Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugees Crisis

by Stephan Bauman, Matthew Soerens, Dr. Issam Smeir

Recipient of Christianity Today's Award of Merit in Politics and Public Life, 2016

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What will rule our fear or compassion?

We can’t ignore the refugee crisis—arguably the greatest geo-political issue of our time—but how do we even begin to respond to something so massive and complex?

In Seeking Refuge, three experts from World Relief, a global organization serving refugees, offer a practical, well-rounded, well-researched guide to the issue.

Who are refugees and other displaced peoples?What are the real risks and benefits of receiving them?How do we balance compassion and security?Drawing from history, public policy, psychology, many personal stories, and their own unique Christian worldview, the authors offer a nuanced and compelling portrayal of the plight of refugees and the extraordinary opportunity we have to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Social Justice, Christianity, Politics, Faith, Justice

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2016

About the author

STEPHAN BAUMAN is the President and CEO of World Relief, an international relief and development organization partnering with the global Church to serve more than five million vulnerable people each year. World Relief is also the founder and convener of The Justice Conference. Stephan's pursuit of justice led him to transition from a successful career in the Fortune 100 sector to Africa where he directed relief and development programs for nearly a decade before returning to the United States to lead World Relief's global operations. He holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Wheaton College, and the University of Wisconsin. He is a poet, an author, an ordained minister and a strategist. He considers his African friends his most important teachers, and his wife, Belinda, his most important mentor. Stephan, Belinda, and their two sons, Joshua and Caleb, live near Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winsome model for Christian political discourse, and a thoroughly biblical and reasonable treatment of the global refugee crisis. With perhaps one very minor caveat in the ninth and tenth chapters, at no point do the authors speak uncharitably about adherents of any political perspective. Throughout the book, avoiding anything inflammatory or speculative, they carefully present a biblical theology of migration, share the stories of those with forced migration experiences, explore the facts of the refugee resettlement process, highlight ways in which churches have been responding, and can further respond, to the crisis, and call us back to loving action ("Faced with a global refugee crisis unprecedented in recorded history, now is the moment for the church to shine, not to hide our light" [181]). The authors contribute helpful nuance without losing sight of the biblical imperatives of love, mercy, and justice; they fairly and gently answer the concerns of many professing believers and other Americans about refugees; and they explore numerous other issues that refugees and those who partner with them may face (e.g., PTSD among refugees). Through it all, what emerges is a thoroughly gospel-centered response spread throughout an extensively well-presented guide to the plight, the policy, and above all the people involved.

[Caleb Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I partially read this for my work, but I’m so glad I did. Seeking Refuge is an in-depth look at the plight of refugees internationally and particularly those in the US. It makes a compelling case for both why admitting refugees is a vital opportunity for the US and why getting involved should be an integral practice for Christians. It breaks down many of the negative stereotypes associated with refugees and laments the church’s lack of action serving and coming alongside this vulnerable population, but also shared many inspiring success stories of communities making an impact. Highly recommend to anyone who wants a nuanced look at the refugee resettlement experience and what the church’s role in it should be.

Here were some stats and quotes that stuck with me:


“Around 0.5% of the worlds refugees are resettled in a third country each year (not country of origin out country of first asylum)”

“The average time from when a refugee first fled their country until they are finally settled in a permanent setting is 17 years”

“Religious freedom for some is not religious freedom for long - Ed Stetzer”

“The average immigrant pays significantly more in taxes than they receive in governmental services and benefits”

“According to self-reported polls, the most important issue to evangelical Christians is the economy” (not refugee/immigration policy, poverty, abortion, marriage, or religious liberty)

“More Christians were beneficiaries of the US refugee resettlement program in the last decade than those of any other world religion”

“No refugee admitted through the through the US resettlement program has ever committed an act of terrorism on US soil”

[Jan Bustrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors are sharing as those who have worked with, lived among refugees, and been a refugee. To gain a perspective of why one would flee one's homeland, and the struggles they face, read this. Expect to be challenged on how we may participate as well. Please read this before you read/ listen to any more refugee/immigration stories in the news. To be well rounded, compassionate people, we must look at both sides.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, I feel the weight of the biblical mandate to care for refugees much more than I did before. They addressed both how we can can for those who have been forced to flee their homes and move west, and the larger systemic issues that are causing this crisis.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invaluable, timely, and necessary book for all Christians (and anyone else wanting to be more informed on the refugee process and experience). This book shines a light through the confusing fake news and misplaced fear of our contemporary situation, reminding the church of its calling to love others.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the more helpful books I've read on the topic. The authors provide a helpful overview of the situation, different perspectives on the situation, what different countries are doing about it, and what the Church ought to do about it. Brief and helpful.

