What One Church Can Do in Mission with Refugees

   Over twenty years after members of Newark United Methodist Church in Delaware first-heard of the plight of the Vietnamese boat people, the fire that was ignited under its commitment to refugee resettlement is still blazing. Now, more than 40 refugees later, the congregation's mission through outreach continues to be an inspiration.

   It was 1977 when, preaching to the congregation of Newark UMC in 1977, then-director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief Harry Haines described the plight of refugees he had seen in camps in Thailand. His stories of displaced people--crowded into bamboo huts, unable to school their children or return to their country--so affected church members that they immediately formed an outreach committee. Six months later, the five-member Touy Thiravong family arrived in Delaware (via Bangkok and Seattle) to become the first in a long line of beneficiaries sponsored by Newark UMC.

   After communists overthrew Laos, Touy fled his country by crossing the Mekong River at night into Thailand. Once he was there, it was months before Touy was able to see his wife and fa] children or petition for their resettlement in the United States.

   Eight years later, the Thiravongs marked the occasion of an his escape by becoming American citizens and, within a few days of that, by receiving baptism as members of Newark UMC.

   Touy's sponsorship initiated a string of refugee resettlements by Ebenezer, Aldersgate, Atonement, Chester Bethel, and Richardson Park UMCs; Newark's Unitarian Fellowship; Our Redeemer Lutheran Church; and Friends Meeting in Newark. Altogether, more than 70 of the Thiravongs' friends and families relocated to the Delaware area. Among those who found their way to Newark during this time were Touy's sister-in-law and her husband. Newark UMC's decision to sponsor this family spawned an additional 24 refugee resettlements.

   Through the years, the Thiravongs have more than repaid their sponsoring church by serving as a witness to the power of mission. Today, Touy and his wife are vital members of the Newark community. Two of their three children now attend the University of Delaware, where Touy works as a lab technician.

   Vanja Bucic (arrived 1996) at his high school graduation. He is now studying computer science at the University of Delaware. He is a nephew of Assad Zlataravic who arrived in 1995.

   And the church? Newark continues to be a strong example of The United Methodist Church's commitment to refugee resettlement, responding to additional calls for sponsorship of both Bosnian and African families. In 1994, Newark responded to an emergency call from Church World Service's affiliate in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania. Within three days, Newark UMC's Richard Petersen and his family were welcoming the Esad Zlatarevic family to this country and into their home. Less than a year later, the church answered another call by sponsoring a Priority I family who had escaped from persecution in their native Togo, and in 1999, Newark UMC sponsored a family from Kosovo. The members of Newark UMC understand and embrace the importance of welcoming refugees into their midst--not as strangers but as angels. ..and newfound friends.

With the help of UMCOR and the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program, United Methodist churches throughout the United States have reached out to refugees and touched the lives of thousands of people, making it possible for healing to begin. UMCOR invites local United Methodist congregations to become directly involved with refugees through sponsorship. For information, contact:

UMCOR Refugee Office
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church
475 Riverside Drive, Room 330
New York, NY 10115
Tel: 212-870-3806