GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR MINISTRY TO REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS

Great news! Thanks to the generosity of NIC Churches who gave a record offering for the 2018 Bishop’s Appeal related to the Global Migration Crisis last year, a portion of those funds are now available in the form of grants to churches seeking to start new activities, programs, or ministries for refugees and immigrants.

This grant aims to encourage persons/ministries/churches in the Northern Illinois Conference to assist refugees and immigrants within the Conference boundaries by providing seed funds for new initiatives and activities. These funds can be used for programs or projects that provide resources, education, or spiritual assistance to refugees and immigrants.  Preference is given to activities done in partnership with existing refugee and immigrant assistance agencies such as (but not limited to) Refugee One, World Relief, and Exodus World Service. Preference is also given to grants with a minimum request of $500 and a maximum of $4,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed by the Conference Board of Global Ministries as they are received.

While refugee arrival numbers have been greatly reduced under the quotas assigned by the current administration, refugee families already here in Northern Illinois still need support as they adjust to learning English, finding employment, applying for citizenship and much more.  We are hopeful that local congregations will consider ways to get involved in “welcoming the strangers” in our midst. 

To apply for a grant, click here.  For more information contact Rev. Jonathan Crail, NIC Refugee Coordinator, jcrail@firstumc.net.