[Carissa Zaffiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty specifically targeted at a right-leaning evangelical audience. Very well researched and well-written. I just wish we didn't need a whole book to convince Christians of what they should already be doing.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang, this was good. This is one of those books we’ve had for a few years that was a sort of holdover from our time at Wheaton; one of the co-authors helped to direct the “human needs and global resources” program that placed austin in Rwanda for 6mo to learn from an org that facilitated trauma healing and reconciliation workshops. I think that’s how we ended up with it. The other two coauthors bring distinctive perspectives and expertise, and the three strands are really effectively braided together.

I’ve been kind of frustrated, especially since reading *Compassion and Conviction*, by books/people that are trying to speak to evangelical audiences (super broadly conceived) on political issues, i think with the intent of trying to pry them away from super tightly held (but maybe not super thoroughly reflected upon) assumptions/views, but without alienating anyone. They end up feeling like they don’t have much of a perspective—they, like, are trying to develop a framework for thinking about how values can inform political engagement that could help ppl shift perspectives, but they very well might end up just sort of affirming whatever people already came to the table with. If books like that actually facilitated dialogue among ppl with different viewpoints and got people to realize that the US has an ongoing problem with racism (for ex), I think they could be valuable, but that wasn’t my experience with it.

This book is NOT that. This book has a perspective and has policy recommendations and (mostly) doesn’t pull punches. Their bottom line is, if you say you care about using the Bible as a basis for developing values around the refugee crisis, you should welcome refugees and work to support a smooth transition for refugees, and that without putting faith-related-conditions on any support you can give. They are definitely making a case to a skeptical audience and have done their research, and I think it’s really persuasive.

Also, this came out in 2015, and it’s heartbreaking to think about what happened in the administration that followed. In the midst of all of the political energy/action with our new admin, reading this was a good reminder to keep advocating for policies that welcome refugees—let’s hope Biden actually signs this exec order to expand refugee admissions!

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I Read This Book: 

My family has been involved with the refugee crisis for the last couple of years - ever since one of my sisters went over to Greece to help the refugees. (You can find out more about their work there at i58.) 

What I Thought about this Book:

This book was good. It had a lot of information, a lot of facts, a lot of statistics. And yet, at the same time, it was interesting and put faces to what is going on. It's so easy to get caught up in numbers and forget that each number represents a person like you and me - a person with hopes, dreams, fears, and problems. A person who has had to give up more than most of us can ever imagine. A person who has been traumatized by destruction and hatred. 

Seeking Refuge talks about everything that is going on today with the refugees. The book discusses the politics, fears people have, what we can do to help, what we shouldn't do, how to relate to refugees, what constitutes being an actual refugee, and the list goes on. The best part about this book is that it talks about everything from a very Biblical point of view. 

Near the beginning of the book, they discuss dangers that come along with refugees, and also dangers that people think go along with refugees, and actually don't. Studies and statistics have found that welcoming refugees is a good thing for the economy, etc... and that with all the screening that's done, it really is safe, also. But, one thing I really liked about the book is how the authors pointed out that even if that wasn't the case, we're still commanded in the Bible to take care of refugees. But really, the book does such a better job of explaining it than I do, so you should read the book. 

Conclusion:

This is a book I think a lot of Christians should read. It has important, spot-on information. 

Rating: 

I’m giving Seeking Refuge 4 out of 5 stars, and 8 out of 10.

