Northeast Valley Consortium helps settle refugee families

Communicate Jesus. Connect people. Create possibilities.

Guided by this strategic vision of the Grand Canyon Synod, a group of pastoral and lay leaders from four Northeast Valley Conference churches—Living Water (Scottsdale), New Journey (Fountain Hills), New Covenant (Scottsdale), and Christ the Lord (Carefree), known collectively as the NE Valley Consortium—began gathering via Zoom in late 2020 to explore what this might look like for their congregations. The group engaged in open and unstructured conversation – where is the need? What is God up to?  How do we join in God’s mission to live out radical hospitality and work for justice and mercy?

Watching the horrific scenes of the evacuation of Afghanistan, the team realized that this was a time for more than lament.  How could they help? The Consortium recruited volunteers from all four parishes to explore ways to get involved.

How this could happen became clear when LSS-SW made appeals for assistance in resettling Afghan evacuees. The team identified three areas of support: collecting furniture and household items to set up homes; offering personal support and guidance in acclimating to a new culture; and, raising funds to allow LSS-SW to have flexibility in hiring for special skills, such as interpretation and case management. In just a few short weeks, the team gathered enough to completely furnish two two-bedroom homes and raised $30,000 for an emergency fund. 

Two days before Thanksgiving, the group gathered at an apartment community in central Phoenix and, along with LSS-SW workers, worked a long day to help settle two families. Hot meals for the day of arrival and groceries for a week were also included. This was a Spirit driven collaboration from start to finish – and proof that we are truly more when we work together!