In a suburban Maryland community, Samira* goes about her workday caring for the needs of others as a home health aide. Though her clients appreciate her compassionate, calming presence, few are aware of the tumultuous past that brought her to the life she leads now.
Samira’s journey to America began when the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021. Having worked as a medic for U.S. military contractors, Samira was among the thousands of Afghan allies who were in imminent danger and airlifted from Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Across the world, as images of the evacuation unfolded on television, members of Christ Church in Columbia, Maryland, saw the desperate need for help – and knew they had to act.
Knowing it wouldn’t be easy, Christ Church reached out to six congregations – Episcopal, Quaker, Jewish, Methodist, and Lutheran – to form the Interfaith Refugee Ministry. Their goal? To sponsor a family in need of immediate resettlement, one of the many allies who had risked everything for the U.S. mission.
The group reached out to Global Refuge to learn how to help. With the resources and guidance provided by the resettlement team, the congregations came together to form a Circle of Welcome and were soon ready for the arrival of their first refugee family – Samira and her sons.
They were soon hard at work helping Samira and her family transition to their new life in Maryland. The Ministry helped with transportation to work, school, medical appointments, and job interviews. They provided English tutoring, helped with school enrollment, and donated furniture, clothes, and essentials for children. They even assisted with job searches, interview prep, and resume writing.
Samira, a former doctor, eventually enrolled in classes to return to the medical field. Two of her sons enrolled in school, and her other son began a career in refugee resettlement, helping other newly arriving families like his.
Since welcoming this family, the Interfaith Refugee Ministry has welcomed four additional families, with no signs of slowing down. In fact, the group recently made a special donation to Global Refuge to help refugee families impacted by the devastating 2024 hurricane season.
“When you’ve lost everything and are fleeing for your life, you need someone to help you,” says Interfaith Refugee Ministry Chair Ann Barnes. “We are here to say, ‘Welcome. You are here now, and we will help you get on your feet so you can get back to helping others.”
*Name changed to protect client identity.
