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INSIDERVol. 20

DO WE STILL BELIEVE THE CHURCH CANCHANGE THE WORLD FOR GOOD?I can’t believe it’s been six years since my orientation days at World Relief. I remember feeling like I was drinking from the proverbial fire hydrant. Just learning the acronyms we use across our programs is only slightly easier than getting a master’s degree in ancient Hebrew. But as someone responsible for communicating to partners and prospective partners about our good work across the United States and around the world, I was a motivated learner.Reflecting back on those early days, I remember a document that felt deeply inspiring. The title was and is straightforward — Seven Reasons Why We Believe the Church Can Change the World. It spoke so well to World Relief’s deep historical commitment to the local church and her theological conviction that God’s plan A (with no plan B in sight) is the church. It called me to a bold and unwavering belief, grounded in God’s Word, that he will put his manifold wisdom and eternal purpose on display through his church.But that was 2018 and this is 2024 … and a lot has happened since then. Between that inspiring moment and this particular historical period of uncertainty here in the fall of 2024, we all know there is an ocean of pain and grief, chaos and loss, disease and disaster, discontent and disunity. Those days and months and years in between rocked us. We saw and heard and experienced things that left us at turns angry, sad and despairing.Truthfully, these years have been challenging and sometimes even devastating for the church. There were moral failures and leadership feuds. There were great resignations. There was rising and falling. There were allegations and disputations and so many broken and divided congregations.Maybe you’ve wondered … do we still believe the church can change the world for the better? If I am honest, I’ve struggled with my own questions. Like so many others, this led to sadness, to deep need, then to prayer and a search for answers. For me, one of those answers came in the form of a visit to Turkana County, Kenya, where World Relief has been working with the local church for almost 15 years.I first traveled to Turkana in 2013 as the executive pastor at Wheaton Bible Church during the early stages of our partnership with World Relief. On one of those days in the far northeastern reaches of Kenya, I sat around a table at St. Patrick’s Guest House with pastors from churches across several denominations. They discussed significant challenges in their community and how World Relief could help them navigate a pathway to resilience and even flourishing in the face of periodic cycles of severe drought and vulnerability.They were just coming o one of the worst drought periods in recent history and their By Je Walser, Vice President of Strategic Engagement

MAKE AN IMPACTFOR GENERATIONS TOCOMEcommunities were in a fragile state. And the odds against a collaborative solution were pretty high. There wasn’t much trust built between churches and the scarcity of resources was daunting. The fact that they were meeting and had begun working together at all was encouraging, and I left committed to praying for these precious people, their community and the church.In a story I could never have imagined back in 2013, I was invited to return to Turkana this past January, representing World Relief and traveling with the new senior pastor of Wheaton Bible Church. Wow. Eleven years later I found myself standing outside that same guest house completely overwhelmed at what had happened in the intervening years.Traveling from site to site, we witnessed where bore holes had been drilled and water was abundant where there had been none. We saw community gardens flourishing where there had only been dust and dry land. We spent time with families and children that were thriving where there had been vulnerability and languishing. We found the churches from that first meeting at St. Patrick’s celebrating a new school, multiple new churches and new followers of Jesus flourishing where there was once hopelessness and despair.The answer was there in the faces of those amazing people and the lives of those precious communities. Yes, I still believe the church can change the world because I have seen it.As we walk together through another divisive time in the U.S., I find great hope in the testimony of my brothers and sisters in Turkana — testimony that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can come together even across great dierences to create change that not only lasts in our lifetime but also has eternal value. That, together, the global church truly still can change the world for the better.Thank you for walking with us and with our global Christian family to deliver the transformative love, hope and peace of Christ in the midst of the world’s greatest crises. Are you interested in turning your charitable giving into a legacy that impacts future generations? Through strategic estate planning, you can use your non-cash assets to enhance your gift. We are dedicated to providing you with the resources and tools necessary to create a lasting dierence.For more information, scan the QR code or visit worldrelief.org/planned-giving tolearn more.

