the-wheel test in one try and flying colors! Today, Reem is a VOR regular, attending ESL classes and all of our community events, such as Women’s Breakfast in January. Rana finds a community in the ESL classroom and contributes her unique gift of warmth and sincere joy.

Reem shared these words (yes, in English!) with the person driving her family home: “You Christians just know God…differently. You love everybody. VOR, everybody nice, everybody loves….I’m telling the other ladies in Arabic, that Christians are different. They know God and the way they love God is different.”

Pray with us for the light of Jesus continue to open refugees’ hearts up to His eternal hope, one person at a time, one ride at a time.

Mariam from Afghanistan: A Surprise Celebration!

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

One ordinary day, several volunteers and staff started getting messages from Mariam, a young Afghan woman we’ve known since 2021. It turned out that Mariam wanted to throw a surprise birthday celebration for VOR staff member Anna! For two years and counting, Anna journeyed closely with Mariam through some very challenging seasons soaked in tears, heartbreak, and prayer. Now that Anna’s birthday was around the corner, Mariam decided that it was now her turn to bless this angel in her life. And of course we all concurred, while also curious about how to support Mariam in her plan.

The special day arrived. I (one of the VOR staff) walked around the park at the “appointed” time. Lo and behold, I saw two picnic tables beautifully decorated and a spread of refreshments and snacks, two other Afghan ladies, and the eight young kids excited to bless our beloved Anna. Soon, everyone arrived and gathered around the birthday cake, bearing gifts of (more) food, presents, and most of all, PRESENCE. For two hours, the heavy burdens of single motherhood, future uncertainties, jobs and childcare…melted into the air as we celebrated Anna (and Mariam on the successful party!) and had a wonderful time out together as fellow human beings

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Khadija & Kathy: New Life, New Purpose

TRAIL·BLAZ·ER  /ˈtrālˌblāzər/
One that blazes a trail to guide others; a pathfinder.

“I started volunteering with VOR after hearing a friend share about Women’s Day. At the event, I met a few Arab ladies and enjoyed getting to know them. Soon afterwards, VOR referred me to an Afghan woman residing in a place that serves women escaping abusive environments. There, I met Khadija (all names changed to protect identity).

“We began our journey as conversation partners and started meeting once a week. When I first met Khadija, she barely spoke any English at all. It’s been a year and three months now that she’s been in this program. Her English has improved to the point where we’re working on her getting a job. I’m helping her with online applications and taking her to Stater Brothers and Little Caesars to explore full time opportunities. We both have Saturdays free so I started taking her once a month to the beach. We’ve been to Seal Beach and Laguna Beach and many others. We’ve eaten out at many places. It’s been a lot of fun! I focus on helping her expand her vocabulary and encouraging her to order her own food and navigating real life situations herself. 

“Often when we met, I would talk about God with her and she was open to knowing Jesus. She regularly heard about Jesus at her program and also came with me to church once. One day, I asked Khadija, “Have you considered being a Christian?” And she said, “Yes, but I have some questions.” From there, we talked about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity and how that differs from Muslim beliefs. I encouraged her to reach out to a Persian staff worker at VOR for a deeper discussion in her heart language. I felt honored to see her open heart and understood that it could take years for someone to have faith in Jesus. 

“To my surprise, one day I got a text message, sharing that Khadija had become a Christian and wanted to get baptized! So I met with her a few days later, and asked, “I hear that you received Jesus and became a Christian.” She replied, “Yes, I am a Christian. I am changed. God has provided for me.” She went on to explain how she’s come to America and met all these Christians and felt so loved. That really stood out to her because in her country, you had to give something to get love. You have to give and they’ll give back. But what she’s experienced here is that Christians around her just kept giving and giving and giving. Sometimes she has a need and she hasn’t asked for it and still she receives it. People simply give and don’t expect to receive back. And I said, “That’s unconditional love. That’s God’s love. You don’t have to give Him anything for Him to love you. He just loves you.” 

