World Relief Memphis
Mission: To boldly engage the world's greatest crises in partnership with the church.
Vision: Thriving, welcoming communities where families flourish, and people experience restorative relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves, and all of creation.
Program Highlights
Initial Welcoming Services (IWS): Focuses on the first 90 days for newly arrived refugees, including housing placement, cultural orientation, and connecting families to community resources.
Newcomer Outreach (NO): Serves refugees already in the U.S., providing similar services to IWS while focusing on community integration.
Economic Empowerment Services: Equips immigrants and refugees with skills and resources for the American workforce, including job placement and retention support.
Holistic Support Services: Provides intensive case management for up to five years, helping clients address barriers to stability and community integration.
Refugee & Immigrant Youth Services: Offers mentorship, school enrollment support, and social and educational activities to foster student success and family participation.
Connect Language Center: Provides intensive ESL classes taught by certified instructors, along with community-building volunteer opportunities.
Church and Community Engagement: Partners with churches for training, volunteering, and cultural awareness, helping congregations serve refugees and immigrants effectively.
Community Impact
Resettled over 600 refugees and served 319 walk-in clients in 2024.
Placed 298 clients into jobs, a 55% increase from the previous year.
Provided English language training to 233 individuals.
Logged 5,693 volunteer hours with 447 volunteers and partnered with 43 churches in Memphis.
Support World Relief Memphis
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For peace in conflict-affected countries and for the well-being of refugees and immigrants arriving in Memphis.
For staff as they navigate the challenges of working with vulnerable communities.
For more church partnerships, volunteers, and resources to support the mission.
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Financial gifts support housing, transportation, ESL services, and employment programs.
Donate welcome kits, used vehicles, Lyft or Uber gift cards, furniture, laptops, work boots, winter clothing, and school supplies for families.
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Join a Good Neighbor Team: Assist refugee families for their first 4–6 months in Memphis.
Become a Friendship Partner: Build relationships with refugee families through smaller-scale engagements.
Volunteer for ESL classes or explore starting a church-based ESL program.
Participate in cultural training and assist with administrative or operational tasks.
Ministry Champion
Bob Whitsitt