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Christians can help refugees in the course of everyday life and not only through the mechanics of sponsorship. Companionship is a need for just about every refugee, regardless of social or economic background. "It's easy to be their friends," says Carol Erickson, chair of Christian Education at the Ravenswood Covenant Church in a diverse North Chicago neighborhood. The relationships she has with several refugees started when her Sunday-school class at Ravenswood decided to give a "Good Samaritan Kit"—which consists of assorted household goods and nonperishable foods—to a new family.

Erickson and a friend organized sign-up sheets for the items needed. "World Relief makes it easy and simple," she says, by supplying a list of needed items.

"Everybody has extra things at home or can spend $5 or $20," Erickson says. Soon the whole church joined in and donated everything from toothbrushes and toilet paper to blankets, dishes, and furniture. "I have learned what it means to be grateful," she says. "They come with nothing."

The church has continued the relationship with the two refugee families they helped. The children of both families have come to summer day camps, and Ravenswood's youth director tutors one of the children. The families are Muslim and don't attend church regularly but have come to special church events.

Thus, what started under the auspices of WR's resettlement program has blossomed into an ongoing commitment. What started in a single Sunday-school class now involves an entire church.

Today the same story is being played out elsewhere in Illinois and locations scattered across the United States as a new "generation" of refugees—this time from Kosovo—finds shelter, encouragement, and hope. Increasingly, wherever we live in the United States, our neighbors will probably include refugees, people who have been forced to leave all that is familiar and comfortable and seek a new life in a strange land. If we have eyes to see, we will recognize them and reach out to them.

Peri Stone is a staff writer for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung in New Braunfels, Texas.

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July 12 1999, Vol. 43, No. 8