World Refugee Day, international observance observed June 20th each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. This is a great opportunity for you to get informed, get educated and get engaged as you seek to live out the Good News of Jesus in the world today.

Here are 4 simple ways you can respond:

1) Get informed and educated

Here are some posts that will get you informed on the refugee crisis:

Facts About Refugees and Risks Children Face

Refugee Crisis: Questions the Church and Leaders Should Be Asking

This free guide, Understanding the Syria Crisis and the Role of the Church by Rich Stearns is an incredibly helpful introduction into what many have called the greatest refugee crisis in history. With challenging stats and hopeful stories, Rich takes you behind the scenes on the humanitarian crisis and how you can get involved.

Here are some passages for study about God’s heartbeat for the refugee, the impoverished sojourner, and those alienated on the margins of society:

Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Leviticus 19:33-34, Leviticus 19:9-10, Ezekiel 16:49, Exodus 23:9, Malachi 3:5, 1 Kings 8:41-44, Job 31:32, Matthew 25:25-36, Luke 10:25-37.

2) Get engaged

Refugee Sunday is an interactive way for your church to respond to the current refugee crisis, the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today. Here are resources you can use to help your congregation understand the significance of this crisis, grow spiritually as they intercede for refugees and tangibly respond to the needs of children and families.

Jesus was born into poverty; into oppression; into the margins. And soon after His birth, His family was threatened by violence, and He became a refugee. We believe Jesus is calling His Church to help with the millions of child refugees fleeing violence in Syria.

This Refugee Sunday kit has tools for your church’s weekend services to tell the stories of families fleeing, to understand God’s heart for the most vulnerable, and tangible ways to make a difference.

3) Pray for refugees in your community and worldwide

Hold a prayer breakfast to pray for refugees in your community and worldwide. Invite others from the community to join you. Teach your children how to pray for refugees. Have your Sunday School class or small group pray together over the refugee crisis.

4) Do a Fundraiser for Organizations Serving Refugees

Breakaway Outreach mobilizes teams to serve refugees here in the US and overseas by facilitating sports and recreation camps for refugee youth and children. Visit the Breakaway website for more info about getting involved or making a donation.

Most importantly, don’t miss the heart of Jesus by failing to pray for refugees during this critical time in history.