Refugee Empowerment Pathway
Have you ever seen the movie “Home Alone?” I have a “home alone” experience in my past that I still remember vividly. My fear and aloneness lasted for several days. Imagine those feelings lasting years or even the rest of your life. That is the reality for most of our refugee neighbors.
Our refugee neighbors (about 6,000 live in the apartments just east of our building) are home alone. Oh they may have their families living with them, but they are alone. They are alone in that they are separated from the American culture. Even the most courageous who attempt to engage us are most often rejected, not because Americans are mean but because we are busy. We are so busy that we have to prioritize who we spend time with. And most often we prioritize based on similar interests, backgrounds and personalities. Refugees don’t make that cut and, therefore, they remain alone. And this leaves them crippled in terms of developing personally, spiritually and vocationally in America, their new home.
Refugees are people who have been forced from their homeland due to religious, political and/or social persecution and they are not able to return. Each year approximately 60,000 refugees are granted permanent residence and work status in the United States. Dallas receives 1,000-1,500 every year. Fellowship’s Refugee Empowerment Pathway (REP) is a 12-week class preparing refugee participants to be successful in a new world, by helping them build connections through Richland College and in American small groups.
26 Refugee Empowerment Pathway (REP) graduates celebrated with family, friends and many from Fellowship on December 13, 2009. They completed a difficult program where they learned key character traits including “Just Do It”(taking personal responsibility), “How Can I?”(having a positive attitude) and “First Things First”(time management). In addition, they are now enrolled at Richland College for English and vocational training.
Now just one essential element is lacking . . . Christian community. If you are in a small group, would you consider welcoming one of our REP graduates into your group? If you are not in a small group, would you consider joining a group with a few of our REP graduates. They all speak basic English, have transportation and have demonstrated their commitment to personal development. Contact Ryan Schwanke at to participate.
