Stephan Bauman - Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis

This book is a powerful, persuasive case that the people of Christ should care about the vulnerable, including those fleeing from danger. Read this book with an open mind and a Christ-shaped conscience.

RUSSELL MOORE | President, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

The central call of Christians is to love God and love others, and to serve the least of these among us. This book calls churches across America to break out of their comfort zones and renew their love of their neighbors by welcoming and serving the marginalized, the oppressed, the downtrodden, and the vulnerableand using these opportunities to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to new people groups through word and deed. I urge all Christians everywhere to think seriously about how they can answer that call.

CONGRESSMAN RANDY HULTGREN (IL-14) | Executive Committee, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and commissioner, Helsinki Commission (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe)

If you are at all skeptical about how good people should respond to the refugee crisis in the world today, this book will serve to answer your questions in a fair and balanced way. If you are concerned for national security if refugees are allowed to come into the US, this is your book. If you are convinced that the US should step up to a larger role in resettlement of the displaced and oppressed, this will temper an unintentional naivet with a realistic understanding of the challenges and the needed commitment. This book unpacks the gospel and would serve college classes and church groups alike.

SHIRLEY HOOGSTRA | President, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities

In a culture that is increasingly plunging into self-centered isolationism, the church must pour itself out on behalf of the refugees landing on her doorsteps. To fail to do so is simply to fail to be the body of Jesus Christ. Rooted in solid research and the authors vast experience, Seeking Refuge both challenges and equips the church to take action in the face of the growing global crisis. A book no church can afford to be without.

BRIAN FIKKERT | Coauthor, When Helping Hurts, and president of The Chalmers Center at Covenant College

As the world confronts the greatest refugee crisis in recorded history, Bauman, Soerens, and Smeir argue persuasively that the church must be at the center of the solution. Biblically based, missionally minded, and informed by lots and lots of facts, Seeking Refuge challenges the church to step up to respond to the refugees reaching our shores with compassion, wisdom, and courage. Id encourage every Christ follower to read this bookand then to take up its challenge.

ED STETZER | LifeWay Research

An antidote to fearbrings courage and boldness to Christ followers hearts and behaviorprophetic challenge for these daysI was personally moved to be more like Jesus and lead the church to be the church of Jesus Christ at this time in history. The nascent voices yell loudly, but the authors are calling us to follow the still small voice of truth in which we experience true power in action. Guidance for these days!

JO ANNE LYON | General Superintendent, The Wesleyan Church

The refugee crisis touches nearly every community in the world, from Syria and Germany to New York and Iowa. If churches want to think biblically about this global crisisas well as discern how to respond where they arethey couldnt do better than by reading and discussing together Seeking Refuge.

MARK GALLI | Editor, Christianity Today

The topic of refugees has become complicated, messy, and often, very contentious. As a result, its far too tempting to dehumanize, otherize, or altogether ignore the local and global realities of refugees. This is why Im genuinely grateful for this book, Seeking Refuge. The authors have written an important and much-needed resource that acknowledges the complexities and messiness but still points us to a deeper hope that we desperately need in our world. Some will likely label this just as a book about refugees, but let me make it clear: Seeking Refuge is really a book about discipleshipand were all called to grow as disciples of Christ.

EUGENE CHO | Senior Pastor, Quest Church, and author, Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?

This book has very great prophetic value. It is a must-read for church and denominational leaders relative to this topic. We are at a crossroads. The Scriptures clearly charge us to love the stranger. While our governmental leaders are charged to be concerned about the proper processing of these refugees, the church has vital interests in this matter, namely the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

ALEJANDRO MANDES | Director of Immigrant Mission, Evangelical Free Church of America

There is little doubt that one of the greatest tension points in our generation is the complex challenge of the refugee crisis. While the rest of the world peers into the problem through the lens of politics, economics, and cultural dilution, Bauman, Soerens, and Smeir call Christ followers to see it as an opportunity for the church to unleash the power of the gospel. In practical and persuading ways, Seeking Refuge offers us biblically wise counsel and effective paradigms that will bring Jesus love and redeeming power to bear on the lives of some of the neediest people on the planet.

JOE STOWELL | President, Cornerstone University

Seeking Refuge invites all Christians in to life-changing ministries of service and justice with refugees. In opening our hearts and communities to newcomers, their lives are transformed and so too are our own. I encourage anyone who is ready to explore Gods call to welcome the stranger to read this book.

LINDA HARTKE | President & CEO, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Much of what is being said about refugees in todays America comes from a position of fear, prejudice, or ignorance. Too often, that combination inspires a form of invincible ignorance that refuses even to consider the factsa position no Christian can hold with gospel integrity. Through powerful stories, personal experience, a rigorous presentation of the facts, and scriptural fidelity, Bauman, Soerens, and Smeir accomplish more than merely a defense of the worlds most vulnerable people. They bring truth to the rescue of Christians who would fail Jesus by refusing to make room among us for refugees.

JOSEPH CASTLEBERRY | President, Northwest University, and author, The New Pilgrims: How Immigrants are Renewing Americas Faith and Values

Seeking Refuge arrives at a critical point of time for the church. As politicians and media seek to shape our responses to the unprecedented number of refugees around the world, the authors provide a compelling biblical basis that remind us of the nature of justice and righteousness, and that lead us to Christ-centered perspectives, compelling us to act. Moreover, their careful analyses and explanations should equip us with the knowledge and skills necessary to be the transformational agents of the Holy Spirit in the lives of refugees, among our congregations, and throughout society. It is indeed, as one of the chapters is titled, the churchs moment.