When Timothy fled his country because of the government’s persecution against him, he came to Minnesota. A few months after arriving, he found himself in despair because of his circumstances. He was ready to give up on life.
God sees, hears, and cares about refugees. It’s a line often repeated in IAFR, rooted in the story of Hagar and Ishmael from Genesis Chapters 16 and 21. But God does something else in the story that cannot be overlooked. He speaks.
Hagar, lost in the wilderness, despaired for her son’s life. But God intervened and spoke words of hope.
“Very soon you will see something new…”
In his own time of despair, Timothy attended a conference at a friend’s church. In between sessions, he sought out the preacher and asked for prayer. The preacher said he believed God had a message for him:
“Now you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, but it will not continue. Very soon you will see something new. And from there the situation in which you find yourself will improve.”
The Road of Recovery
Those words came in August. In October, he moved into Jonathan House.
Now two years later, he has moved into his own apartment. He has a work permit, a job, and a better sense of how to function in the culture. While living at Jonathan House, he took major strides on his road of recovery, but the journey isn’t over. A year after his asylum hearing, he still awaits a decision on his case. He longs to be reunited with his family.
For Timothy, the most valuable part of living at Jonathan House was the supportive community. “When I shared my challenges, you listened. You prayed with me.”
The Privilege of Playing Part in the Redemption Story
The same day he moved out (thereby making space available for one new person), we learned of nine other asylum seekers in Minnesota who desperately needed a stable place to live.
When the need feels overwhelming and our ability to meet it insufficient, we find comfort in knowing God is at work. He sees and hears. He is speaking words of hope to refugees. And in some cases, like with our friend Timothy, he allows us the privilege of playing a part in the redemption story he is writing.
SJ and her friend Bea dancing together. Credit Kelsey Ueland.
By SJ Holsteen, Former IAFR-MSP Ministry Leader
“I’ve been up to the mountain this week, fast and praying,” Bea told me. We were waiting outside the immigration court before her second asylum hearing. She seemed peaceful and prepared.
Bea arrived at Jonathan House in 2019. Throughout the years, it has been an honor to witness her trusting in Jesus for strength and hope in a long and difficult asylum journey.
Jesus, You are the Judge…
At Bea’s first hearing months before, the US government lawyer proclaimed that Bea should not be eligible for asylum. The judge ended that court session mid-trial. Still, Bea’s reliance on prayer was evident. Once, when we prayed about her upcoming trial, she declared, “Jesus, you are the Judge. You are the Lawyer. You are the Witness. You are the One who speaks.”Her attitude of surrendered faith struck me again in the waiting room. “I’ve been up on the mountain. I fasted and prayed to prepare myself. Physically and spiritually.” Bea didn’t pray to try to win God’s favor; she prayed to remind herself that God was already lovingly and faithfully present with her.
A Transformed Lawyer
So this is how we stepped into the courtroom: expecting to see Jesus.
The change in the government lawyer’s demeanor was immediately recognizable. Instead of the aggressive, accusatory tone of the previous trial, her questions were straightforward and respectful.“If you have an argument for why asylum should not be granted, will you tell us your grounds for denial?” the judge asked the government lawyer. There was a pause, then the lawyer said. “I will defer to the judge.”
Today I get to deliver good news!
Bea closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her face when the judge spoke. “Asylum granted.” Tears coursed down her cheeks (and mine). He continued, “As you can imagine, ma’am, sometimes I have to deliver bad news. Today I get to deliver good news. And I wish you the best.”
On our car ride from the courthouse, Bea yelled the story joyously into the phone to friends and family. “Jesus has done it!” she exclaimed, “The Holy Spirit has done it!” She recounted the surprising change in the government lawyer’s attitude and the moment the judge spoke.
A Miracle by Delay
Years ago, when Bea’s asylum hearing kept being delayed and rescheduled, she told me, “I can only trust that God has a greater plan in mind and that this will be for His glory.” After the judge granted asylum, the lawyer explained the policy she’d originally cited as grounds for denying Bea asylum had recently expired. If Bea had had her asylum ruling at any previous time, the policy would have applied to her. The judge would have been legally-bound to deny her claim. I suddenly recalled “God’s plan” that Bea had trusted in all these years; He took that pain and waiting and worked it in her favor to gain her asylum.
