Learning to assist refugees

Nancy Amis of Grace Church Cathedral recently returned from attending a three-day training sponsored by The Episcopal Church to equip Episcopalians as advocates, allies, and ambassadors for refugees and the ministry of refugee resettlement.

"Love God, Love Neighbor" was sponsored by Episcopal Migration Ministries. Nancy says she had a wonderful time meeting with fellow Episcopalians at the training in Atlanta May 2-4. In 2017, EMM and its network of local affiliates welcomed more than 3,000 refugees and 900 SIV’s (Special Immigrant Visa) from 34 countries in 30 communities in 26 dioceses.

At Grace Church Cathedral, Nancy and others have organized a group to explore ways to help resettle a refugee family in the Charleston area. However, Nancy says that under the current government climate, it is uncertain whether that can happen anytime soon.

"Until that time, what we can do is to raise awareness of the dire need to resettle families who are stricken by the atrocities of their homeland," she says.

World Refugee Day is on Wednesday, June 20, making June a good time to remind Episcopalians about the work done by Episcopal Migration Ministries. Please visit EMM on their website, and follow them on Facebook. To learn more about Grace's refugee ministry, contact Nancy Amis at [email protected].
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Nancy Amis, left, with the Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, Director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, in Atlanta.