I am a teenager with a caring family and a good school. I wish to pursue a career in health care. The serious refugee crisis in some parts of the world distresses me, and I want to make a difference. Can I serve in such settings through my church?
The refugee and displaced persons situation is indeed at crisis level. The child refugee crisis is at the worst level since the end of World War II. It is estimated that nearly 50 million children have been displaced and uprooted because of war, conflict, and the consequences of poverty. Among the areas most affected are Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and South Sudan. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that approximately one person is displaced by force every two seconds.
Some 68.5 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide,1 and more than a third of this number are refugees. Numerous challenges face large numbers of people being moved from one place to another, and many are health-related. Disease and death occur commonly under such circumstances, and many of these casualties are from preventable causes, such as inadequate nutrition and such infectious diseases as measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria. Accidents and trauma add to the difficulties of life as a refugee. In addressing these challenges, priorities include providing shelter, adequate and nutritious food, clean water, sanitation, immunization programs, and general health services. These services are provided by receiving countries, the UNHCR, and other humanitarian organizations, including disaster relief agencies and faith-based organizations.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church works in these difficult and challenging settings, largely through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)2 and organizations such as AdventistHelp.3 ADRA has been very active in serving refugees and internally displaced people around the world. We are thankful to have such a presence making a difference, one person at a time.
So yes, you can serve refugees and displaced people through your church. ADRA and the Adventist Church have opportunities for service and need young, energetic, committed individuals like you to extend the healing and caring ministry of Jesus to all.
We have witnessed firsthand the gratitude of those served. Money cannot buy such an experience—eyes and smiles expressing appreciation beyond words.
We know that we are coming closer to Jesus in our daily walk with Him when the things that break His heart break ours. When Jesus saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion (Matt. 9:36). As you take needed time for education and preparation for service, remember that you have been saved to serve. Seize opportunities to give of yourself—your time, your prayers, even some of your hard-earned money—to support these noble efforts.
And did you know that there is a reciprocal payback benefit to those who serve? People who volunteer and serve others have less anxiety and depression, and better general health. Serving and volunteering even boost immune functions. What wonderful rewards, and just for doing the right thing.
1 www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html
2 adra.org
3 www.adventisthelp.org
