The movement is spearheaded by World Relief, which as the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals has been partnering with local churches to welcome and serve refugees and other immigrants for decades.
Hearing their different yet similar stories of having to overcome isolation, adjust to new foods, navigate school and find jobs made Chang and Saddiq real people instead of merely immigration statistics.
"The persecution of Christians continues to grow around the globe. As Americans, we must decide how we'll respond,” said Ryan Brown, president and CEO of Open Doors US. “Our hope is this report not only provides a call to respond, but also helps inform that response."
BSC is a small congregation comprised mostly of first-generation immigrants from such Slavic countries as Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Armenia and Ukraine. The church had been doing missions work in Ukraine for decades.