“Once, I took her to the Good Friday service at my church, where there was a cross. We were invited to write our names on a piece of paper and walk up to the cross. There, the pastor gave each person a hammer and a nail and we nailed our own names on the cross. When Khadija heard that she was going to nail her name on the cross, she gasped and her voice quickened. That moment, it was clear that she really got it.

“It’s been pretty radical and amazing to witness the way Khadija has changed, the way the joy of the Lord is in her. As an example, there’s another Afghan lady at her program with six children. Khadija shared, “I really care about her and want to do something for her.” So I said, “That’s the good work that God has for you to do. Why don’t you and I help her together?”

It’s really special to witness the way God has poured His love on Khadija and empowered her as a body of Christ to help others and, in doing so, bring greater joy. I can tell that she really wants to serve and she’s great at it too! She helps me communicate with other Afghans by being my interpreter. She’s always been proactive, in learning English, in riding a bike, in learning to swim, and in finding a job. Now, she wants to pass on her skills to others. I can really see her being a trainer or a coach someday. How beautiful it is how God is using her as a trailblazer to reach out and bless other women in need.”

Epilogue: “Reflecting on this journey, I believe that it’s about figuring out where your strengths are and offering yourself to the Lord. Sometimes, there might be pressure, even at church, to be a certain way but for me, I struggle to fit in a lot of places. So I sometimes end up being a trailblazer because I’m just that way. My gifting is in meeting people, getting to know them, learning their needs, connecting them to people and places, helping them figure out where they should be. And I’ve always had a heart for missions. I tend to like to go ahead and just start meeting people. Sometimes I get into uncomfortable situations, but I trust in the Lord and seek Him. Sometimes we have to put our comfort aside to reach someone else. Quite frequently, I make blunders. For example, I try to get food for Khadija and often she doesn’t like it. But it’s an offering, right? I just pray, Lord, help me be a blessing. It’s been a great joy to walk with Khadija. Many times, we might not see the fruit that we’re bringing, but never give up loving people and sharing Jesus and give others the time and space to decide how to respond. Khadija’s been a person whom God has allowed me to love and nurture her faith, and it’s been wonderful.” – Kathy, volunteer

Loving Jesus Through Helping Refugee Children Thrive

Imagine the feeling of wanting the best for your children, yet not knowing what you can say or do to support their survival, let alone their success? At VOR, we have the honor of coming alongside refugee parents and to know their children by name. There are too many stories to count, but some of our most recent include:

• Hasina is starting 9th grade. Being from Afghanistan, she’s excited to go to school! However, with no parent by her side nor any peer friends, she had no idea about the need for a backpack and other supplies until the night before school began. When VOR volunteer Sabrina found out, she alerted VOR and seeded a long-term journey of growth and breakthrough with the whole family.
  

• Abdul, a 3rd grader from Syria, is struggling. His English is still at 1st grade level, but his school is not providing extra help for him to catch up. The family lives far away from VOR and other organizations that can provide free tutoring for English learners who speak Arabic. VOR volunteer Justin meets Abdul on Zoom weekly to provide focused practice time until more resources can be found for the family. 
  

• 19-year-old Farzad was born deaf and relies on simple body language to communicate. Due to his age, he does not qualify for resources for K-12 children. His parents are still learning the ABCs, unable to advocate for their son, who stays in his room day after day. VOR reached out to a supportive speech therapist in the school district, coordinated rides for Farzad to attend an ASL class, and continues to invite volunteers to support this family on a path toward hope.

At VOR, we have the honor of matching families to generous volunteers who tutor children needing extra support, and help their parents feel empowered. 

At VOR, we have the joy of creating transformative experiences, especially in the summer, so that instead of being alone inside an apartment with nothing to do for three months (parents often don’t have a car to bring their children to activities), kids got to explore new things, be nurtured in community, and grow in character. Most of all, they get to taste the love of Jesus. And they’re always seen and known by name.  