I am deeply challenged and encouraged by the faith-filled hope of refugee friends like Bea. Witnessing her journey reminds me of God’s undeniable love and justice for His forcibly-displaced children.
Ella Skiens joins the IAFR Minneapolis-St. Paul team as the Live-In staff member at Jonathan House’s residence for women and children.
What’s your main role as staff at IAFR Jonathan House?
I’m the live-in staff member for Jonathan House’s home for women and children. I have the honor of spending most of my day in the company of these women. My hope is to form deep relational connections, with a focus on prayerful discernment and walking with them in friendship and love. I also get to support their independence in navigating transportation, English language, and life in the US, among other household-related tasks.
How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?
I first heard about forcibly displaced people while working with people seeking refuge in Germany. This international focus on forced displacement then turned to my home country when I had the opportunity to be an English partner with World Relief. The honor I felt while we worked on English together caused me to look for internships where I could learn more. So I worked with Jubilee Partners in Georgia. I realized there that most organizations work with refugees, but for people seeking asylum, it’s a different process with fewer resources. It has been a journey of learning bits and pieces from opportunities God has put in front of me.
How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?
Through the work of God. I started working with IAFR and had a long discernment period when I wasn’t sure which ministry site I would go to. Minnesota wasn’t on my radar, but I became increasingly interested in their focus on shelter, hope, and healing for asylum-seeking individuals. Then I had a chance to visit Jonathan House. Through that visit and prayer, I saw God bringing me this opportunity to be live-in staff and to invest in relationships with my housemates.
What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?
One of the biggest barriers is misperception of who people seeking asylum are and why they are seeking asylum. A lot of assumptions are made. A great way to change that is through relationships and finding ways to be in relationship with our asylum-seeking neighbors. It’s really helpful to look at resources to learn more about our immigration policies, too. For example, what are the different definitions for refugee, asylum-seeker, migrant, internally displaced person, forcibly displaced person, etc?
Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum-seeking individuals?
It has continued to surprise and frustrate me understanding how long and slow the process for asylum is. At first, I also did not realize how important housing was for people seeking asylum. I can go on about relationships with people, but at the end of the day, do we have places and spaces for people who need shelter in this long asylum process? It can seem practical and boring to talk about housing, but I’ve been more surprised at the lack of accessible housing for people.
What is something asylum-seeking individuals have taught you?
Strength. I can often let the small things get in my way or turn them into larger worries. However, whether in learning English or through the conversation and laughter of our communal kitchen, asylum-seeking women in particular show me their persistence and strength to not give up despite multiple barriers. These women show me what joy and celebration looks like in the waiting.
Any other line of work you’re in?
Not currently, but I just came from working in Eldercare. I found it so rewarding and a truly needed line of work. My family would say that kids and older adults have always gravitated toward me. I really, really hope that it is true.
What languages do you speak?
English is my native language, and I learned German for four years in college. I can get around well enough in German, but wouldn’t say that I am fluent. It’s my hope to become fluent in another language, whether that be German or something else.
What are your hobbies?
I am a big fan of coffee. Whether meeting people for coffee or finding a new coffee shop, you’ll usually see me with my hands wrapped around a warm mug. In warmer months, I love taking walks and watching things grow. I am very excited for the gardening season here at Jonathan House! I also love making small watercolor cards for people to get in the mail. I’m no artist, but a simple card, usually with a good pun, is a fun thing in my in-between time that I hope makes people smile. Newer hobbies of mine include bread-making and sewing.
March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th was International Women’s Day. We want to celebrate the strength, beauty, and courage of all the asylum-seeking women in our Jonathan House community!
IAFR staff and the asylum-seeking women of Jonathan House marked International Women’s Day by drawing pictures that celebrated who we are as women or that represented a time when we felt strong as a woman. Our friends had some important things to say, so we want to share them with you! Click through the slideshow to view them all. (Slideshow includes both Jonathan House resident and staff contributions.)
