The Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) is calling on churches and individuals to honor World Refugee Sunday 2025 by responding to Jesus’ words—“I was in prison, and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36). Observed annually on the Sunday before or after World Refugee Day on June 20, this year’s World Refugee Sunday falls on June 15 and 22 and focuses on those who find themselves stuck in detention centers.
In a press release, the RHP stated the Sunday event is intended as a “day for churches to collectively pray, reflect and advocate for those forced to flee their homes. It serves as a moment of deep compassion, faith-driven activism and a call for justice.
“It aligns closely with World Refugee Day (on June 20), which was designated by the U.N. General Assembly to recognize the plight and resilience of refugees globally.”
This year’s focus is on the thousands of men, women and children held in immigration detention worldwide, seeking safety, freedom and a better future, the RHP says.
“In the ancient Greco-Roman world, prisons were not places of long-term punishment, but facilities where individuals awaited trial or execution,” the RHP stated.
“When Jesus spoke of imprisonment, he referred to people being detained under authorities until their fate was decided. Today, detention centers serve a similar function for asylum-seekers, refugees and victims of trafficking, often holding them indefinitely while their cases are processed.”
Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, persecution and human rights violations, as the world “grapples with ongoing refugee crises,” the RHP added.
“Many of them end up in immigration detention, often in inhumane conditions, deprived of basic rights and dignity.”
World Refugee Sunday, founded 15 years ago by the RHP together with the World Evangelical Alliance, offers an opportunity for churches to unite in prayer and advocacy, the RHP stated, “standing in solidarity with displaced persons and reminding the world of Jesus’ call to care for the vulnerable.”
“The plight of refugees is not just a political or humanitarian issue; it is a moral and spiritual calling,” the RHP stated.
“Jesus’ words remind us of our responsibility to visit, support and stand with those in detention and displacement. World Refugee Sunday 2025 is a time for the global church to move beyond awareness to meaningful engagement, showing the world what it means to truly love our neighbors.”
Christians are invited to observe World Refugee Sunday 2025 by praying for those held in immigration detention and all displaced persons; raising awareness by sharing stories of refugees and the challenges they face; engaging young people and children in prayer, worship and meaningful reflection on refugee issues; and taking action through support, advocacy and partnerships with organizations working on refugee rights and resettlement.
