September 11, 2025
Some of us are great storytellers, some of us are not. But “Share” can have a few different meanings to it. When I tell you a story, I have shared it with you. But, “Share” can also mean you’ve joined me in the story I’m living… we’re not just talking about a life lived, but we’re authentically sharing life together. When you join me, and I join you…the story is no longer yours, mine, but ours: a story we share.
This is the theme of Welcoming Week 2025, a rallying cry to come together, celebrate our differences, seek to understand another, and remember what we have in common.
Patrick, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo who spent 20 years in a refugee camp in Rwanda, arrived in Columbia, Missouri at the start of 2025. He recently shared a bit of his story with us. At first glance, he and I don’t have much in common. But when we dig deeper, when we listen, when we share vulnerable pieces of ourselves… we find that at our core, we long for similar things. Safety and stability. A community that feels like family. Hope.
Stories like Patrick’s make me consider City of Refuge’s story. I recently listened to the recounting of our origin story to some of our newest Board members. What started in a living room grew into a small operation run out of the back of a car, then an office tucked inside a Shelter Insurance suite, then the first purchase of a building, 7 E. Sexton, and now a thriving hub that spans an entire block in central Columbia. Like Patrick’s story, the story of City of Refuge is one of perseverance, growth, and hope.
And like Patrick and City of Refuge, your story is a part of this too. Someone else’s story, many others’ stories—now intersected.
This is A Story We Share.
Like Patrick, many of us can resonate with the longing for safety and stability, real community, and hope. We want it, too. And, if we have it, we want others to have what we’ve been afforded. We join in the story because somewhere in us, we realize we’re not all that different – human beings valuing and honoring the worth of another.
Today kicks off the beginning of Welcoming Week. Over the next ten days you’ll hear more stories, and you’ll be invited to join others from all over the world in #Welcoming. We have ample ways for you to join your story with ours, for you to join your story with others like Patrick – to be a part of carrying hope forward because we believe this matters.
Ways you can Welcome:
- Share a meal with neighbors
- Rally your friends and put on a Basic Needs Drive
- Give: Can’t commit to a monthly gift of $50? No problem. During Welcoming Week, we’re aiming to raise $10,000—and even a $5 gift can be transformational when we share together.
- Advocate: be a connector in Columbia, helping City of Refuge grow through your networks. Advocates give, attend, share, and refer, serving as community champions who open doors to new donors, visitors, and partners.
Stories don’t become shared stories until we take the first step. This Welcoming Week, help us invite others to listen, to join, and to build something beautiful together.
Debbie Beal
Executive Director
Come see for yourself!
Curious about how City of Refuge’s mission is put into action? We’d love to show you! Sign up for a tour, and get a glimpse at how we’re meeting needs and empowering our refugee neighbors toward self-sufficiency!
Tour Times: 10am or 11am on 9/16 or 9/19
Second Saturdays at City Boutique
Come thrift with purpose! Open from 10am-1pm on the second Saturday of each month, City Boutique not only offers great deals on secondhand items, but all proceeds go back into supporting refugee programs & services!
You can also find handmade goods from Global Artisans, with each purchase going directly to support entrepreneurs from refugee backgrounds!
Become an Advocate
We’re looking for people who will partner with us to increase awareness and support of refugees within their circles, championing the mission of City of Refuge!
This is a perfect way to volunteer on your own schedule, and enhances our reach in new ways. We’ll equip you with the tools and information, so that you can invite others in as well!
More of Patrick’s story…
My name is Patrick, and I am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I grew up in a country that was once full of beauty, culture, and hope—but it was torn apart by the violence of civil war. The conflict forced me to make one of the hardest decisions of my life: to leave my home, my friends, and the familiar life I knew behind. I fled across the border into Rwanda, where I found safety in a refugee camp. What I thought would be a temporary shelter turned into a home for nearly 20 years. Life in the camp was challenging—resources were limited, opportunities were scarce, and each day was a lesson in endurance. But in the midst of hardship, I learned resilience, patience, and the value of community.
After years of waiting and hoping, I began the resettlement process to move to the United States. The journey took about three years of paperwork, interviews, and background checks. In January of this year, my dream became a reality. I was resettled by a local refugee resettlement agency in Missouri. Unfortunately, shortly after my arrival, federal funding cuts led to the closure of the agency’s resettlement program. Suddenly, I found myself facing uncertainty once again. That’s when I heard about City of Refuge. Without hesitation, I reached out to them for help. From the very first moment I walked into their office, I felt welcomed. I was assigned a dedicated case manager who immediately began helping me get my basic needs met. They re-enrolled me into the state-funded Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program, which now supports me with monthly financial aid.
Today, I am working closely with City of Refuge on my career development and long-term goals. Every visit to their office reminds me that I am not alone—this community truly feels like family. City of Refuge has impacted not only my life but also the lives of many others in our community. Their work continues to inspire and uplift countless people. I am grateful beyond words. To me, they are a shining light in town, and I will always carry the hope and encouragement they have given me.