At VOR, we visit families with backpacks and school supplies so many more can start the new school year with HOPE. And we’re never just handing things out. Every interaction is a time where volunteers and staff are intentional about loving each person, listening to them, dwelling together, and blessing them with prayer and the word of God.  

We thank you for your prayers and support to make all these critical moments possible. Because of your support this year, our summer camps and backpack home visits encouraged over 150 children and their parents to start this new school year with HOPE. We invite you to continue empowering refugee kids, youth, and young adults: donate to VOR and invest in #HOPE for the next generation!

Refugee Journeys: Umar from Kyrgyzstan

Umar* and his wife and son are citizens of Kyrgyzstan who started living in Ukraine 3 years before the war with Russia began. There, Umar worked as a hairdresser to provide for his family before the invasion started and his business was destroyed. (*names changed for the safety of the family)

From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, he immediately stood up for the defense of Ukraine. He gathered co-workers and friends to defend the people who stayed in the city. Unfortunately, Umar got featured on TV during that time. As a result, Ramzan Kadyrov, the president of the Chechen Republic, a stooge of Putin, declared him as a personal enemy and put a bounty of half a million dollars for his capture. The Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan opened a fabricated criminal case against him for fighting on the side of Ukraine and declared him an internationally wanted man.

The family sought refuge in Europe. But in Poland, they were pursued by Kadyrov’s henchmen. They managed to escape to Turkey. From there, they reached South America and travelled across the continent. When they reached Mexico, the cartel mugged them near the border, leaving them with no possessions except a broken phone. When they crossed the U.S. border into Arizona, immigration officers seized their passports. Now, only their marriage certificate and their son’s birth certificate remained in their hands. For more than a month, the family wandered around southern Arizona and California, living on the streets. Wherever they turned to for help, they were turned away due to their lack of documents.

One day, Voice of Refugees received a call from the city of Orange about Umar and his family. We immediately picked them up and provided food and diapers for the child, and a gift card for basic clothing and hygiene items. We reached out to our partners and donors for support to place them in a temporary dwelling before more permanent housing was identified. Praise God, through your generosity, enough funds were raised to place the family in a motel for 2 weeks.

To date, Umar is still waiting to get a hearing from the court and have his asylum (immigration) application filed. Until he gets his court date set, he will remain with no papers or social security number. At VOR, we are committed to help refugees stabilize and thrive in the United States. We connected Umar to a hairdresser in Corona to generate income for his family. We bought him a bicycle to ride to work. We contacted resettlement agencies to help him with rent and eventually partnered with Catholic Charities who began to provide legal assistance and an additional week of accommodation at the motel. During that week, City Net in Corona offered the family a 90-day stay at a different motel that is closer to Umar’s work. Through this journey, VOR staff and volunteers invited Umar and his family to church many times. Despite the language barrier, they were beyond excited to be part of a community. Umar asked for prayers and, out of his gratitude for the help we provided, he desires to volunteer and help with anything we need. He considers VOR a supportive refuge for him to make it through this resettlement journey.

” I saved 1000 people in one year in the war. 100 thousand people opened their eyes. Gathered 6 thousand fighters. I was able to do it alone. Please help me if it’s not difficult for you.” – Umar

While we don’t know when Umar will get his papers processed, we continue to pray for breakthrough both in his situation and his heart, to know the Lord and give his life to Christ. Your help and support to people like Umar through your prayers and donations is what helps put God’s love into action and transform lives to His glory!

Maryam’s Quest

It has been over a month since the night that changed Maryam*’s life as she knew it. It started out like any other night. But in the late hours of May 8th, she found herself in an ambulance with a broken nose and two black eyes. A lot has happened since that fateful night. She was waiting in the hospital, with no place to go and with fear about what the future would hold. Little did she know what God had in store for her, and how many people would come alongside her in this journey. (*name changed for safety reasons)

Thanks to the love and generosity of the body of Christ, Maryam and her daughter had a safe place to stay every single night. On the first days they were in a motel, made possible by financial contributions of partners like you. Then, they were generously received by two Christian families into their homes for over two weeks. Maryam had never spent so much time with followers of Jesus before, and she was overwhelmed by the love and generosity of her hosts.

