Mobilizing Churches in Refugee Care & Ministry Conference

Friday, September 16, 2016 9am – 3pm

Allegheny Center Alliance Church (ACAC) Main Building, Lower Level
250 E. Ohio St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (Entrance thru Parking Lot)

Conference Objectives:

1. Raise church leaders’ awareness about refugees & their difficulties in the U.S.
2. Facilitate Refugee/Immigrant discussion of concerns & ways churches can help
3. Educate church leaders on Refugee Resettlement & related needed services
4. Provide churches opportunities to network/collaborate in refugee care & ministry 

Tentative Conference Program

Conference Check-in & Registration – (8:30-9:00)

Segment 1 (9:00-9:30) Welcome, Introduction & Purpose

Segment 2 (9:30-10:45) Introduction to African Culture, Missions & Diaspora

            Keynote - Ambassador Ndabashinze - Western Culture & African Diaspora

            Panel – Refugee Needs & Perspectives - Representatives from African

            Immigrants/Refugee Communities including Somali-Bantu & Burundian

Break (10:45-11:00)  – Informational Tables

Segment 3 (11:00-12:00) Panel - Refugee Resettlement & Other Related Services

            Allegheny County/ISAC, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, the Hope Center

Segment 4 (12:00-1:00pm) Working Lunch - Church & Mission Related Strategies -

            Mission Posts, Care Centers, “Chapel-ing” & Other Church Related Services

Segment 5 (1:00-2:50pm) – Experiential/Integrative Sessions

Tract A - Pastors/Missions/Other - Refugee Simulation Experience

            Catholic Charities to orchestrate simulation

Tract B - Refugee/Immigrant Table Talk (in Swahili) with the Ambassador

Closing Comments - 2:50-3:00pm