Update on the Refugee Ministry — May 2025

The national Episcopal Migration Ministries continues to function to advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, but has lost almost all federal funding as a resettlement agency with the State Department and is functioning with a significant reduction in staff. Remaining staff are working very hard to still provide services and prayerfully hope that they will be allowed to continue this ministry. You can still read about their mission at episcopalmigrationministries.org.

Our Saint James’ Refugee Ministry has met to take stock of our future mission and has made some decisions based on the current refugee situation in the U.S., and our available human resources. We are deeply challenged by lack of volunteer hands to assist with this ministry, and for that reason, have made a decision to “take a pause” in this ministry at Saint James’. We have provided significant assistance to four Afghan families plus another Afghan individual in the past 2 ½ years. These families are in varying stages of independence and will continue to receive guidance and some financial assistance from Saint James’ as needed. We will not be “adopting” any new refugee families or asylum seekers at time. 

We wish to express our deep gratitude for the support and friendship provided by Saint James’ to our refugee friends and continue to ask that this community pray for all of the strangers and outcasts in our midst.