November 12, 1999

CLEVELAND—In 1995, Melrose Kargbo-Davies, 31, fled Sierra Leone with her husband and children, escaping the war that claimed her father and brother. With the help of the Church World Service (CWS), the family came to Cleveland.

Ms. Kargbo-Davies, a nursing student, and her husband Edward, a student at Baldwin-Wallace College, insist that CWS (the National Council of Churches’ humanitarian response ministry) and Cleveland congregations gave them a whole new life. "We were lost and then we were found, we were blind and now we see," said Mr. Kargbo.

About 50 participants in the NCC’s 50th anniversary assembly heard the couple’s story in a forum called, "Welcoming Strangers: The Ministry of Entertaining Angels Unawares."

Dr. Richard Parkins, executive director of the Episcopal Migration Ministries, explained the often tragic path of a refugee entering the United States and emphasized the church’s overwhelming obligation to help them.

"We do resettlement to rescue people. That is a very powerful and visible reminder of the pain and suffering of the people who couldn’t make it here," he said. "There’s no such thing as a nice refugee camp."

Dr. Parkins said refugee awareness needs to become a priority for Americans. And that citizens who want to increase opportunities of resettlement for refugees must speak out to the government. "If we want to increase it we have to say it," Dr. Parkins said.

Three other refugees told stories of the way Christian organizations played a role in the struggle for freedom. Ms. Kargbo-Davies said, "We are going to continue to tell our stories and educate others so we can help people who are still in our country."

[Reported by Adeyemi Oshodi and Jon Sergent, students at Miami University of Ohio]