Rev. John L. McCullough (r) is welcomed by Bishop Aris, Armenian Patriarchate Ecumenical Officer for Jerusalem, during a recent visit to the Middle East by leaders of historic African American churches. The delegation was hosted by CWS. Photo: Lesley Crosson/CWS

I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

Friends,

Welcoming the stranger... welcoming refugees... has been a part of our mission from that historic May day some 60 years ago when Church World Service was born.

The first outreach of our young ministry was to the hungry and hurting people of post-war Europe. Needless to say, many of them were refugees or internally displaced persons.

Our world has changed a lot since 1946, but, unfortunately, the needs of refugees and displaced persons continue. Today, nearly 33 million people worldwide are uprooted from their homes by persecution and armed conflict.

Some refugee situations you read about and see on the news frequently. The crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, is one of those. An update on CWS response to the situation in Darfur can be found on page 7 of SERVICE.

There is good news, though. In this issue's lead story, you'll read about the work of the CWS Immigration & Refugee Program -- how we're continuing to help meet the needs of families in protracted refugee situations around the world, while assisting refugees and immigrants in the U.S. You'll meet a few of the people and families CWS has helped to resettle in the U.S. through the years, along with some of our affiliates and the local church people who are at the heart of our resettlement efforts.

Welcoming the stranger also means standing together with disaster survivors through the long haul of recovery and rebuilding, whether in earthquake-ravaged communities of Pakistan, in hurricane-affected portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast, or in countries or regions recovering from the devastation of war.

We thank God that you stand with us to welcome the stranger by putting your faith into action for neighbors in need -- around the block or around the world.

God's grace and peace,

Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director and CEO
Church World Service