RLM’s Purpose:
Refugee Life Ministries (RLM) is a church-based ministry of World Relief Minnesota. Through this ministry, World Relief Minnesota works with its partner churches to welcome and resettle refugee families who have come from around the world to the Twin Cities.
Since 2000, Refugee Life Ministries has provided rich welcomes for newly arrived refugee families by pairing them with church small groups during their first year in the U.S. Churches are trained to provide assistance with home and community orientation, employment, finance, medical care, education and, most importantly, hospitality and friendship. Members of church small groups divide tasks, so no one person is stretched beyond their capacity for serving.
Refugee Life Ministries is a lay-lead ministry. Volunteers from churches located in geographical proximity to one another meet on a regular basis to learn from one another and receive ongoing training.
Benefits to Churches
- Cross-cultural training from World Relief Minnesota
- Learning about the Biblical principles of compassion and service through study and service
- Cross-cultural local ministry and engagement opportunities for with the poor, widow, and stranger in our midst
- Friendships that teach all about God, His love, and provision
Benefits to Refugee families
- Support and assistance with basic needs from Church neighbors while adjusting to U.S. life
- Friendships with Americans
- Connections with Christian communities
Current Program Activities:
Refugee Life Ministries began in 2000 as the vision of lay leaders at Roseville Covenant Church. Over the past nine years, RLM has provided affordable housing for 25 families. In Roseville, there currently are four churches that are involved in this ministry. Churches in Minnetonka, Woodbury, Burnsville and Minneapolis also are active.
RLM churches come alongside a refugee family providing a Refugee Family Welcome Kit, groceries, drivers’ training, English tutoring, transportation, employment assistance and offering Christian community and friendship. Members of a small group fill RLM volunteer roles - mentoring the members of a refugee family as they transition to life in the United States.
Leaders’ bios:
Founder – Rob Scott is a volunteer from Roseville Covenant Church; Rob has a passion for assisting refugees and leads the ministry through vision casting and training.
RLM Coordinator – Melissa Keane is a Resettlement Case Manager with World Relief Minnesota; she gives one day per week to the coordinating activities for RLM. You can contact Melissa at 612-798-4332 or rlm@wr.org
