news article
Welcoming the Stranger: Christ Church’s Ongoing Mission with Journey’s End
February 25, 2025 / By Rev. Daven Oskvig, Christ United Methodist Church in Amherst / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
"For I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35)
For 26 years, Christ Church Amherst has lived out these words by extending a compassionate welcome to refugees seeking a new beginning. Through its enduring partnership with Journey’s End Refugee Services in Buffalo, the church has embraced families from across the globe, providing them with safe homes, essential resources, and a supportive community.
Since 1999, Christ Church has partnered with the Christian community-based organization and assisted them in their mission of welcoming refugees without regard to ethnic origin or creed and to assist them to become healthy, independent, contributing members of the community. Christ Church has co-sponsored nine families and set up two additional apartments for new neighbors from countries around the world- receiving, welcoming, and furnishing homes for refugees from Bosnia, Sudan, Somalia, Burma, Cuba, Iraq, Congo, and Syria. Last year marked the eleventh family directly assisted by the people of Christ Church. These families arrived with skills and vocations which make the Buffalo community stronger – teachers, engineers, interpreters, mechanics, plumbers, custodians, tailors, entrepreneurs, and advocates for social justice.
As Executive Orders have been signed with a stroke of a pen, it has adversely impacted migrant, immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC communities. Now, more than ever, partners are needed to use more than their skills in collecting goods, appointing homes, and providing welcome. Voices are needed to speak up for and with our migrant, immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC friends. These families are an integral part of successful, active and contributing members of our communities with so many others longing for the same opportunities. Jesus was clear in his message that as we do to another, so we do to Christ.
Journey’s End pivots to seek private funding and strengthen employment, education, and legal services to those who have already been resettled in Western New York, Christ Church will continue our longstanding partnership and hope others will come alongside us at this time. To learn more about Journey’s End Refugee Services, click here.