About This Devotional
We know you care about raising compassionate, Christ-like children who understand the needs of our world. But talking with your kids about heavy and confusing topics like refugees and resettlement can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How much do you share? Does the Bible say anything about refugees?
Since the 1970s, World Relief has been connecting refugees to welcoming communities across the U.S., fostering a spirit of mutual transformation and celebration — mourning the unimaginable disruptions of displacement and rejoicing together in new beginnings and new friendships. This 5-day devotional will guide you through how to teach your children about refugees and how to pray for them.
100 Million+
People driven from their homes worldwide
32.5 Million
Refugees who have sought safety outside their home country
6,500+
Volunteers who helped welcome refugees through World Relief last year
860
Churches partnering with World Relief in the U.S.
Our communities are changing, and refugees can easily be our neighbors, coworkers, and church members. It is important that we understand what God has to say about being the church beyond Sunday mornings — and equip the next generation to engage with and intercede for the world’s most vulnerable.
How to Use This Guide
| READ | An explanation to be read aloud together as a family. |
| THE BIBLE SAYS | A Bible verse to bring into the discussion and reflection. |
| REFLECT | Questions to guide further conversation together. |
| PRAY | Conclude with the suggested prayer or invite your kids to pray in their own words. |
Quick Tips for Parents
- Keep things simple
- Follow your child’s lead
- Don’t share more information than what is provided in each day’s lesson
- Keep it as an ongoing and open discussion
- If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit it — look into it and follow up
Day 1 — Who Are Refugees?
Refugees are people just like you and me. The di erence is they had to run away from their homes and cross a border into another country because they were being persecuted (in danger of being killed or put into prison) for one or more of five important reasons.
- Because of what they looked like (race)
- Because of what country they came from (nationality)
- Because of their beliefs about God (religion)
- Because of what they thought or said about their government (political opinion)
- Because of their family or other things about themselves they could not change.
It was safer for them to leave their home instead of stay. God loves you. He made you. He knows what your future holds, and he is with you.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:13–14
Day 2 — Why Are Refugees Moving Here?
Read Together
When refugees run away from their homes into another country, they are looking for safety or refuge from persecution. Many of them hope that soon they can return home. But not all countries are entirely safe for them to stay in. Some other country’s governments do not want refugees to stay while other countries, like the United States, agree that a certain number of refugees will be allowed to move here and become permanent residents.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
Reflect Together
- Where do you go when you are feeling unsafe or scared?
- Who do you trust when you want to ask for help or advice?
- God gives us safe places and people to turn to when we need help.
Day 3 — Why Should We Help Refugees?
Read Together
Remember a few days ago when we talked about how you and I are made in God’s image? Well, God loves and cares about all the people in the world — including refugees — and calls us to love and care for those people too.
God wanted his people to remember that they had been oppressed and badly treated when they were strangers in Egypt, but God cared for them and brought them out of Egypt to safety. Remembering God’s compassion and faithfulness towards them should motivate us to welcome strangers into our community and treat them with love and kindness. The apostle Paul reminded the Gentile believers at Ephesus that before the knew Christ, they were excluded from God’s people and his promises- but in Christ, “you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also member of his household” (Ephesians 2:19). As the church, we see that God welcomes us into his eternal family through Christ Jesus, and this gift of grace should motivate us to show hospitality and compassion to others.
“Do not do bad things to foreigners living in your country. You must treat them the same as you treat your own citizens. Love them as you love yourselves. Remember, you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 19:33–34
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
Day 4 — How Do We Help Refugees Settle In?
Read Together
Refugee families need a place to live, parents need to find jobs and learn English, children need to go to school, and the family needs to learn about living in the United States. World Relief has programs around the country that work with refugee families to find a place to live, find jobs, start school, learn about United States culture, learn English, and get help for any medical problems they might have. Friends from churches and neighborhoods choose to volunteer with World Relief. These volunteers become “good neighbors” for refugee families by helping refugee families go to the supermarket, learn English, and adjust to life in the United States. Most importantly, they spend time welcoming and building friendships so that refugee families can feel safe and truly home in a new place.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Matthew 25:35
Reflect Together
- Do you remember trying something new or being in a whole new place? How did it feel?
- Being somewhere new can feel scary at first — but a friendly, kind face can instantly make you feel better.
Day 5 — How Do We Welcome Refugees?
Read Together
It is important to remember that refugee adults and kids have just gone through a really hard time leaving their homes and other family members. They may be feeling a lot of different things so when we want to welcome refugees, we need to try our best to think of how to make them most comfortable. Many refugees may miss the good foods that they used to eat in their home country. We can welcome them by cooking them a good meal and introducing some of our favorites with them. You can also invite them to your home to get to know them or give new refugees a tour of the neighborhood. Getting to know refugees and being a good friend is the best way to make them feel welcome.
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:1–2
Resources for Parents
Further Learning
- Intro to Resettlement Course — World Relief
- I Was a Stranger — YouVersion Reading Plan
- Christ-Like Welcome — YouVersion Reading Plan
- Welcoming the Stranger Guide — World Relief
- Was Jesus a Refugee? — World Relief Blog
- Drivers of Mass Displacement — World Relief
- Life Across Borders Podcast — World Relief
Children's Books on Refugees & Immigration
- The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
- When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson
- Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
Published by 世界救济.