In the last decade, the number of people globally who have been forced by persecution or conflict to flee their homes has nearly doubled, from about 60 million to more than 120 million. Most American evangelical leaders (65 percent) believe the American church should be on the forefront of responding to this crisis, according to the January/February 2025 Evangelical Leaders Survey.

“Christians are guided by the Bible to be particularly concerned for refugees who have been forced to flee their countries due to oppression, violence and persecution. We remember that Jesus and his family were refugees. And we know that many millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ are among those who have fled their homes — or are seeking to flee — due to religious persecution,” said Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). 

Merle Heatwole, newly appointed national commander of The Salvation Army in the United States, spent the last four years in Latin America and witnessed firsthand the reality of people being forced to flee their countries due to poverty, oppression or violence. He believes the American church has a critical role to play by offering support to refugees who are fleeing these immense challenges.

Dan DeKam, director of ministry operations for the Christian Reformed Church of North America, added that “our attention in this area would be a positive example of Christ’s love shown to our neighbors.” 

Likewise, Nick Hall, president of The Table Coalition and Pulse Evangelism, said that he sees no difference between the American church and the global church. “We are one — when one part hurts, we all hurt. While we must remain diligent with the needs and brokenness in our backyard, it should never come at the exclusion of needs globally,” he said.  

Evangelical leaders are more supportive of the role of the American church to the global displacement crisis than evangelicals at large. According to a recent Lifeway Research survey, 46 percent of evangelicals believe the American church should be on the forefront of responding to the increase in global displacement. Twenty-eight percent said the American church should be concerned with the increase in global displacement, but it is not a top priority. 

Rich Stearns, president emeritus of World Vision U.S., said that “the politicization and demonization of refugees in our country with assent by many Christians is a tragedy. The government’s job is to create a fair and just immigration system and enforce immigration laws. The Church’s job is to care for hurting people, especially those fleeing from poverty and violence.” 

Nearly 30 percent of evangelical leaders indicated that they believe that the American church should be concerned with the global displacement crisis, but that it is not a top priority. 

Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus, explained, “My view is that we are too eager to take this on when we have wonderful partners better positioned to assist. Most people are displaced internally or within a region. The American church would serve the global church by helping them to address needs in their regions. We can do this by sending missionaries, supporting indigenous missions efforts, and funding work being done by these missionary teams and churches. But we can do both — work with displaced and reach the unreached. This should be the top priority.” 

On the first day of President Trump’s second term, the administration issued an executive order, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” resulting in a near total ban on resettlement of refugees who are thoroughly vetted to enter the United States. Soon after, the U.S. Department of State ordered an immediate halt to all federally funded activities supporting refugees, including those already in the United States.  

“As the son of a refugee from North Korea, I am alive today because my father was given refuge in South Korea and immigrated to the United States. Evangelical Christians stand ready to partner with the Trump administration to welcome persecuted refugees, knowing that by doing so we are obeying and serving our Lord,” Kim said. 

In addition to research on the role of the American church in responding to the global displacement crisis, the new Lifeway Research study also found that 90 percent of evangelicals want immigration policy that respects the God-given dignity of every person, guarantees secure national borders, and protects the unity of the immediate family, and that 74 percent want a path to legal residence and citizenship for undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria.  

The Evangelical Leaders Survey is a poll of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals. They include the CEOs of denominations and representatives of a broad array of evangelical organizations including missions, universities, publishers and churches.