By Kristen Thomason

The Reverend Candace McKibben held a preschooler’s yellow sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “We Are the Future.” The shirt belonged to a child who, along with his twin brother and their father, sought asylum in the United States. She wondered if the slogan sustained them during their dangerous journey to a better life.  

This family of refugees is just one of several supported by McKibben’s congregation, Tallahassee Fellowship. Though small, this house church has been able to do extraordinary work ministering to refugees in Florida. “Once I felt discouraged that we never seemed to grow beyond 12 members,” said McKibben, “But my friend Rebecca wisely said, ‘Well that was enough for Jesus.’”  

By partnering with the local refugee resettlement office, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Tallahassee Fellowship multiplied its impact. IRC is one of nine resettlement agencies in the U.S. working with the United Nations to help those fleeing religious persecution, political oppression or terror.  

In 2019, a newspaper article about the Afghan refugee crisis inspired Tallahassee Fellowship to step out in faith and support the first of five refugee families. Often the IRC has less than two weeks to prepare for new arrivals. This is where Tallahassee Fellowship steps in. “Through our group and through our relationships with friends and family, we help families acquire, the items they needed to make a house a home and to clothe themselves adequately,” McKibben explained.  

Sponsoring a refugee family requires meeting both physical and social needs. The members of Tallahassee Fellowship invite families to share meals and to join them at community events like Florida State University ballgames and Symphony in the Park.  

“We help them learn English by speaking English with them and by teaching them words and phrases,” shared McKibben. “We take them to grocery shop or for medical appointments or to register for schools or to apply for jobs.” Refugees receiving federal assistance must find a job within three months and must accept the first job they are offered, even if that job is below their skill level. “So many people that are coming into our country are very talented and have great skills. Many held professional positions in their country of origin, but here they are performing basic housekeeping or restaurant work.” 

Tallahassee, Fla., is home to approximately 90 refugee families from such varied places as Afghanistan, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia and El Salvador. To better support the refugee community, McKibben, her husband and two members from Tallahassee Fellowship worked with local leaders to create the Refugee Connection Committee. The organization is “a conduit for information and inspiration about supporting refugees.” A representative from the IRC attends the monthly meetings to provide updates.  

“I think churches getting involved in this work should be willing to invite friends and neighbors to join them,” McKibben said. “It is wonderful to use our influence with others so that the ripple effect can help bolster support for our refugee friends.” 

For its ministry to refugees, the CBF Missions Council recently awarded Tallahassee Fellowship its Mission Excellence Award. McKibben says churches who would like to expand their outreach to refugees can expect to be transformed in the process.  

“We are closer to each other, to those around us, and to God who guides us through embracing the stranger in our midst and sharing our lives with each other,” she said.