February 12, 2025
Dear St. Paul’s Community,
As you may already be aware, an executive order has suspended all refugee admissions to the United States. The Refuge for Refugees ministry (R4R) had agreed to partner with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) to cosponsor a family of five from Afghanistan. They were set to arrive in Raleigh this month. Their travel plans were indefinitely cancelled.
Additionally, on January 24, the U.S. State Department issued a “stop work” order for all Resettlement and Placement programming at USCRI. This suspension of funds has had an immediate impact on USCRI clients and staff, including the loss of access to funds, layoffs of refugee service staff, and delayed enrollment of benefits, among other program losses.
USCRI in Raleigh is responsible for resettling 124 individuals, many of them children, who have recently arrived and are now without the financial support and programming that had been allocated to them.
At our most recent meeting, R4R discussed these actions and how to move forward. R4R voted to share $5,000 from the ministry’s restricted fund to provide funding for individuals impacted by this freeze. This amount is based on the estimated cost to provide basic human needs for a family for one month. It will go directly to USCRI and will help these refugee families continue the processes necessary to obtain the proper work authorizations so they can become self-sufficient.
We were able to respond to this urgent need due to your generous support. While we are not requesting additional donations at this time, we want you to be aware that what you have already given is making a difference!
As Paul wrote to the people of Corinth: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:6-8).
Thank you for your abundant support of this vital ministry, and for your continued prayers during this tumultuous period.
In Faith,
The Refuge for Refugees Ministry
Learn more about the important work at USCRI by visiting refugees.org. More information about the funding crisis can be found in this article. (While USCRI is not specifically mentioned in this story because it is not faith-based, it is one of the ten organizations in the US authorized to lead resettlement work).