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NAMB official alerts U.S. Baptists of possible Kosovar resettlement


ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–If United States begins accepting refugees from war-torn Kosovo, Southern Baptists likely will be among those asked to help, the North American Mission Board’s immigration ministries specialist said.
“At this point, there has been no discussion to resettle Kosovo refugees in the United States,” said Richard Robinson of NAMB’s ministry evangelism team, “but this discussion will likely take place very soon.”
Robinson said he anticipates that refugees will request asylum in the United States and asks that Southern Baptists begin praying about their involvement in resettling these families.
“The United States government does not finance the resettlement of refugees,” Robinson said. “Charitable organizations and churches bear the responsibility.”
Thus far, more than 600,000 people have fled the Kosovo region of Yugoslavia, seeking refuge in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The United States has committed to building refugee barracks in Albania and, if conditions there become dire, may airlift up to 20,000 refugees to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, Robinson said.
Robinson said concerned Southern Baptists can respond in the following ways:
— Pray fervently for an end to the hostilities in Kosovo.
— Provide financial assistance for Kosovo refugees through the International Mission Board. Contributions should be designated for Kosovo relief and sent to: IMB, Office of Finance, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230, Attn: Kosovo Refugee Relief.
— Pray about serving as a sponsor for Kosovo refugees through NAMB’s refugee resettlement program, should the decision be made to resettle Kosovo refugees in the United States.
NAMB’s office of immigration ministries helped resettle 689 refugees representing 213 families from 18 countries in 1998. With the help of 70 sponsoring Southern Baptist churches, 108 people made professions of faith, 55 were baptized and 625 were enrolled in Bible study.
According to the U.S. Committee for Refugees, there are 12 million refugees worldwide and the United States will be asked to resettle more than 70,000 of them in 1999.
“Refugee sponsorship is an exciting way to be on mission with God among future Americans,” Robinson said.
For more information on refugee resettlement ministry opportunities, contact NAMB’s office of immigration ministries at (770) 410-6343 or [email protected].

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  • Lynne Jones