*I received this book from Moody Press in exchange for a review

[Isabelle reads a book a day because she has no friends · Rating 5 out of 5]

“True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”
What an excellent guide to living out Jesus’ command and actively loving our neighbors. Seeking Refuge is a biblical basis for advocacy. This ongoing crisis is proof that it is an urgent time for the church to speak up, especially for those who cannot speak for themselves. This book gives us example after example, directly from the Bible, that we have been commanded to love and serve the foreigner. It reveals the heartbreaking reality refugees face and what we can do to help them. This is a topic that has weighed heavy on my heart as of late, and I’m so glad I stumbled across this book. I borrowed an audiobook version from the library, but halfway through I ordered the physical copy because knew I needed to share it with anyone who would listen.

[Hayden Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeking Refuge gave a helpful perspective for what many refugees experience and endure. It’s hard to believe how so many people are forced to flee their own country, a problem I’ve never come close to experiencing.

[Kristi Jett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It is a good read for anyone interested in ministering to refugees. I also believe it would be a beneficial read for any American, but especially Christians, in order to better understand who refugees are and why they are fleeing their home countries and seeking asylum elsewhere.

[Layne Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introductory book regarding the global refugee crisis & how the Church should respond.

[Brian Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhetoric is language designed to have a persuasive effect on its audience, and for the past several decades (probably even earlier than that) our country's political rhetoric has held sway for any given politicians constituency. This means that our leaders, ALL of them, have been participating in a game of divide and conquer -- that is divide our nation in order to conquer a segment of the voter block. What is often done in the place of factual analysis, the use of virtuous wisdom, and the pursuit of judicious government is what I like to call rhetorical inflammation and agitation. There are several clear areas where this is happening right now (from both sides) in which one particular group paints the other as to be feared, and the supporter of the other as idiotic. This is persuasive because it plays on the underlying assumptions of particular peoples day-to-day reality, and the fear of losing this. Neither side seems to speak the language of the other side, and instead of

An area where we have seen this played out publicly has been surrounding the refugee crisis our world is currently facing. Both sides have leveraged the fears and passions of their constituents to hurl damaging political blows to their advisories; meanwhile we, the public, remain largely uninformed by these broad and sweeping statements of ideology with little to no grounding in actual facts, statistics, stories, and human compassion. Instead we have been met with antiquated tropes that do little to bring everyone together to look at what is actually happening and to reflect on this topic as it is rather than in the context of my specific ideological framework (which distorts everything if it is cast in iron and blocking out all other realities and perspectives without consideration).

This book does an excellent job in presenting factual information combined with personal narratives to see exactly how these statistics have played out in an actual person's life. No matter where you fall on the ideological spectrum books such as this are important to read in order to inform the reality of the situation. If we approached more topics with this level of thoughtful candor maybe we could, as a country, find ourselves able to enter a more reasonable space between our differing views.

[Joel Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book suggested reading for our congregation as we prepare to welcome a family of Ukrainian refugees. It is one of the most engaging and applicable books I’ve read in many years. I’d love to see it become required reading for Christian congregations across the United States. My copy is littered with underlining, notes in the margins, and topics and other books I want to explore further.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about the church’s role in welcoming refugees, how laws and policies differ for various groups of foreigners arriving in the United States, and for a compelling case for why it is important for Christians to be involved in welcoming refugees to our communities regardless is of religion and nation of origin.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who desires to learn the process a person must go through to become a legal refugee in the US should read this book. It’s informative and gives an excellent picture of how it all works. For a Christian reading this book, you would be hard pressed to not see the responsibility we have to show compassion & aid to refugees and alyssum seekers. It was beautifully written and a joy to read. The authors did an excellent job addressing common fears and misconceptions about the current refugee crisis as well as reviewing our country’s history of helping refugees in the past.

[Amanda Anger · Rating 5 out of 5]

In one afternoon, I listened to this audio book. It was a very informative and biblical perspective on the refuge crisis. It was written recently, within the last 5 years, so it had current data and was very moving. It's one of those books that lights a fire under me. It certainly helped me reframe my mind biblically about what a Christian's response should be to refugees. Not that I was anti refugee prior to reading this, but more that I didn't have a reason from the Bible about why I as a Christian should help. Definitely recommend.

