Since 1988 World Relief Minnesota (WRM), in partnership with local churches, has been welcoming the persecuted people of the world who have come to Minnesota to begin a new life of freedom and safety with their families. WRM provides a variety of direct services to refugee and immigrant families, including:

• Reception and Placement – pickup at the airport, orientation, arrange initial housing, furniture, clothing and food.
• Employment Services – job search assistance, interview preparation, access to some vocational training programs and referrals to other social services.
• Cash Assistance for up to eight months as refugees seek employment.
• Legal Services related to immigration, family reunification and citizenship
• Citizenship Classes
• Refugee Community Gardens

World Relief believes that local congregations offer the best context for assisting the poor to overcome their lack of opportunities and to offer hope and life. Just as Jesus cared for the poor, widows, and orphans, Christians can make a lasting impact in the lives of refugees. Our investment in real friendships is a powerful expression of our faith and love for God. World Relief empowers, equips, and strengthens churches to serve their communities, enabling them to act as beacons of hope and of the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Currently World Relief Minnesota is partnering with several dozen churches and their volunteers to:

• Teach English to immigrants (SALT)
• Build on-going relationships between Somali immigrants and American families (Rajo)
• Mentor a refugee family during their first year in the U.S. (RLM- Refugee Life Ministries)
• Donate furniture and clothing as part of Welcome Kits for new refugees.

This year, our Refugee Life Ministry Program (RLM) has TWO matching grant opportunities before us which will enable us to train and equip even more church teams to work with newly arriving refugees. We have eight new churches in various stages of getting ready to welcome new refugee families this fall, with the matching funds to be used to expand, train and mobilize even more teams. The two matching opportunities for expansion of World Relief Minnesota’s RLM outreach are:

• A $15,000 matching grant from the Bell Lumber and Pole Company
• A $20,000 anonymous matching grant from a family.

Any support given to our Refugee Life Ministry Program before the end of this year will be
matched twice.

Please Note: You will have the opportunity to designate your donation to a particular ministry of World Relief Minnesota such as SALT, Rajo, or RLM, after submitting your desired amount through the "Make a Donation" box to the right.