On Wednesday, May 31st, Maryam and her daughter moved into a transitional housing shelter in Orange County, where she will stay for the next year. Her goal is to be able to stand on her own two feet. She hopes to improve her English and pursue a career as a dental assistant. Please pray for Maryam as she settles into life at the shelter. She will be attending Christian chapel services and learning more about Jesus. She is a devout Muslim who desires to please God every day. We pray that she encounters the living God who brings healing and wholeness to what was once broken. May she discover the peace of Christ as she goes through this process of custody battles and threats of danger from her husband and his family.

Thank you all for your prayers and financial support for Maryam and her daughter. We trust that God has just started His good work in her; there is still so much more He will do. May God multiply the fruit and be pleased by His bride. All for the glory of Christ.

– VOR staff

Care Team Testimony: A Story of Obedience & Prayer

When Mira followed the Spirit's nudge and responded to VOR's call for Care Team partnerships, it was a simple act of obedience to God. Little did she know that, fast forward 3 months, a property two doors down from where she lived would become available to house an Afghan family of 9 (!!) and God would stir many more hearts in her church community to respond in support of their new neighbors as one body...

1. How did you meet the S family? "When we received a letter from VOR introducing Care Teams, we began to pray about that. We brought it up to our church leadership, our missions ministry, and the whole congregation. We prayed for everybody to be on board with this journey of adopting a family. We kept praying and communicating closely with Joe (VOR Executive Director), waiting for a good fit. Some close matches and weeks later, the S family (with father, mother, and 7 kids) got introduced to VOR. In the waiting period, a 3-bedroom home (owned by the Korean congregation at my church) "happened to" become available. It had already been reserved for another purpose so we didn't think the church would consider renting it to the Afghan family. Still, we prayed and invited others to pray. Miraculously, the church said YES on the same day! This home is two doors down from me, and within walking distance of many church members - it really makes a difference on the level of care we can consistently provide for the S family after they moved in! We are so thankful. The S family had been declined many times by 2-bedroom apartments and was about to be kicked out from their temporary housing, so it was God's perfect timing for a home and a church community to open up for this new family of 7 children and 2 adults to find refuge. Truly, God answered all of our prayers!"

2. How did God first burden your heart for serving refugees? "Our family lived overseas in a Muslim country for 12 years before moving back to America four years ago. Shortly after our return, a friend shared with us about volunteering with VOR. Having lived among Muslims for years, we were interested and reached out to Joe, who arranged a visit to our Friday Bible study group to share about VOR. Joe also brought two guests from Iraq and Syria who shared their testimonies. That was our first step toward learning about refugees and asylum seekers."

3. What was your first experience(s) serving refugees with VOR? "Trunk-N-Treat at the Harvest Festival in 2021! We came with around 12 people from our church - it was such a fun and easy way to start meeting refugee families! It was refreshing to have a safe space for everyone to be open about their religion while enjoying warm community moments together."

4. In the way you experienced it, how did your church community journey through the process of catching the vision, sharing the burden and responding collectively? "Volunteering with VOR helped us learn that it is not just about "every single time we go and serve", but the purpose is to build relationships and come away with a friendship that lasts for a long time after the event, so that we can really care for the person. What we find crucial is to invite volunteers to come back to church on Sunday prepared to share about their experiences. God has used each sharing to touch the hearts of different members (e.g., moms with young kids) in the congregation to realize that they, too, can take a step."