[James Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worthwhile read for church members and leaders, regardless of your political stance, hard questions must be asked regarding the Christian position on all immigrants, be they refugees or "illegal." The authors do an excellent job of balancing a hard hitting review of scriptural dictates with personal stories.

[Emily Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book i will be reading again soon. It’s too good and important not to.

[Becca Newport · Rating 5 out of 5]

So helpful in understanding the refugee crisis across the world

[Abigail Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful perceptive on the christians views of the refugee crisis. Lots of excellent information and resources so that we can actually get up and do something about this! LOVED IT!

[Jessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, to the point, Biblically sound. Loved it.

[Christabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad to have gone through this one. Having friends in Europe who have been working with refugees, I've been interested in the aspects of refugees coming here. It was good to hear from a ministry that works with refugees. I was not familiar with World Relief before starting this book. Since then, I have gained quite a bit of respect for them. We do have a responsibility to show love to the most vulnerable. What better way to be the hands and feet of Christ?

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text starts with biblical analysis. "Welcoming the stranger ... is the most often repeated commandment in the Hebrew Scriptures, with the exception of the imperative to worship only the one God" (Espin). "The pharaoh in Egypt did not know the Hebrews' individual names, faces, and stories: he feared them as a group, without knowing the particularities."

Notes: World Relief describes itself as explicitly evangelical (an open invitation to a personal relationship with Jesus), but rejecting proselytization (coercive conversion). Asylum-seekers are held in detention facilities (over half operated by companies with a profit incentive) in the U.S. for an average of 78 days. Volunteers should go through training to understand trauma, legal processes, and dangers of paternalism.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into the book sympathetic and in agreement with the book's general thesis. However, I feel it could use stronger argumentation overall. It read like a book for the already-convinced and not one I would present to someone skeptical. There is a place for that, yet even for those already convinced, this is only a starting point with which to engage other literature.

[Jen Mayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less than 200 pages, but an excellent overview of the refugee crisis and process (for U.S.) . Addresses a lot of the misconceptions in regards to refugees. Highly recommend!

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that World Relief (a Christian relief organization) has put together to help Christians understand more about the current refugee crisis, and what parts we as individuals and as a nation can play in this situation.

The book begins with a brief overview of the statistics of the crisis (more than 60 million people displaced worldwide, about 20 million of them fleeing their home countries -- half of whom are children). It's hard to wrap our minds around numbers like these, which is all the more reason to read a book about it!

There are three primary authors of this book: Stephan Bauman, president of World Relief, Matthew Soerens, a World Relief worker, and Dr. Issam Smeir, a professional counselor who was born in Jordan and is the son of a refugee -- he currently works with refugees who are healing from trauma. Each author briefly shares their story and describes the circumstances that led them to do the work they are currently doing.

They acknowledge the conflict many Christians feel about trying to balance national security with helping others, but contend that:

"We need not and ought not choose between caring for refugees locally and caring for refugees overseas, because how we respond here directly impacts what happens there. The world is watching how we in the United States respond to the relatively few refugees who reach our shores, and our government's encouragement to other nations to protect those fleeing persecution lacks credibility if we do not do our part." (p 17)

The authors implore Christians to think biblically about migration. They note that, while we will be quick to say that the Bible is our primary authority on life topics, immigration is one area where that doesn't seem to be the case. They say that:

"For many evangelical Christians ... refugees and immigration are thought of as political, economic, and cultural issues, rather than as a biblical concern. A recent LifeWay Research survey of American evangelical Christians found that just 12 percent said that they think about immigration issues primarily from the perspective of the Bible. In fact, when asked what most influenced their thinking on this topic, the Bible, the local church, and national Christian leaders combined were reported less often than the media." (p 29)

They assert that while there are many current cultural issues that the Bible doesn't speak directly about (taxation rates, gun control), "as we examine the question of how to treat refugees and other immigrants, the Bible actually has a lot to say." (p 30)

Jesus was a refugee, and the authors look to many other biblical examples of refugees, as well as Jesus's teachings about loving our neighbors and how we see other people. We are also told the personal stories of several different refugees, whose countries, religions, and backgrounds all vary, but who found themselves on the run and in need of safety. This helps us to put a human face on this crisis, and not just see these people as statistics or scapegoats.

