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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Out of chaos, HOPE

International Rally to #SaveAsylum: We’re All One Family

This is our second installment in a series about the Kino Border Initiative’s monthly #SaveAsylum events taking place in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales Mexico. Kino Border Initiative—and a growing number of ecumenical and interfaith partners, including Presbyterians in both De Cristo and Grand Canyon Presbyteries—is ministering to those who wait and hope for admission to… Read more »

COVID-19 Response In Palestine

PDA has long-standing partnerships in Palestine. Below is an excerpt from a note from our partner, IDCO. For several years, both PDA and the Presbyterian Hunger Program, another recipient of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, has worked with IDCO to respond to critical needs, especially in Gaza. The video above demonstrates how your… Read more »

We Pray That Our Unity Will One Day Be Restored

Photo by John Englart   We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. These lines from the hymn “They will know we are Christians by our Love” are familiar to many who grew up in the U.S. church during a certain era. These phrases came to mind as I was thinking… Read more »

International Rally to #SaveAsylum: Seeing Christ in Asylum Seekers’ Faces

Changes in the United States’ asylum policies over the past three years have created one barrier after another for bona fide refugees to seek legal protection from persecution here. In June, the Department of Homeland Security posted 161 pages of proposed regulations which many advocates and attorneys say drastically changes established rules and effectively guts asylum… Read more »

Refugee resettlement: both life saving and life affirming

The following is the first installment detailing the upcoming Presidential Determination regarding the number of refugees expected to be resettled in the US in FY 2021. If you would like to learn more about the resettlement process or advocate for a more robust U.S. refugee resettlement program suggestions are provided at the end of the… Read more »

Disaster Strikes Beirut

This entry was shared with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance by our partner, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR). It is written by Sylvia Haddad, Executive Director of DSPR. On August 4, 2020 at 7pm local time, all buildings in Beirut felt the earth shake beneath them. As I live on the 10th floor of… Read more »

Casa Alitas Invited to Reunite a Family

PDA first learned of Casa Alitas back in 2014 when the number of asylum seekers passing through Tucson, AZ were on the rise. Much has changed in the past year following the “remain in Mexico” policy, with further restrictions put in place during the pandemic to severely limit both the number of asylum seekers released… Read more »

Refugee Ministry at Second Presbyterian Church

In recent weeks, we have shared stories about how COVID-19 has affected not only the journey of refugees but the ways in which those who provide support have had to pivot to address unforeseen issues brought about by the pandemic. Before COVID hit, the Refugee Ministry Team at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis was ready… Read more »

A story from the San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center

Since July 26, 2015, the San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center (SFVRCC) has been a place of welcome and healing to the hundreds of unaccompanied children who have made the perilous journey from Central America to seek refuge in Los Angeles County. SFVRCC is dedicated to helping children and families transition to life in the… Read more »

Arabic Outreach Center Brings Relief and Hope during Pandemic

This story, recently published by the Presbytery of Des Moines, demonstrates the way in which many refugee ministries have pivoted from providing practical and long-term assistance to focusing on the immediate needs of those they serve in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arabic Outreach Center (AOC)—an independent 501(c)3 established by First Arabic Presbyterian… Read more »