5. Now that you are journeying so closely with the family, can you share some special moments with us? "With the family living literally two doors down, I see them every day and have spent so much time together - and God has grown our hearts and a deep love for them. I've found them to be so open and positive, humble and thankful. Their generosity and hospitality are amazing. They're always calling their relatives in Afghanistan, Germany, Pakistan, calling their friends from refugee camps and hotels, and introducing us to them! As much as we've welcomed the S family into a new home, they have also opened their family and community wide to us."

6. Anything you'd like to share with the Christian community about Afghan refugees (especially new arrivals like the S family)? "God is bringing them here to us. If we cannot go to their countries, then this is a simple way to take God’s glory to all of the nations, because they are right here! Our responsibility is to embrace and to share. They really do need help and they are really open to it. In particular, there is a short window (1 to 2 years) when refugees tend to be more open to people from outside their Muslim or cultural networks. It's a wonderful time for us to pour out Jesus' love in action, and this will be kept in their hearts for a long time, whether or not they respond to the gospel right away. There's no time to lose to look beyond our selves, to live for God’s story and God’s purpose in loving other people."

7. What do you see as some of the most urgent needs that the family is facing? Jobs, driver's license and a car, English, and good friends. For the kids, good teachers who will embrace them, include them, and love on them, and compassionate friends at school, even if just one or two, will mean a lot.

8. How can we pray for you and the Care Team? "Pray for more people to join the Care Team. May God cultivate our hearts to care for others. Life gets busy and everyone has so much on their plates, but it is the work of the evil one who wants us to be so busy that we only look at ourselves. May God turn our hearts outward to see other people. Our Bible study group is looking forward to joining the S family for iftar on the 29th - we'll be spending the evening learning and ministering - please pray!"

Pray along with Mira: "Dear Lord, We lift up the S Family to you! Thank you for bringing 9 of the 12 family members to America. We pray for their daughter who is still stuck in Afghanistan. May you grant protection for her and one day allow them all to be reunited. Lord, please help the family to adjust well to this country. Grant them the ability to all learn English quickly. Will you bring good friends and relationships into their lives. May they meet many Christians who will show them the love of Jesus and share the Good News with them. During this month of Ramadan, we pray that YOU will give them visions of Jesus and that they will ask questions! May they come to realize that Jesus is the only Way! Amen."

Friendship Story: Amanda & Soraya

When the crisis in Afghanistan broke out in August 2021, there was an outpouring of concern and support from the Christian community. “How can we help?” – this question echoed daily in phone calls, email inboxes, and certainly, our hearts and minds, as a local nonprofit called to mobilize the church body to serve refugees in the name and love of Jesus Christ. Many more calls and emails later – as well as care worker visits, ESL classes, furniture and home good deliveries, job coaching and tutoring connections – we’ve been in awe of how God works to prepare and connect His children to journey with each new family navigating the arduous path of resettling in California.

Volunteer Amanda shares how God opened doors for her to become friends with Soraya* and her family and get to share the story of Jesus during Christmas.

1. How did you meet Soraya? When I reached out to VOR, I was matched with Soraya to be her English tutor. Back in Afghanistan, Soraya led a highly successful and meaningful career as a judge. She is eager to engage and contribute to the society here, but it will take a long time to rebuild her life one step at a time. With her husband at work and children at school during the day, she finds herself isolated at their apartment. She hasn’t met many friends in her neighborhood yet and lives too far away from VOR to attend in-person events. It’s been a difficult transition.

2. What has been a way to connect Soraya to a supportive community? Our friendship turned into a natural platform to connect Soraya to other friends of mine. On one of my visits, I invited my friend from church to join and she brought her kids, too. Soraya was eager and honored to cook lunch for everyone. There were these beautiful moments of cross-cultural learning. I was so proud of my friend’s 8-year-old daughter who tried an Afghan dessert that didn’t look or taste like anything she had before. The kids had fun playing Uno – the first time ever for Soraya’s children! Later, when my church was putting together Christmas baskets for foster children, my friend remembered Soraya and made her a basket with cookies and a ton of items related to Christmas – that was very sweet!