The authors address several common concerns and misconceptions they often hear about refugees -- from economic concerns (refugees provide a net gain to our economy -- and refugee men are more likely to be employed than US citizen men), to confusing refugees with "illegals," (refugees are, by definition, in the country legally), questions about religion (I did not realize that Christians make up a much larger percentage of refugees, over the past few years, than any other religion), and fears of terrorism. Ultimately, they make the case that we love and welcome refugees because God loves them (and us), and though there will always be legitimate reasons to fear, we choose not to let that fear overcome our love.

Other chapters detail the refugee resettlement process, and touch on other displaced peoples too -- from those who are internally displaced (and not considered refugees), to those who are asylum seekers -- this helped me to understand the difference between refugees, asylum seekers, and those who are undocumented. These terms are often thrown around in reference to the wrong people and can become confusing.

The authors then give practical suggestions and opportunities to respond to this crisis. They give stories of how some situations have unfolded in various parts of the US, and advice on how we can serve refugees without hurting. We're given information about PTSD and the effect that can often have on those who have lived through trauma -- at least 39 percent of refugees experience PTSD, compared to just one percent of the general population.

We are also encouraged to consider and respond to the larger issues that compel people to become refugees in the first place:

"What people believe and value matter because they drive their behaviors, whether good or bad. As we think about how we can most effectively bring positive change to any culture, including our own, we must understand the relationship between behaviors, values, and beliefs. Change that yields results without a corresponding change in values and beliefs will be superficial and often temporary." (p 156)

"The global refugee crisis is indeed global. It isn't a question of whether we should respond here (in the West) or there (at the crisis' points of origin), nor if we should address immediate needs or root causes. We can and must do all of the above." (p 164)

The authors then discuss how we can interact with the politics and policies of our government to help justice be done, and how we can practically advocate for refugees and others who are vulnerable.

There were many stories told in this book, both sad ones and encouraging ones, but one of the ones I found most convicting was the overview of the events surrounding the SS St. Louis, which was a ship of German Jewish asylum seekers that was turned away from the US in 1939. Over 200 people aboard were later killed in the Holocaust.

"That same year, a bipartisan bill in Congress to allow twenty thousand Jewish refugee children from Germany was introduced ... [the] wife of the US Commissioner of Immigration fretted that '20,000 charming children would all too soon grow up into 20,000 ugly adults,' reflecting the sentiment of many Americans at the time. Her cousin, President Roosevelt, did not support the bill, which ultimately was defeated. In 1941, the Roosevelt administration tightened restrictions on Jewish refugees, worried that some could be -- or could become -- Nazi spies." (p 167)

They summarize with "These stories are an important illustration of why refugee policy matters: the decisions of elected officials directly impact people made by God, whose lives we believe are precious." (p 168)

This has been and still is a big (and sometimes subconscious) challenge to me, to come to terms with the fact that because everyone is valuable to God, my behavior toward them should reflect that. Being from America or looking like me does not change any of these facts.

It can be hard to process when the problems of the world seem so large and the statistics are so overwhelming. There is fear generated everywhere, and in my mind the only way to overcome that is to realize that there is someone more powerful than that fear. To truly believe that perfect love casts out fear.

The question on the back of this book, "What will rule our hearts: Fear or compassion?" has been a challenge to me as I try to honestly answer this question for myself, and may get a different answer at any given moment! I know that, if left to my own gut reactions, I'm just as likely as anyone else to have an inherent fear of those who are different or foreign to me, and that's why I need to continually remind myself of things like this.

This book is short and covers a lot of topics that it is only able to cover briefly -- much more could be said in more detail about peacemaking, Islam and ISIS, loving our neighbors, US public policy, and refugees themselves. But I found it a good start, and a useful, timely challenge.

I'll end with one more quote from the end of the book:

"Our ultimate hope for this book is that the church would shine its light through the refugee crisis. As we access the same power that rose Jesus from the dead, we pray God's people would rise up as never before to welcome strangers, each doing what God has called all of us to do:
To bind up the brokenhearted.
To love our neighbors.
To do justice.
To love mercy.
To pray without ceasing.
To practice hospitality, and to learn to receive hospitality of others.
Maybe just to take a plate of cookies across the street, trusting that a smile can overcome a language barrier." (p 184)

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

On September 2, 2015, the world was confronted by a photograph.