In my country, you’re supposed to have rights, but you don’t. I’ve come through so much: from darkness to light, to a colorful world. I’m proud of myself and my parenting skills. I’m grateful for my daughter and my good health. I’m a warrior woman – strong & brave.
I lived in Alaska as a young woman. It was my first time living alone. The cabin didn’t have plumbing; I hauled water from a natural spring. It was cold and dark for many months. I learned to be strong. I learned the beauty of being alone in Nature with God.
As a woman, God gave me respect from the beginning. Everything that can be for men can also be for women. We are not less; we can even be more! I believe in and trust myself. I drew a mother because mothers are queens. Where do the kings of the earth come from, if not from their mother’s womb? I am a queen of kings and queens; that’s how I know myself.
My wife is a strong woman. I drew a picture of her when she was pregnant. She gave birth to all six of our children at home, the natural way. She gardens and she built a brick oven where she cooks delicious bread, pizza, and other things. Even when she was very pregnant, she worked hard gardening and providing for our family. I love and respect her.
In the Bible it talks about how all of Creation groans in labor… In this time of my pregnancy, I have seen how the laboring I do as a mother is similar to the labor I do in growing a garden (another activity I enjoy!) or the laboring I do in my work at Jonathan House. And all these things connect to the work of God’s Spirit in the world. I also included all the other pregnant mothers in the world, who I feel kinship with and hold in prayer.
This is my garden. In my country, I could farm as well as any man. I planted all the seeds, and I could harvest the plants equal to a man. When a cow got sick, I didn’t need to take them to the vet, because I knew what to do. I could give the medicine myself. My nickname was ‘like a man.’
I want to share about my friend. I am proud of this friend who came to set me free when I was in bondage. My friend accepts me just as I am, just as I present myself, so I can be proud of myself. He stands with women and girls, and so I am proud to stand with him.
As a woman there are a lot of voices saying what you should be like. I’m learning to ignore the voices telling me who I should be and just be my true self, who God created me to be. One of the times when I’m happiest and feel most like myself is when I am with animals.
Standing with Asylum-Seeking Women
We believe, as our sister at Jonathan House shared, that “As a woman, God gave me respect from the beginning.” God affirms the worth and value of women everywhere as divine Image-bearers. And as another sister shared, “My friend [Jesus] stands with women and girls, and so I am proud to stand with him.”
We want to work for the security, opportunity, and flourishing of asylum-seeking women, because God sees, hears, and cares for women, and women’s rights are human rights!
Who is an influential or strong woman in your life? What do you celebrate about your womanhood?
Jaydon Crim (on the right) is an Intercultural Studies major at North Central University. Photo taken at Jonathan House with fellow IAFR MSP interns, Haley Merck and Elli Halloran (Summer 2021).
I have long been interested in cross-cultural ministry work with refugees and displaced peoples. For years, though, I naively assumed that I would have to work internationally in order to engage this kind of ministry. Additionally, before this summer, I had little knowledge about the asylum system in the U.S.A. I had never knowingly interacted with an asylum seeker.
Understanding through Relationship
My internship with IAFR Jonathan House allowed me to engage firsthand my passion for cross-cultural work with displaced peoples – here in the United States. It taught me a lot about the asylum process. I also saw what it looks like to effectively support, advocate for, and love my neighbors who are seeking asylum.
It meant so much to get to know residents at Jonathan House. Throughout my two months of relationship and community-building, I had the privilege of walking alongside individuals through moments of joyous singing, dancing and laughter. I also found myself present for moments of deep sorrow, anger, and confusion. These various shared experiences aided in establishing strong friendships. Sharing in life together also increased my awareness of the realities and adversities faced by people who have fled to the United States in hopes of finding refuge from persecution. Such experiences have helped me to grow in my empathy for and understanding of those around me.
A Community of Care
It was an honor to work alongside the IAFR Jonathan House team, too. Every single staff member and volunteer care so deeply for those they serve and for one another. Though I’m still an undergraduate and don’t have much ministry experience, the team treated me with respect and welcomed me as one of their own. They offered me fulfilling responsibilities and ample opportunities to use my voice and add my own feedback in team meetings. The team was a supportive community of coworkers and also friends. They’d frequently go out of their way to help each other when a need arose.
