Posts Categorized: Refugees

Pentecost: Helping Immigrant Children Flourish

It’s one thing to watch the heartbreaking plight of new immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers unfold on the evening news. It’s a much greater thing to connect with people, like Lissy, in real life. Lissy, a young Honduran, arrived in the U.S. at the vulnerable age of 14, having dropped out of school to seek… Read more »

OGHS: ‘Unstable Connection …’

Those two words have taken on a deeper meaning in the past couple of years, haven’t they? For many, the words “unstable connection,” “weak connection” or worse, “lost connection,” are synonymous for an online meeting that has become frozen or dropped off. These dreaded words, popping up on a phone or computer, mean whatever is… Read more »

Becoming Flesh

By Rachel Yates We marked each Sunday in our Advent season with God’s promises for hope, peace, joy, and love.  We lit candles at church or in our homes as tangible signs of these promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ. For many of us in Southeast Wisconsin, however, these promises have felt hollow or distant.  Our… Read more »

‘Mi casa es su casa’

By Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo “Welcome one another … just as Christ has welcomed you.” (Romans 15:7) “Mi casa es su casa” expresses a sincere welcome to all. One hears this phrase often in Latina communities. When guests are in one’s home, they become part of one’s family. As a child of the manse — our home… Read more »

Peace & Global Witness: The Light of Understanding

As well traveled and as fully versed in Presbyterian mission as he is, Tom Elander was still surprised by what he witnessed and learned at the U.S.-Mexico border last winter. As a participant in a travel study seminar hosted by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program to help better understand the real-world impact of migration and immigration… Read more »

Peace & Global Witness: Building God’s Household of Peace, Together

We are the peacemakers Peacemaking is active not passive; doing not waiting. Let’s let that sink in for a moment: peacemaking is active, not passive; doing, not waiting. And this is A Season of Peace when we, the church together, are focused on seeking peace and reconciliation. Together we are building God’s house of peace… Read more »

OGHS: Building a Household with the Suffering and Vulnerable

What is a household? Close your eyes and consider the word “household.” What comes to mind? Caring people? A table with food, shared with family and friends? Shelter? Warmth? Friendly voices? Love? I imagine we all think of many of these same things when we think about a household. Yet there are many in this… Read more »

OGHS: Together, We Become the Household of God

Facing drought in Somalia Before a hunger emergency struck Somalia, Hawo Abdi and her husband were  successful herders near their country’s border with Kenya. However, two years of intensive drought parched the land to the point that they could no longer raise the camels, cattle, sheep and goats that supported them. As her family faced… Read more »

Peace & Global Witness: Supporting Our Siblings in the Middle East

Peace at all times in all ways Peacemaking is something that happens among leaders of countries warring over issues, rights, and land. Certainly, this is true, but it is also true that peace is made by many others — even you and me! Conflict arises in our families and communities. Instability threatens our livelihoods. Even… Read more »