International Missions Partnerships

focus:refugees

By the end of 2020, 82.4 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. That was an increase of 2.9 million people over the previous year, and the world’s forcibly displaced population remained at a record high. This includes:

26.4 million refugees in the world—the highest ever seen;
48.0 million internally displaced people; and
4.1 million asylum-seekers.

Refugees and Immigrants: Our Neighbors

Refugees are our neighbors. What does it look like to "love them as ourselves"?

We have partnerships with our friends in the European Baptist Federation (EBF). Much of their work serves migrants, refugees, and displaced persons.

As the refugee "crisis" unfolded in Europe and the Middle East over the past years, many Baptist Unions within the EBF have risen to the occasion to respond. Through their years of experience and their continuing work, we have a great opportunity to learn, to listen deeply, and to engage in ministry with them. We have seen how even small Baptist Unions can make a huge impact, witnessed God’s love for the stranger in action, and experienced how the refugee "crisis" is actually an opportunity to grow God’s Kingdom.

Through prayer, financial support, and service engagement, churches and individuals can support refugee work in Europe and connect with refugee work in the U.S. We pray that our work is fruitful, meaningful, and furthers the reality of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Learn more about our focus:refugees partners at the following links and see how you and your church can be involved in Impact Missions focus:refugees

How many refugees and forcibly displaced people are there? (Figures at a glance | UNHCR)

As of the end of 2024, the most recent reporting period, 123.2 million people had been forced to flee their homes globally due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order.

Among them were nearly 42.7 million refugees. In addition, there were 73.5 million people displaced within the borders of their own countries (IDPs) and 8.4 million asylum-seekers.

There are also 4.4 million stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement.