Refuge Louisville: Blessing the Nations and the Nationless

On his way home from work one evening, Sol was shocked to find his village in ruins. Militant extremists had rampaged through the streets, killing many of his neighbors and looting homes. Panic seized him—was his family all right?

Passing by the bodies and debris, he came to his own house, hands shaking as he reached for the door. Sol fell to his knees when he found his wife and two young children completely unharmed. By the grace of God, they were passed over. But in the wake of such devastation, there was no way they could stay.

Sol’s family fled their homeland in Syria as quickly as possible, leaving their house, their possessions, their whole life behind. In an instant, they were refugees.

Even in dark places, God provides. As Sol’s family wandered the world, finally finding refuge in the United States, a Christian missionary came alongside them and helped them adjust to their new home. All the while, this nameless servant of the Kingdom pointed them directly to Jesus, putting the heart of God on full display. Touched by his real love for them, Sol’s wayward, war-weary family found their identity in Christ. Not only did God save them from destruction in Syria—He brought them into His Kingdom and left them forever changed.

To truly know God is to experience His heart for all the people He has made. As we draw closer to Him, reflecting on His thoughts and His plans in Scripture, we discover that He desires to bless all the nations of the earth (Genesis 12:3).

God loves every tongue, tribe, and nation, and He desires that everyone would come to Him. But His love transcends national borders—it’s people that He pursues. And out of all the hearts He beckons, it’s the “least of these” who get special attention from Jesus: the lost and the lonely, the outcast and the stranger. As God’s Word tells us,

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."
-Deuteronomy 10:18-19

All of us who have been saved by grace are given a title as ambassadors for the Kingdom, “…as though God were making his appeal through us…” (2 Corinthians 5:20) That means we’re appointed to be part of God’s plan to bless the world, even people who have lost their home and have no place to call their own. Right here in Kentuckiana, we have an unprecedented opportunity to live out this command; more than 70,000 refugees have come to Louisville to escape war and devastation. Jesus wouldn’t leave these frightened families by the wayside. We can’t either.

For this reason, Southeast is privileged to work with Refuge Louisville, one of our local Missions Partners. Located in Louisville's South End, Refuge strives to share God’s love and hope with the thousands of people who have come to Louisville from more than 120 different countries.

Many of these refugees have never heard about Jesus or encountered the life-saving joy of the Gospel. Like Sol and his family, they come from disastrous situations with few possessions and no money to their name, desperate for a future bearing any semblance of hope. When the truth of God’s grace finally breaks through, the Lord transforms lives with a hope that extends immeasurably beyond this transitory world.

Refuge serves displaced people with many tools and classes to help them integrate into American life. Through citizenship classes and Adopt-a-Family programs, refugees begin to take roots and make connections in their new home. English classes and job-search assistance in the Computer Lab help set adults on a firm footing for the future. Children can also get connected through the Kid’s Club, youth mentoring, and homework help.

Through Bible studies and shared times of prayer, staff and volunteers bring refugees face-to-face with Jesus. But even for those refugees who find their identity in Christ, their past will always remain an important part of their story. They may have come to a strange new land, but they can still proudly display their heritage and make it part of their livelihood. Refuge supports this vision by giving individuals a way to generate income—selling handmade items from their own cultures and sharing them with the community.

This ministry is making an everlasting mark on the hearts of refugees. After escaping war-torn Syria and encountering Christ through Refuge, Sol and his family have experienced transformation, culminating in a calling from God. Just as Sol was saved through one missionary’s loving obedience, he is now obeying God’s call on His own life to reach refugees through missions. Following Jesus’ Great Commission, he’s heading out to reach the nations, bringing Christ to people who still haven’t encountered the God who loves them with all His heart.

Join the Welcome Committee

Not everyone is called to become a missionary, taking the truth of God’s Word to the nations. But all of us can love where we are, serving the people God places in our midst. Why not get on board with what Refuge is doing in our region?

You can impact someone’s life by building relationships with refugees, immigrants, and displaced people at Refuge. Through praying, serving basic needs, providing transportation, and much more, you can come alongside Refuge and serve as Christ’s hands and feet in service to the world.

To learn more about Refuge Louisville or find other ways that you can get involved, go to refugelouisville.com.