JESUS IS FOUND IN HARD PLACESQ&A WITH BRI STENSRUD OF WOMEN OF WELCOMEWomen of Welcome (WOW) is a community dedicated to diving into Scripture to understand God’s heart for the immigrant and refugee. It has quickly grown into a strong and responsive group of Christian women led by Director, Bri Stensrud. We sat with Bri to discuss WOW, her honest struggles while advocating for refugees and immigrants in her community and her new book, “Start with Welcome: TheJourney Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation.”CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW WOMEN OF WELCOME CAME TO BE?Absolutely. I am from Iowa and I grew up as an evangelical pastor’s kid with a great childhood involved in my local church. I developed a deep love for Jesus and the church’s mission for the world that I still carry with me. After seeing my family in ministry, and through my own experiences, I’ve learned that to really follow Christ and his love for people in an authentic way is incredibly challenging and yet, Idon’t know a better way to live.Back in 2015, at the height of really divisive rhetoric about refugees and other immigrants, so many Christians were wondering what to do with their pro-life Christian convictions while hearing vulnerable people around the world talked about in really dehumanizing ways. That’s when I got started on my own journey of becoming, what Icall, a whole life pro-lifer. A lot of my professional work until then was involved in the pro-life movement. So, when I had a break in my career, I was invited by World Relief to go across the southern border and into Mexico to see what was going on firsthand. That’s when I realized that the language I heard in the media about the southern border was not aligned with what I saw.At the same time, World Relief was trying to keep the church engaged with serving refugees and other immigrants while people were getting really frightened because of the inflammatory immigration rhetoric. So, in 2016, Lifeway Research and the National Immigration Forum (NIF) conducted a study to determine if evangelical Christians really were fearful. It proved that refugees, for some reason, had indeed become a feared and controversial population. But what was interesting was that the study also revealed a pocket of hope specifically in Christian women. There were a significant number of conservative evangelical Christian women admitting that while they have compassion, they were uncertain how to put that into action.It was then that World Relief and the NIF asked me to help educate and disciple this distinct group of women. That pocket of hope from the study prompted the mobilizing of the community that is now Women of Welcome. Today, WOW has grown to about 135,000 women who want to help educate the church and disciple more women into action and advocacy for their refugee and immigrant neighbors.WHAT WERE THE REACTIONS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY (FAMILY/FRIENDS/COWORKERS) WHEN YOU BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE EXPERIENCING THOSE REACTIONS NOW?Honestly, it was a complete mixed bag. I was pleasantly surprised by how many women at my church came up to me and asked about my experience at the border. There was also fear from my family and friends as well as a lot of questions about what I was doing. I noticed that some people got really quiet and that felt lonely and hurtful while on the other end, there were people who had a very curious and charitable approach.It can be very easy to get frustrated with people who don’t understand the image of God in refugees and other immigrants. It can be very