Interning at IAFR Jonathan House has been one of the most influential experiences of my life. I’m grateful for the things I learned and the people I met (relationships I continue to build!). I firmly believe that God used my time at Jonathan House to guide me towards my future, to further shape me, and grow my ability to love others like Christ.
A Jonathan House resident experiences Lake Superior for the first time.
At the beginning of September, IAFR Jonathan House took our second annual retreat up north to Camp Amnicon. For three days, asylum-seeking residents, former residents, and staff camped next to Lake Superior. It was a chance to find hope and joy in creation.
Time Together
The time away allowed the Jonathan House community an extended period of fellowship. We ate meals together over the fire, took walks, and even got to enjoy an outing on a sailboat!
Mutual blessing is a foundational value of Jonathan House, and camping is a great chance for this to happen. Children of staff and residents alike find themselves surrounded by grandmothers ready with hugs, prayers, or useful tips for how to dry wet tennis shoes over the fire! Conversation comes unhurriedly and we share laughter over board games.
A Reminder of God’s Care and Presence
A retreat into creation also renews hope and joy, as we are present to each other and to God. One resident shared a dream she had the second night of camping:
“I dreamt that angels of the Lord were walking in line from the opposite side of camp into our camping area. They were glowing white, and they were singing and worshipping God in formation. They were walking by my tent. My heart responded with a cry of joy. I wondered to myself, “God, you are here? I’ve never been here before and it is so secluded. How could you be here in this forest?”
She continues, “As I asked the question, I could sense God respond that He is already present anywhere that we may find ourselves. Even if we weren’t present in that camp, the trees, the animals, and the angels are still there praising God.”
“This dream is very meaningful for me. It showed me that God is concerned for me and my little prayer. He has said that He will never abandon nor forsake us, that He is always with us. This dream showed me that that is true; God is everywhere, if only we look.”
We know asylum seekers have journeyed through many challenging places. A reassurance of God’s presence no matter where we go is significant. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to learn of God’s presence with and from our asylum-seeking friends. And we’re grateful to Camp Amnicon for hosting a space where we could find joy and hope in creation, in community, and in God.
IAFR summer intern Elli Halloran recently graduated from Wheaton College with a master’s in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership.
My name is Elli Halloran. I graduated this spring with a master’s degree in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership from Wheaton College (IL). This summer I had the wonderful privilege to continue the learning and growth from my studies by interning with IAFR Jonathan House. My role included working on administrative projects and helping develop an effective structure for program monitoring and evaluation. Primarily, I spent time with asylum-seeking residents, sharing life and learning so much from them and the Jonathan House staff.
Incarnational Community
This internship has taught me what incarnational Christian community looks like. Jesus embodied his love and compassion for his people through relationship and his physical presence on earth. Rather than communicate his love through words, God demonstrated his love through action and the sacrifice of his only son.
The people that make up the mission and lived-out work of Jonathan House evidence this same love and compassion. Jonathan House staff demonstrated incarnational presence to me in the ways their faith transcends words. It manifests so powerfully through the sacrifice of their comfort, time, and space for the wellbeing of asylum seekers. Their desire to be in relationship with the residents they serve in order to provide a safe, welcoming, and dignifying home for asylum seekers beautifully represents how God’s family and presence transcend circumstance, borders, culture, and language.
Open Hands of Welcome
The residents at Jonathan House have also exemplified incarnational presence to me this summer. They extend their love and care through time, generosity, and hospitality, even in a place so far away from home. Asylum seekers in the United States are met with unjust systems rather than open hands of welcome. Yet the ease and joy in which residents invited me into their space showed me what welcome and sacrificial love look like regardless of circumstance. They shared food, faith and stories with me and treated me as family. The Jonathan House residents contribute powerfully to the image of incarnational presence so evident within this family.