3. What is your favorite moment so far with Soraya’s family? Last December, I took Soraya and her kids to see the Christmas lights, something fun that they’ve never done before. Soraya’s kids don’t get to get out much because they can go only as far as they can walk. They also never heard the story of Christmas so I got to share about the birth of Jesus. We sat in the car for hours to see the lights and they were all so patient and sweet about it. Then, when the kids saw the Nativity scene, they recognized and exclaimed, “Isn’t this what she was talking about?” It is great joy to see an Afghan family hear about Jesus as they experience their first Christmas in America.

4. Any helpful observations about Afghan refugees that you’d like to share? Though people tend to see all Afghan families as sharing a common background and story, and many families do lean on each other for tips and resources as they resettle here in America, each family also has a unique situation. For Soraya, it’s actually been hard for her to find friends among other Afghan women who live in her neighborhood, due to differences in socioeconomic background, interests, and other pressures. Another aspect that has been hard for Soraya is how her children has quickly adjusted to America and loving their lives here, while she is still very much grieving her loss and missing Afghanistan.

5. Share a joy, a struggle, and a hope that emerged through your walk with Soraya. 

A joy is learning about Afghan culture by asking questions and looking up information online. When I lived in India, families would have different rules about food, what you can touch, whether friends can show love by doing dishes for each other. Once you have a real friendship, it’s easy to ask questions directly and Soraya’s definitely been very open to share in response to all of my questions!

A struggle I have is to be able to check in and spend more time with Soraya and her family. It’s sad how busy our lives get in America and, living 45 minutes away from her city, it’s not easy for me to work full time while staying as closely connected as I hoped.

My hope is see Soraya (and new refugee women like her) become connected with more believers in her community and be loved on by more local families. I am praying that God will raise up His people across different cities, neighborhoods, apartment complexes to come alongside the many Afghan families who have moved in and are feeling lonely.

6. How can we pray for Soraya and her family? Pray for God to sprinkle Christians in Soraya’s life. For more believers to become aware and to show love to her. She’s so incredibly friendly and kind, and her English is really good. Yet she is isolated all day, alone, and I know she wants more than just staying at home by herself, day after day.

*pseudonym used in protection of the family

Friendship Story: Anna & Lalah

Describe a little about yourself and the friend you made through volunteering at VOR.
My name is Anna, I am one of the ESL teachers with VOR. I grew up in the LA area, and was led to pursue cross-cultural missions and ministry while studying at Biola University. Lalah (pseudonym, meaning tulip in Dari) is a young girl from Kabul, Afghanistan. Before her family fled early 2021, Lalah was studying to work in the medical field. She is sweet, hardworking, and has a contagious smile.

1. How did you meet? First impressions?
   We first met when I had the privilege to substitute for a beginner class during the summer of 2021. Her parents were also in the class, as well as other recent Afghan arrivals. Lalah was the youngest student in the class, and I was led to connect with her through WhatsApp. From the beginning, she struck me as very gracious and tender.

2. What was a key moment that furthered your friendship?
   The weekend that Kabul fell to the Taliban, I went to visit Lalah and her family for the first time with another friend. Lalah has two older brothers that were not able to get out of Kabul in time. It was a time of sadness and grief for their country and their family. My friend had also brought her young child, and we had a blessed time eating and talking. I was touched by the hospitality of the family, and prayed that God would continue to work in their hearts.

3. Something fun or surprising that you learned about Afghan culture through your friendship?
   I think Afghan culture surprises me all the time! A big thing is hospitality. At the end of my first visit, Lalah asked that I would stay overnight. I was very surprised by this, and politely declined a couple of times. The time I visited during Christmas, I stayed for ten hours! Afghan families enjoy hosting, and I think it serves as a great opportunity and bridge to build friendships.