easy to write people o but the way that you want them to react to immigrants is the way you should be reacting to them — with grace and humility. Remain curious about why someone has a fear or a misunderstanding in order to meet them where they are. Your calm and confident response could oer up something dierent for them — charitability. We often forget to oer that to each other.WHAT HURDLES DID YOU ENCOUNTER AS YOU INCREASED YOUR PROXIMITY TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, AND HOW DID YOU ADDRESS THOSE?Proximity is powerful. It makes things personal and it gives you perspective to be able to use your voice well. I would say there are a lot of hurdles to overcome in order to be truly proximate. We have gotten so busy in this country and a lot of what we are busy with is our own lives. We have become consumers of the gospel and of the church. We have gotten out of the practice of being in the hard margins of what makes a community complex. So we must make space for each other.Comfort is another big hurdle because it is deceiving. What are we comfortable with versus what does God model? He models a life in service of others and the community — it was 100% selfless and gracious. Jesus is found in hard places not comfortable places.What I have learned after having gone multiple times to the border with the WOW community is that it’s not about taking God to those places but recognizing that God is already there. It is short-sighted and almost insulting to think that God would not be there. So when we step out of our comfort, we must ask, “What is God doing and how am I called to partner with him in these hard spaces?” Remembering that has been extremely important for me in my work.CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK, START WITH WELCOME: THE JOURNEY TOWARD A CONFIDENT AND COMPASSIONATE IMMIGRATION CONVERSATION?Well, I never thought I would write a book about immigration. But it is a very personal book about my own ignorance and blindness in this space. I also share about my walk with the Lord and how I have grown specifically throughout my journey. This book is also a very clear invitation to the church to show up in confident and charitable ways when it comes to immigration without having to sacrifice anything in conviction.Our compassion is not political but is meant to be prophetic. As Christians, we know the prophetic carves a new path forward for people and it gives hope and wisdom. Following Jesus calls us to carve out those spaces for humanity. We have been so busy with “othering” people that we have forgotten how big and how wide God’s love is for all people. I wrote the book from a personal place but I hope it is helpful and educational. This book is meant to really invite people into a deeper conversation that they never thought they could have about immigration.Two things can be true at the same time: you can show up with your fear and also your faith intact. God is not afraid of your questions. So, let’s ask the hard questions and have a conversation. We have been so busy with “othering” people that we have forgotten howbig and how wide God’s love is for all people.

PARTNERING WITH CHURCHES TO BOLDLY ENGAGE THEMENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN UKRAINEWhen Jesus appeared to Simon Peter after his resurrection, he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times, Peter answered yes. And three times, Jesus responded with a command: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).Like Peter, today’s church leaders and pastors have a special calling — to channel their love for God into care for those in their congregations, neighborhoods and communities. Yet, in the face of large-scale traumatic events like the war in Ukraine, providing pastoral care can feel daunting.Marina, a church leader from Ukraine, explained, “We are all in a state of trauma, we are going through a war and everyone needs to heal.”The World Health Organization estimated in March 2024 that 9.6 million people were at risk of or living with a mental health condition in Ukraine. In a survey conducted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 83% of people aected by the conflict in Ukraine said they or their family members had faced stressful or traumatic events.That need lies at the heart of Pathways to Renewal, one of our newest programs in Ukraine. The program aims to equip church leaders like Marina to provide mental health support in their communities.Over the summer, we held our first conferences for church leaders, chaplains and community volunteers in Dnipro and Poltava, Ukraine. The conferences focused on debunking common mental health myths and training participants on basic psychological first aid. Participants then had the opportunity to attend additional four-day, intensive training workshops on creating and leading peer support groups at churches.Marina reflected, “These training sessions were very important … we had very good trainers who guided us [to be] able to work with our own traumas, and now we can and do have the tools togo and help other people.”Thanks to support from partners like you, 118 participants were able to attend the conferences and intensive workshops, representing multiple churches and denominations. As a result, three local groups have already launched, providing safe, supportive spaces where Ukrainians can healtrauma and process the emotions of war.This year, World Relief Ukraine plans to expand mental health care programming into regions closer to the frontlines, reaching hundreds of individuals deeply impacted by the daily realitiesof war. World Relief is a member of The Integral Alliance, a global alliance of 21 Christian agencies working across 85 nations to alleviate suering. This summer, the Alliance released Five Factors Driving Neglected Crises. This report explores the multifaceted reasons behind the neglect of certain crises and advocates for a renewed focus on transformative action. Myal Greene, President and CEO of World Relief, contributed a piece on how cultural, political and economic interests of countries that donate aid have an outsized influence on the actual distribution of aid.Scan the QR code to download the full report.WHY ARE SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST URGENT CRISES NOT RECEIVING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED?

