Good Faith Welcoming the Stranger: Myal Greene on the Church and the Global Refugee Crisis
Nov 13, 2025
Myal Greene, President and CEO of World Relief, brings his expertise on humanitarian issues to the discussion. He elaborates on the complex definition of refugees and the staggering rise in global displacement, with over 123 million affected. Greene highlights the historical role of churches in refugee resettlement, recounting inspiring stories of communities coming together to welcome the stranger. He makes a compelling biblical case for action, urging faith communities to engage actively in advocacy and support, ultimately showing how refugees can invigorate churches.
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Definition And Scale Of The Crisis
- Refugees are people who flee credible persecution and who have crossed international borders to seek safety.
- Today over 123 million are forcibly displaced worldwide, with refugees at historically high numbers.
U.S. Policy Roots And Polarization
- The U.S. refugee resettlement program began after the 1970s Southeast Asian crises and was formalized in 1980.
- For decades it was broadly nonpartisan, but recent polarization has fractured consensus on welcoming refugees.
How Churches Mobilized During The Vietnamese Crisis
- Evelyn Mangum called churches one-by-one during the Vietnamese boat crisis to find sponsors for incoming families.
- Churches shifted from reluctance to sacrificially hosting refugees after personal appeals and pressure.