4. An insight about refugees/asylees/SIV families you gained via volunteering?
   Through my volunteering experience at VOR, I have been consistently struck by the resilience of the community we serve. They have a strength about them, and are not a people to be pitied or seen primarily as victims.

5. How has God showed up in your journey/times together? Over the course of our friendship, God has been so gracious to allow trust to form and strengthen. The last time I went to visit the family home, it was a great blessing to be able to spend time with the whole family, not just Lalah and her parents. Her younger brothers also joined us as we played card games and talked. Her mother felt comfortable enough to ask me to take them to a Halal market, and I was blessed to see both women without hijabs.

6. Looking back on your own story, how has God prepared you to serve among refugee families? Anything you’d like to share with those who want to take the next step to volunteer but have different hesitations?
   It can be intimidating at first to engage with a new culture that is so different from your own. I was nervous that I would say or do the wrong thing, or that the language barrier would prove to be too big. What God has been teaching me throughout this process is to depend more on his grace. His Spirit fill us where we are lacking. I lack so much, and require so much of his grace. If God is leading you to serve Him through serving refugees, may his grace quiet any insecurity or hesitancy you have. Don't miss out on the blessing!

If I could add a prayer request: I invite you to pray for Lalah and her family. They are working to get her brothers out of Afghanistan, that they may be reunited with them. Above all, that Jesus Christ would reveal himself to them, and that they would call on his name to be their Lord and Savior.

What is happening with the Afghan Refugees?

Since November 2021, refugee families have been coming to SoCal in larger numbers, with the majority being families who fled Afghanistan in August. All have waited for months in makeshift refugee camps as they were vetted and assigned to a resettlement agency (paid by the US government to settle refugees in 90 days). Only if the refugee family had relatives living in SoCal were new arrivals eventually placed in SoCal.

Meanwhile, the past five years saw the closure of 50% of SoCal resettlement agencies due to the reduced number of refugees allowed to enter the US. As you can imagine, the remaining resettlement case workers are overwhelmed. VOR recognized the situation and moved to help.

In response to the Afghan evacuation, we hired our third Care Worker in December: Sheida. Sheida is a Farsi speaker. While most Afghans speak Dari, Farsi and Dari are dialects of the same language mutually intelligible, but it takes some work to ensure understanding due to differences in pronunciation. We also hired Fadi, who has a generous heart and tremendous experience in helping refugees. He is now greeting arriving refugee families at SoCal airports with a warm welcome in Jesus’ Name while giving a toy to each child. Fadi ensures their first day and transition in SoCal is as smooth as possible. Fadi and Eric also continue to support newly arriving families as they settle in apartments by providing donated furniture and some new household items.

Viola, our Care Manager, who has worked tirelessly for years to help families, now along with Care Assistants Rania and Sheida, continue to care for families by building relationships with each one by listening to identify their greatest needs, to pray with them, and to connect them to resources and services to best meet their needs.

VOR’s new families’ demographics from Nov. 2020 to mid-August 2021 were:

• 270 new families registered for services for the first time

• 33% had been in the U.S. less than a year

• 50% had been in the U.S. less than two years

• 40% are from Egypt (fleeing persecution)

• 23% are from Afghanistan (fleeing violence due to US affiliation)

• 9% are from Syria (fleeing civil war)

Since the Afghan evacuation, we have received seventy-four new refugee and asylum-seeking families.

• 78% of new families have arrived at the US after August 2021

• 57% of new families are from Afghanistan (fleeing violence)

• 28% of new families are from Egypt (fleeing persecution)

• 7% of new families are from Syria (fleeing civil war)

• 8% are from other countries

If you would like to better understand our new Muslim friends from the Middle East and Central Asia, VOR is offering Bridges training for Christians to become good friends with their new neighbors. Bridges training will be on Tuesday evenings in March the 1st, 8, and 15th: Sign Up Online

Please pray that God has mercy on those we serve while providing us with all the resources they need in Jesus’ Name!

Joe Guidotti