Taken by the Turkish journalist Nilüfer Demir, the photo depicted a toddler lying dead on a beach. He had drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. The boy’s name, we would learn, was Alan Kurdi. He and his family, who are of Kurdish descent, had fled Syria as refugees and were trying to reach Europe, in hopes of eventually being resettled in Canada.

The photograph immediately propelled the refugee crisis to the front page of newspapers and the top of newscasts. World leaders – including French president François Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron – expressed their sympathy for the boy’s family and voiced the need for a robust, compassionate response to the plight of refugees. A year later, speaking at the UN, President Obama referred to the photograph that had haunted us all – the image of “little Alan Kurdi from Syria, lifeless, face down on a Turkish beach, in his red shirt and blue pants.” The global refugee crisis, he went on to say, represented “a test of our common humanity.”

Around that same time, last September, the New York Times published an article with an eye-catching headline: “Evangelicals Ignore G.O.P. by Embracing Syrian Refugees.” While acknowledging the fact that certain high-profile evangelical leaders had sided with those in the Republican party who were calling for more restrictive policies, the article noted that in the past year over 1,000 churches had partnered with one refugee-resettlement agency alone – just one of several such organizations that work with churches in the United States. Refugee resettlement, in other words, isn’t a fringe movement among a small subset of evangelicals.

On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump was elected president. In exit polling, it was revealed that 81% of those self-identifying as white evangelicals had voted for the man who, among other things, had called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”

What is going on, indeed?

I remember a time, not that long ago, when evangelical support for refugee resettlement was uncontroversial. A decade ago, as a caseworker with Church World Service in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, it was my job to help refugees with the resettlement process. Churches – including conservative evangelical ones – played an indispensable role by providing volunteers who would furnish apartments, provide transportation, assist with translation, and perhaps most of all, simply offer their friendship.

Lancaster remains a refugee-resettlement powerhouse, with the BBC recently dubbing it “America’s refugee capital.” Yet across the country, including among those who self-identify as evangelicals, fear has crept in. And welcoming the stranger – something the Bible repeatedly and unequivocally urges us to do – has become a controversial thing to advocate, much less actually do.

That’s precisely why Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis (Moody) is so timely and important. Co-authored by Stephan Bauman, Matthew Soerens, and Dr. Issam Smeir of World Relief – which, incidentally, operates as the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals – this is just the book for those grappling with the many tough questions surrounding the refugee crisis: How do we respond to scripture’s clear imperatives to show compassion to sojourners and seek justice for victims of oppression, while also supporting prudent policies that will keep our country safe? Why, from an economic perspective, should we accept refugees when there are already too many Americans who can’t find jobs or who depend on limited social services? How can we be sure refugees are vetted sufficiently before being admitted to the United States? Even if they’re not terrorists, won’t refugees inevitably alter the social fabric of this country we love?

I won’t delineate the answers to all those questions here, but rest assured they’re addressed winsomely, carefully, and thoroughly in the pages of the book. For present purposes, let me leave you with three observations about why Seeking Refuge is worth your time.

First, it’s respectful. Too much of our political discourse these days, to the extent that it happens, is coarse and emotionally charged. We assume the worst in those who see things differently than we do, and we’re quick to impugn motives. The authors of Seeking Refuge have no interest in playing that game, and neither should we. By acknowledging the complexity of these issues and refusing to demonize those who would disagree, they establish trust and pave the way for clear, careful thinking.

Which brings me to the second point: this book is factual. Christians, of all people, should be concerned with the truth. As the Catholic novelist Flannery O’Connor famously put it, “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it emotionally.” Parroting falsehoods is wrong, so it is our responsibility to seek out the truth by turning to credible sources. The authors of this book do just that. And in case you’re worried the authors have been duped by “fake news,” you’ll be happy to see references to studies by the likes of the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute – hardly bastions of liberal propaganda.

