Houston

Help refugees integrate into their new country and community

Volunteer Opportunities

Health Fair - February 10 & 12, 2023

2:00-5:00 Friday, February 10 at Westward Square Apartments, 6233 Gulfton Road, Houston. Doctors and nurses meeting directly with people in need of health care. Volunteers should come by 12 to help set up and enjoy lunch together.

1:30-5:00 Sunday, February 12 at Burnett-Bayland Park, 6000 Chimney Rock, Houston. Volunteers should begin set up at 10:30, enjoy lunch at 12.

Donations to help this outreach can be given through ASAP Ministries with the designation for Reach the World Next Door.

Call Julie Griswold at 707.380.9554 if you would like to volunteer to help or have further questions on how to support.

Also on February 11 from 9:30-12:30 there will be a special Reach the World Next Door presentation for Sabbath School and Church at Pearland International SDA Church at 12005 Magnolia Pkwy, Pearland, TX 77584.  

In the afternoon the Chinese Church Plant’s Children's Church will meet from 3:00-4:15 at the Houston International Seventh-day Adventist Church, 13885 Beechnut Street, Houston 77083. There is a potluck meal following, please bring some food and join.  

Pray

Join us for United Prayer for the World Next Door each Tuesday at 7 a.m. CT by calling (602) 580-9746 and using the access code: 6207480.

Use Praying for the World Next Door in your personal devotion time, family worship, or a church small group like Sabbath school or Pathfinders.

English Tutoring

Teach conversational English as a crucial first step in helping refugees get jobs, integrate, and interact in their new environment.

Contact Person: Julie Thompson. Call 832.257.6697 or Bucky Abar. Call 832.471.9521

Donate Important Items

Share new and gently-used miscellaneous items. The following items are especially needed:

  • Bicycles
  • Diapers
  • Used cars
  • Large rugs to cover an apartment floor
  • Kitchen utensils, pressure cookers, rice cookers, teapots, large cooking pots and pans, dishes, etc.
  • Baby items
  • Clothes of all sizes

Drop off items at 15908 Bryan Lane, Willis, TX 77378 (Call 707.380.9554) or with Leonard Smith on Mondays and Wednesdays after 6 p.m. at the Houston West Seventh-day Adventist Church (Call 713.447.2224). 

Donate a used car to help refugees get to work and school. Help them regain their independence and dignity. If you have a car to donate or a small group that wants to buy one together please email Julie Griswold: julie@reachtheworldnextdoor.com

Food Pantry

Collect and distribute food to apartments or hotels where Afghan families are staying.

Contact Person: Leonard Smith. Call 713.447.2224

Food and money donations are appreciated. For frequently needed items, see the above list.

Family-to-Family

You and your family can help a newly arrived refugee family figure out how to survive and thrive in America. Give them a friendly welcome, help connect them to resources, and be an advocate for them to help them navigate their new life. You can help them orient to find discount stores, schools, and hospitals. 

Contact Person: Bucky Abar. Call 832.471.9521

Apartment Furnishing

Pick up and distribute furniture and kitchen supplies to recently arrived refugees.

Donations are appreciated.

Contact Person: Fredine Daley. Call 832.420.7412

Pick-Up and Delivery of Large Items

Contact Person: Jose Najera. Call 713.249.7248

Rise High Pathfinders

Help with a children's program for ages 10-15 two Sundays a month, 3-5 p.m. Or work with smaller children who will tag along. Help befriend the fathers and mothers who are mostly from Afghan background.

Contact Person: Carlos Puerto. Call 713.823.5530. Julie Griswold. Call 707.380.9864 or email julie@reachtheworldnextdoor.com

After School Tutoring

Help refugee children who are struggling with their school subjects.

Contact Person: Lucile Saint Martin. Call 909.550.3332

Help with Social Services

Assist refugees to know what they are eligible for and help fill out application forms for various resources such as medical insurance, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Contact Person: Robin Harrison. Call 832.867.5577

Resource Guide for Mental Health and Domestic Violence

Download Resource Guide

Job Hunting Support

To help a refugee interested in being a mechanic contact Stewart Usedo. Call 281.221.8954

To help a refugee interested in phlebotomy or health-related careers contact Daniel Gonzalez. Call 423.432.0780

Financial Contributions

Give through ASAP Ministries. Click "Have My Gift Go Towards" then select "Reach the World Next Door" or call 269.471.3026.

Essential Training for this Ministry

Here are 3 areas of training we want you to do for your continued involvement in refugee ministry with Reach the World Next Door. 

1. It is crucial that you register and do the Sterling volunteer training with the Texas Conference to help increase our safety for any children we help. https://texasadventist.org/volunteerministries/  (It usually takes a little over an hour).

2. In our work with Afghans we have come to appreciate the training and counsel of Gabriela Phillips who is the director for Adventist Muslim Relations for the North American Division. We want you to go through these 5 orientation sessions before you proceed much into ministry among Muslims here in Houston. (These are short and very helpful). 

A) Orientation #1: Refugee: Who? What? Safe? Listen to a clear presentation of where refugees are coming from and why. Understand the status of different ones.

B) Orientation #2: The Church as a Healing Community  How can we best care as a church? Should we invite refugees to church? How can we pray with Muslims and others? Explore essential godly qualities needed in this ministry, including how to dress.

C) Orientation #3: Islam 101: Faith, Culture and Engagement. Learn the basics of Islam and how to make excellent bridges into spiritual conversations.

D) Orientation #4: Logistics: What is the Next Step? What are We Expected to Do? Hear a good description of the types of things you can do to practically help refugees.

E) Orientation #5: God's Perspective on Refugees. A simple conclusion call to feel and live God's heart.

Additional Webinar: My Church is Involved in Helping Refugees--Here's How it Looks (Ignacio Goya)

3. Please begin the Reach the World Next Door training. We have packed into our 13-lesson training the essentials of cross-cultural ministry, specifically how to meet, befriend, serve, witness and disciple people from other religious backgrounds. Please begin this training preferably as a group with your church and/or family. This is available through reachtheworldnextdoor.com/training/online. We can help you get registered for that and coach you to help you do the training and facilitate it for others. (This may take you about 3 months if you work on it once a week and is best done with a group of friends, family or church members). You will receive a certificate upon completion.

Please contact Pastor Scott Griswold to get started at scott@reachtheworldnextdoor.com 

(This page is a work in progress. Please contact us to inform of new opportunities you think should be added. Write info@reachtheworldnextdoor.com or text 707.380.9864).