Adventist Church World Refugee Day

ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, operating in over 118 countries. Its mission focuses on providing sustainable community development, disaster relief, and advocacy for vulnerable populations, including refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). ADRA’s work includes emergency aid (food, shelter, safe water), education programs, psychosocial support, and long-term integration initiatives for displaced families .

World Refugee Day (June 20) is recognized globally, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church designates the proximate Sabbath as World Refugee Sabbath (e.g., June 15 in 2024, June 21 in 2025) to align with faith-based advocacy. Here’s how ADRA commemorates these events:

1. Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns​

• ADRA highlights refugee stories, shares global displacement statistics (e.g., over 100 million forcibly displaced as of 2022), and advocates for refugee rights through social media campaigns, using hashtags like #WorldRefugeeSabbath and #isupportrefugees.
• They provide downloadable resources, including prayer guides, children’s stories, and global recipes, to help churches host themed events.

2. Educational and Community Programs​

• Youth Competitions: ADRA organizes creative contests, such as the 2025 “Hear me. See me. Walk with me.” art competition, encouraging youth (ages 5–25) to submit artworks. Winning entries are showcased on World Refugee Day (June 21, 2025) and used in educational materials.
• Local Events: Activities like the three-day workshop in Ragusa, Italy (June 18–20, 2025), foster dialogue between refugees and local youth to promote integration and trust-building.

3. Church-Based Observances​

• Churches are encouraged to host World Refugee Sabbath services featuring refugee testimonies, themed prayers, and sermons emphasizing biblical calls to support foreigners and displaced people (Deuteronomy 10:18–19).
• ADRA coordinates with Adventist congregations to distribute resource packets, including sermon outlines, children’s activities, and fundraising guides.

4. Humanitarian Aid and Long-Term Support​

• ADRA uses the occasion to spotlight ongoing projects, such as education centers for refugee children in Peru, Bulgaria, and Mali, and emergency aid in conflict zones like Ukraine and Myanmar.
• They mobilize donations for initiatives like the “Hope for Ukraine” project, which supports over 500,000 refugees with essentials and educational integration.

5. Global Collaboration​

• ADRA partners with organizations like UNICEF and local governments to amplify refugee support. For example, the “Wings for Our Children” project in Bulgaria provides mobile learning services to Ukrainian refugee students.

For detailed event ideas or resources, visit ADRA.org/WorldRefugeeSabbath.​