Third, and finally, the authors frame the book’s argument around the consistent teaching of scripture. Chapter after chapter, they keep bringing us back to the Bible. The authors, motivated by their faith in Jesus Christ, have set out to demonstrate that regardless of the shifting winds of partisan arguments for or against welcoming the stranger, the teaching of the Bible is clear.

If you already consider welcoming refugees to be a Christian responsibility – or even better, a privilege and an opportunity to extend the love of Christ – you might allow this book to challenge the way you go about trying to change other people’s minds. And if you’re not yet convinced that we can and should embrace refugees as neighbors worthy of our love, it should be clear by now why I’d encourage you to give this book a try.

Three-year-old Alan Kurdi was made in the image of God. That’s one reason why this child – who none of us had met, from a town none of us had heard of, from a country few of us can point to on a map – so captured our attention two years ago. It’s why that photo should haunt us still.

Yes, we want our country and our neighborhoods to be safe from terror. And yes, we should extend hospitality to those who are fleeing the world’s worst perpetrators of evil. Fortunately, we don’t need to choose between the two – and neither should our refugee neighbors.

[Jill Rey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, it felt like the story of the refugee crisis within Seeking Refuge took a backseat to the message of God the authors sought to bring across in this book. However, there were a few key messages I took from this book that bear repeating:

1. Refugees are human too. It is important to remember we must treat others as we wish to be treated should we find ourselves in the situations described within. I pray someone would be kind to me and providing shelter and food to my own family should we be upended. We all need to be more welcoming and forgiving.

2. It is not appropriate to ask if said “refugee” is legally or illegally here. We must not discriminate as HUMAN means HUMAN. All humans have the same basic needs and we should not judge based on legal status.

a. Good points were made surrounding those that chose to discriminate based on:

i. Economy – there is proof refugees ADD positively to our economy. In the work they do, the spending they put back into the local economy and community service they often provide in return. In fact, of the governmental dollars used to bring refugees into the U.S. these same refugees often pay more in taxes than they ever use over their lifetime. Also, refugees are often more likely than natural born citizens to be entrepreneurial in spirit, further boosting the business economy.

ii. The Bible – Jesus was a refugee, seemingly an illegal one at that. I implore you to read this book to understand the insight and specific bible study verses that further back this statement.

3. Rather than seeing refugees as a “threat” or “burden” approach them as you would any other relationship you hope to develop or nurture. Overcome whatever timid fear you may be experiencing and think of it as an opportunity to communicate and learn from others. Show compassion, because when you know someone personally “that person stops being a stereotype and becomes a complex human being like oneself,” (p. 50).

Important messages are certainly contained within Seeking Refuge, it just takes some wading through the MANY biblical references, themes and undertones to get to the gist. I also urge everyone to further explore World Relief to learn more about the great work they are doing to easy the welcoming of refugees, further discussed within this book.

For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordp...

*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Racey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three authors of this book argue winsomely the importance of ministry to the refugee population, not only in the United States, but around the world. They tell their own riveting stories in the first chapter to emphasize from the very beginning how loving and caring for the vulnerable in our world is personal. They then proceed to tell the stories of many other refugees to impress upon the reader not only a more intimate understanding of the trauma facing these people but also that no two refugees are alike. They all have different stories.

Well-researched and authoritative, this book was a deceptively quick read with almost half of the pages taken up by the bibliography, appendices, and other resources. They utilized vastly helpful graphs and charts so the reader doesn’t become too bogged down by numbers to see the data more clearly. Farther in the book comes highly practical information for involvement in this work that makes further research into this subject easy. It was helpful to learn about specific details of the legal definition of a refugee as opposed to an immigrant, what makes an immigrant illegal, etc. They particularly answered questions common among evangelicals having to do with refugees and illegal immigrants that I found satisfying.

From the very beginning they use Scripture as a basis for understanding that everyone is valuable, made in the image of God, and continue to use Scripture to demonstrate the biblical importance of this ministry. I particularly appreciated the use of Jesus as an example of a refugee and the scripture throughout the Old Testament to emphasize the mandated responsibility of believers to care for the foreigner and vulnerable in our midst. The examples were stunning. Please consider this an informative and rewarding challenge that breathes life into a stagnated debate among the American evangelical world.