Interning at Jonathan House this summer has taught me that practical presence and relationships are core to God’s heart and manifestations of his love. I’m grateful for how this community taught me to reflect God’s character and live out my faith to better love, serve, and welcome others.
Former Jonathan House resident Stephen shares his journey of surviving and recovering from forced displacement.
“When you are in the process of seeking asylum, it’s as if nobody wants you here.” This was Stephen’s experience when he first arrived in the United States having fled persecution in his country of origin. “It was very, very scary.”
Thankfully, Stephen found safe, stable shelter and supportive community at IAFR Jonathan House. Originally trained as a medical doctor in his home country, Stephen took it upon himself to learn computer coding while in the asylum process. After two years at Jonathan House, Stephen has moved on into a new career as a computer coder with Cisco. “I was able to use Jonathan House’s resources to forge another path,” Stephen says. “This is something I am always grateful and proud of.”
In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20th, International Association for Refugees (IAFR) did a video interview with Stephen. He reflects on his story of having to rebuild his future in the wake of forced displacement.
We’re so honored at IAFR Jonathan House to walk with people like Stephen, to learn hope and resilience, compassion and kindness, mercy and justice from those who have risked it all to find a safe place to call home.
Watch Stephen’s interview to get an in-depth look into the life-changing impact your partnership with Jonathan House makes.
Jason Lukis, IAFR Jonathan House’s Church Engagement and Development Lead, joined the team in August 2020.
What’s your main role as staff at IAFR Jonathan House?
As the Jonathan House Church Engagement & Development Lead, my role involves connecting with congregations and larger church bodies.
The International Association for Refugees, of which Jonathan House is a part, sees itself as a tool in the belt of the church for doing ministry with forcefully-displaced people; in that respect I consider my role to be about sharing how congregations might utilize that tool, particularly with respect to congregations in the Twin Cities partnering with Jonathan House.
The other half of my position is focused on development and donor relations. In my experience, there are a lot of people whose hearts ache over the plight of those seeking asylum, but they just don’t know how they can make a difference. It’s never a hard sell raising support for Jonathan House; it’s simply about inviting people to connect that heartache with a tangible opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of asylum-seeking individuals in the Twin Cities.
How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?
It’s hard for me to pin down one moment per se; it was more of a gradual awakening. I can say that I first resonated with the plight of refugees as an adult because of the Syrian refugee crisis and had a particular awakening to the United States’ responsibility (and lack of compassionate response to this humanitarian crisis) when I spent a number of weeks in Germany in May of 2017 for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the reformation. The pastor’s congregation who hosted me while I was staying in Leipzig had opened their doors and arms to Syrian refugees and I was incredibly moved by the faithfulness of their actions to provide hospitality to our global neighbors in need, particularly at a time when the United States was actively closing doors to Syrian refugees.
Sometime later, I learned that as the US federal government was radically decreasing the numbers of individuals and families admitted into the refugee resettlement program, the numbers of those seeking asylum in America had been radically increasing (because these are simply two different legal categories of forcefully displaced people, but often they can be the very same people). From that point on, I became dedicated to figuring out how I could make a positive difference in the lives of asylum-seeking individuals in the US.
How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?
In September of 2019, Bethany Ringdal and I began exploring the possibility of starting a new Lutheran ministry rooted in a mission to share God’s radical hospitality among global neighbors. One aspect of that ministry model was to support a housing ministry for asylum-seeking individuals. I heard about Jonathan House through the MN Asylum Network, and seeing as providing supportive housing for asylum-seeking individuals was a primary aspect of our exploration, we had a strong interest in learning more about Jonathan House. I attended one of IAFR’s “Foundations of Refugee Ministry” trainings, and later sought out a volunteer opportunity to be a resident advocate with Jonathan House.
The more we got to know IAFR and Jonathan House, however, the more it became clear that rather than starting a new ministry, we both felt called and encouraged to join IAFR to support and help expand the incredible ministry of Jonathan House. I feel truly honored to be part of this team.
What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?
Get to know an asylum-seeking individual or family in your area. It may seem like a hard prospect to even find, let alone get to know, an asylum-seeking individual, but there are lots of organizations around the US that are working to support asylum seekers and refugees. A quick web search and anyone can find a starting point for meeting and supporting asylum-seeking individuals in your area. Specific needs can vary significantly from one person to another, but the human need for friendship is universal.
Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum-seeking individuals?
I was pretty surprised when I discovered that there are estimated to be ~3,000 asylum-seeking individuals in Minnesota and South Dakota (with the majority concentrated in the Twin Cities metro area). I guess I had falsely assumed that the vast majority of asylum-seeking individuals were clustered near the southern border of the US. I found the concept of the refugee highway to be very illuminating, and helpful in understanding how and why we have such a concentration of asylum-seeking individuals in the Twin Cities and other large pockets all around the United States.
What is something asylum-seeking individuals have taught you?
Asylum-seeking individuals have taught me a lot about resilience and the important role of faith in remaining resilient in the face of such tremendous loss and trauma. When I started out serving as a Resident Advocate with Jonathan House I was really moved by the strength of faith and hope I heard from the resident with whom I was paired.
Any other line of work you’re in?
I am a Lutheran pastor ordained in the ELCA in 2011, though I started out as a youth minister in 2004. I served as a pastor in two congregations in WA and MN before joining IAFR, and I continue to serve on the board of a Christian outdoor high-adventure camping ministry called Amnicon, located WI on the Southern shore of Lake Superior. I also have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and have a tendency engage in a lot of techie side-projects.
What languages do you speak?
Much to my regret, I only speak English at any kind of conversational level. I am trying to improve on my very elementary Spanish skills, but that’s been slow-going and far too regularly back-burnered. I do write some Biblical Greek and a variety of programming languages though ;^)
Do you have any hobbies?
I love playing guitar, singing, and writing music—particularly for use in the context of Christian worship. I love downhill skiing, bike-riding, and canoeing. I have a long-lived passion for inter-religious dialogue, systematic theology, and learning about other faiths. I have recently been dabbling in music recording, video editing, 3D printing, laser engraving, and mobile app development.
A former Jonathan House resident and her son come to visit their old housemates (and to reassert her Scrabble dominance!)
“You often hear, ‘In America, you don’t even know your next-door neighbor.’ Jonathan House is not like that. All the people at the house give you a feeling of belonging to a group and a place.”
Safety, Comfort, and Belonging
IAFR Jonathan House offers safe, stable shelter and supportive community to people who are seeking asylum in the US. Security and shelter are necessary for human survival. Community is equally important in affirming and healing the humanity of those who have been persecuted, isolated, and forcibly-displaced.
A former resident recently shared how she experienced community during her time at Jonathan House – and why she has stayed connected to it.
“During my time at Jonathan House, the people and the environment gave me a sense of comfort and safety. You are in safe hands with and around your housemates and the IAFR staff.”
“You are in safe hands with and around your housemates and the IAFR staff,” a former Jonathan House resident says.
Togetherness Amidst Community Difference
“Jonathan House was a positive community because of the diversified personalities. It’s not just one person. You are not even united by the same ideology, language, or culture. Still, there is that sense of belonging together.”
“I have good memories of our togetherness, sharing, and laughter at the house,” the former resident stated. “You and your housemates laugh even for the things you don’t understand, when you’re trying to communicate with each other in different languages!”
“I have good memories of our togetherness, sharing, and laughter at the house.” New memories are being made, as this resident continues to actively contribute to Jonathan House, even beyond her own time there.
Hope and Wholeness in Community
This sister has moved on from Jonathan House into her own housing. She has secured stable employment to provide for herself and her son. Even so, she continues to participate in the Jonathan House community. She attends Community Events, visits former housemates, and has helped to welcome new residents.
“I got a positive impact of the community while I was there, a sense of belonging and safety,” she said. “Staying in touch with friends at Jonathan House is also a good reminder. It’s a memorial of how far I’ve come from when I arrived. I can remember where I was, say to myself, ‘Because of this place…’ and see the shift in perspective.”
How does she characterize the shift that life in community brought about? “A lot of people come to Jonathan House feeling shattered. Jonathan House will help pick up your pieces, to feel whole again.”
