World Relief Minnesota

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, finances, medical care, education, raising kids in America, ESL tutoring, proclamation of the Gospel, 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 across the Twin Cities meet on a regular basis to learn from one another and receive ongoing training. These trainings include time in God’s word, cultural training, and equipping volunteers to serve refugee families in specific areas.

 

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 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 tweleve years, RLM has provided affordable housing for over 50 families. Seventeen churches across the Twin Cities are currently active in RLM.

Besides assisting with affordable housing, RLM churches provide for refugee families in other ways: through a  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.

Churches do not have to provide assistance in all of the ways suggested above because every little bit is making a difference in the lives of refugees.  We work with churches where they are at, and then build off of their experiences and God’s provision.  We are with volunteers and churches every step of the way!

learn more about RLM:

Contact Melissa Keane, the RLM Coordinator, to learn more about the ministry: 612-746-5649 or rlm@wr.org.

trainings:

Trainings for church teams and team leaders are held monthly.  All trainings are held at St. Paul First Baptist Church: 499 Wacouta Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.  The 2011-2012 training schedule is below:

Sept. 13th – Team Leader Meeting

Sept. 27th – REFUGEE TEAM MEETING

October 25th - Team Leader Meeting

November 29th - REFUGEE TEAM MEETING

December – No meetings

January 24th - REFUGEE TEAM MEETING

February 28th – Team Leader Meeting

March 27th – REFUGEE TEAM MEETING

May 29th - REFUGEE TEAM MEETING

events

The annual Roar for Refugees Benefit was held on April 28, 2012 and the annual Refugee Celebration Picnic will be held in August 2012.

resources

Clothing

Education and ESL

Emergency Phone Numbers

Employment

Energy & Phone Assistance

Finances

Food/Groceries

Glossary of Terms

Health Care

Hospitality

Housing

Public Assistance

Transportation

Tutoring

Volunteer Handbook

leaders’ bios:

Volunteer Director – 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 – In her position as RLM Coordinator at World Relief Minnesota, Melissa Keane works with churches, church teams and refugee families to coordinate the activities of RLM. You can contact Melissa at 612-746-5649 or rlm@wr.org.