CARING FOR PEOPLE, BODY AND SOULWhen a religious leader asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, he replied by referencing words that Moses spoke to the Israelites when they were wandering in the wilderness.“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 12:27)Jesus and Moses both recognized that a person is made up of many parts — heart, soul, body and mind — and that we are asked to bring all those parts of ourselves to God in worship. How lucky we are to serve a God that loves and cares for all of us. At World Relief, we extend this same kind of love to our neighbors across the globe through holistic programming that transforms people and communities spiritually, socially and physically.Recently, our team in Cambodia celebrated the fruits of this holistic ministry at an annual baptism that was held on May 2, 2024.Earlier this year, leaders within the Sa ang Church Network Committee (CNC) met to discuss what programs would benefit their community. They settled on two — a sports program to engage youth and an environmental cleanup project to engage the community in caring for creation.Both programs provided a rich ground for connecting with community members and sharing the gospel. The programs sought to meet physical needs within the community by caring for creation and providing a safe and constructive place for youth to hang out, while also meeting spiritual needs by opening the doorfor participants to hear the gospel.Fourteen-year-old Sophany was one of the youth who participated in the sports program. Her team was led by Pastor Soeun, a member of the Sa ang CNC and local pastor in Sophay’s community. Sophany said she received a lot of encouragement from her coach and that her team was taught to be patient and love one another with the love of God. Pastor Soeun also invited Sophany to church. After attending, she gave her life to Christ.“I have decided to receive Jesus as my savior and get baptized,” Sophany said. “...playing sports helped me a lot, not just with physical health but with relationships with other youth, and [it also] led me to get salvation for eternal life by believing Jesus, the true God!”In the end, 100 people, including Sophany, accepted Christ and were baptized as a result of these programs. Praise God!Pastor Joseph, the CNC leader, said the day was filled with happiness and gratitude. Friends and family attended to watch their loved ones get baptized, and afterward, everyone enjoyed a meal together. Then, it was time to play and swim!The Sa ang CNC is eager to continue these programs next year, saying they help churches work together and spread the gospel, especially to youth. Thank you for your faithful partnership, which enables work like this to continue across the globe.

DEAR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS,In a world grappling with wave upon wave of crises, I am reminded that we walk on water. Wedo so every day at World Relief — only because we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Through him, we continue to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises, inpartnership with the church.To us, the church is a missional andstrategic partner because it is at the heart of God’s plan to redeem the world. We believe each expression of the worldwide church has a unique and interdependent role in bringing peace, love and justice to abrokenworld. Our distinct calling is to partner with local churches as we contribute synergistically to God’s work of restoration in local communities.In this newsletter, you’ll hear from Je Walser, our Vice President of Strategic Engagement, about the transformational work of the local church in Turkana, Kenya. Speaking of transformation — you’ll see how an environmental cleanup project and a sports ministry led to 100 baptisms in a community in Cambodia! Learn how we’re partnering with churches to boldly engage the mental health crisis in Ukraine. And hear from Bri Stensrud about her passion for creating bridge-building opportunities for Christian women not to feel alone and discontent with the national narrative.We are grateful for your support as we continue to witness transformation around the world and submit ourselves as willing instruments of change. Please pray that we continue treading on water as we work towards our vision of thriving, welcoming communities where families flourish and people experience restorative relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves and all of creation.Together,Fall 2024MYAL GREENE PRESIDENT & CEOPRAYER REQUESTS• Pray for the children in Sudan. Pray that their needs are met and that they experience safety, peace and hope in a situation that has been declared the worst humanitarian crisis in the world for children. • Pray for DRC and other neighboring countries that are experiencing high cases of the mpox outbreak. Please pray for the protection of our sta, their families and the communities we serve, and for concerted eorts to curb the spread of the disease.• Pray for churches we partner with around the world. Pray that more churches in the U.S. will extend their arms in welcome to refugees and forcibly displaced immigrants in their communities, and that churches across the globe would find strength together to take on challenges in their spheres of influence.• Pray for our country: for peace, love and mercy to prevail as we navigate an election season.