Tens of thousands of people fleeing persecution remain in limbo – speak out for protection and welcome.

Since the U.S. refugee resettlement program was indefinitely paused in January 2025, tens of thousands of screened, vetted and conditionally approved refugees remain stranded overseas. Most of the world’s refugees now have no pathway to resettlement in the United States – with a narrow exception for a comparatively small number of white Afrikaners from South Africa.

At the same time, refugees who have already been resettled in the United States – often by faith-based organizations – face traumatic reevaluations of their refugee status, threatened arrests, and cuts to benefits like SNAP and Medicaid that help with their transition to a permanent life in the United States.

“Welcoming refugees is a true expression of our faith, and also a continuation of an American tradition of providing a home to those facing persecution because of who they are or what they believe,” said the Rev. Amy Reumann, senior director of ELCA Witness in Society. “We call for a refugee admissions process that does not discriminate based on race, religion or nationality, but that welcomes all based on need. Each of these people, we know, is a beloved child of God; each of them bears the image of God.”

World Refugee Day is observed on June 20, a day to honor the strength and courage of people who have been displaced by conflict or persecution and to build understanding of how to respond. We can use this observance to move our action!

Ask Congress to reaffirm America’s longstanding commitment to protecting people fleeing persecution through a refugee program that is adequately funded and prioritizes the most vulnerable. Urge your member of Congress to defend the contributions of refugees and to defend federal investments in refugee processing, admissions and resettlement services.

Customize this message with your faith convictions and connections to refugee resettlement in your community.

As the world observes World Refugee Day on June 20, Lutheran Disaster Response invites Lutherans to renew their commitment to refugees and migrants through learning, advocacy, and generosity. With global displacement at record levels, this reflection highlights our shared calling to accompany neighbors seeking safety, dignity, and hope.

Grounded in faith and solidarity, the article offers practical ways to respond through ELCA resources, advocacy opportunities, and support for Lutheran Disaster Response ministries serving displaced communities around the world. Read the full reflection from Lutheran Disaster Response.

Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada wanted to provide resources for congregations to celebrate Juneteenth in their congregations!

In a deeply personal reflection reposted by Blessed Tomorrow, scholar Claire B. Crawford names the grief many feel amid climate anxiety, violence, division, and uncertainty while offering a prayerful call toward resilience, responsibility, and hope. Grounded in lament yet refusing despair, the piece invites readers to grieve what is broken without surrendering the possibility of healing and collective action. Read the original reflection from Blessed Tomorrow.

Last week, marked eleven years since we lost nine beautiful souls.

On June 17th, 2015, these faithful individuals welcomed a stranger into their Bible study. Their final collective act was one of radical hospitality and profound courage.

Their lives demonstrated that love is a fierce force of resistance. The Nine and the survivors did not succumb to terror.

Eleven years later, the legacy of the Emanuel Nine lives on as a testament to unyielding love, moral courage, and the refusal to let hatred prevail.