How Can Churches Help Immigrants and Refugees Today? A Conversation with Rev. Eric Shafer
Pastor Nate talks with Pastor Eric Shafer, Pastor in Residence at Global Refuge, about refugees, immigration, faith, and what it means to love our neighbors in real life. This Together 4 Good conversation explores why refugee support is deeply connected to Christian faith, Lutheran history, and the biblical call to welcome the stranger.
Eric shares how Global Refuge supports immigrants and refugees through welcome centers, legal support, community partnerships, and long-term care. Together, Nate and Eric talk about how churches can respond with compassion, clarity, prayer, learning, advocacy, and action.
What You’ll Learn:
What refugees are and why safety is central to the conversation
Why Scripture calls Christians to welcome immigrants and refugees
How Global Refuge helps people rebuild their lives
How Lutheran churches have supported refugee resettlement for decades
How individuals and congregations can help refugees through prayer, giving, learning, and advocacy
Chapters:
00:00 Coming up on Together 4 Good
00:36 Meet Pastor Eric Shafer of Global Refuge
03:34 Why refugee ministry is part of a pastor’s call
05:00 What Scripture says about welcoming strangers
05:45 A bold claim about faith, immigrants, and refugees
07:44 Responding to pushback with faith and compassion
09:23 The Lutheran history of refugee support
11:00 Refugees, asylum, and common misunderstandings
11:35 What does refugee mean?
14:00 What Global Refuge welcome centers do
16:20 How Jesus responds to people in need
17:30 Why immigration needs order and compassion
20:30 How people and churches can help refugees
21:20 Faith Alliance training for congregations
22:00 Advocacy, local support, and prayer
25:00 World Refugee Day and Lutheran history
26:00 Gratitude for churches supporting refugee work
If this conversation helped you think more clearly about faith, refugees, immigration, and loving your neighbor, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may want to learn more about Global Refuge and how churches can support refugee neighbors.
Connect with Bethany:
📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO
🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org