Changing Stories

“Jairo de Oliveira is an advocate for refugees and builds a compelling, convicting case for every Christian to do the same. He masterfully sketches a rich biblical narrative of compassion for the forcibly displaced. God’s heart for refugees is undeniable and de Oliveira has built a bridge for us from inertia to engagement, helplessness to hope. He invites us to cross it with him and share Christ with the nations in our own backyards.”


—Audrey Frank, author of Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World





“Jairo provides a fresh, biblical approach to a subject that has waned in the media but has only increased on the world stage. Stories like those of Aisha, Rashida, and Samira reduce the world stage to a microcosm enabling the reader to see the true faces of refugees and prompting a rise to an action for the sake of fellow image-bearers. He demonstrates how even a small church in Columbia, South Carolina, can have a global impact and provides practical tools to enable any church to join the Lord in caring for the most persecuted and desperate people on earth.”


—Alex Pettett, Executive Director of World Witness, the foreign mission agency of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church





“In addition to providing a solid biblical and theoretical foundation to the topic of refugees, Jairo’s research is also told through his own lens: as an immigrant embedded with immigrants. His humble and loving approach will give readers practical tips and thought-provoking conversations to consider as they respond to the current refugee phenomenon.”


—Brian Hébert, Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Seminary Texas, and Co-founder and Director of Training and Strategy, Urban Catalyst





“How do we think biblically and act practically regarding the current global refugee crisis? In Changing Stories, Jairo de Oliveira, an experienced global Christian worker, tackles both of these questions and offers a valuable resource to churches questioning their part in ministering to refugees. Pastors, seminary students, and all Christian believers will benefit from this book.”


—Edward L. Smither, Dean and Professor of the College of Intercultural Studies, Columbia International University, and President of the Evangelical Missiological Society





“In Changing Stories, Jairo Oliveira invites us to think biblically about the refugees of the world facing a humanitarian crisis and living under pressures of uncertainty. Each refugee represents a human being created in God’s image that the Almighty is bringing close to us. The author also reminds us of the opportunity to serve them in love, kindness, and compassion. Indeed, the global church will be blessed with this precious and relevant book.”


—Jeferson F. Chagas, Founder and President, Hikmah International Ministries





“Changing Stories captures the heart of the issue of one of today’s greatest opportunities facing the church—people on the move. Jairo reminds us that at the center of the mass migration of people are individuals, each one loved by their Creator. Framed in a biblical imperative to ‘treat the alien and stranger among us as one of our native-born’ (Lev 19:34), Jairo offers practical tools by way of questions and case studies to help the believer respond with compassion and friendship.”


—John Becker, Global Strategy Director, AIM International, and Co-founder of Greater Nuba Action Coalition and Diaspora Peoples in Europe Network





“God’s people are pilgrims. Our homeland is heaven. Millions of refugees are on a pilgrimage today, searching for a new life. It makes sense for us, as God’s people, to be the ones with open arms to welcome them. Changing Stories is a reflection that arises from praxis. Jairo de Oliveira, a Brazilian pilgrim, with his community of faith in the USA, teaches us how to love the foreigner. I recommend the book as well as the author. As a brother in Christ and as a friend, I have followed Jairo closely since his first years of ministry in Africa. He stands out for combining a love for Christ and people with remarkable zeal and academic excellence.”


—José Roberto Prado, Founder and CEO of ABUNA, and Brazilian National Facilitator, Refugee Highway Partnership





“At a time when more people have been forcibly displaced than at any time in recorded history, many Christians are unsure of how—or if—to respond. In Changing Stories, Jairo de Oliveira draws on Scripture, meticulous research, and his many years of experience in refugee ministry to make the case that God is at work amid the global refugee crisis. Practical and persuasive, I strongly recommend it.”


—Matthew Soerens, US Director of Church Mobilization, World Relief, and National Coordinator, Evangelical Immigration Table





“This book tells us of a Brazilian PhD student, speaking Arabic to serve Syrian refugees in South Carolina. Reread that sentence and consider it for a moment. I’m humbled to learn from Jairo that Americans need not be afraid of refugees to our country because of the stringent precautions that our government requires two years of screening before they’re allowed to arrive. He bears the stories of his experiences with the fresh perspective of being a foreigner and traveler himself—able to empathize with these new Americans in ways that we need to hear.”


—Nate Scholz, Medina Focus Coordinator, Refugee Highway Partnership





“This book will help refugee ministries to consider the strategic impact of their work. As a participant of the workgroup that created the original Best Practices for Refugee Ministry with Refugee Highway Partnership, this is the first book that I am aware of to include a description of these practices in action. It gives a first-hand example of the usefulness of these principles. More ministries should do the hard work of applying and evaluating their ministry practices among refugees.”


—Paul Sydnor, Europe Regional Leader, International Association for Refugees, Global Diaspora Network of the Lausanne Movement





“When confronted with the immense scope of the current migration crisis, it is easy to become overwhelmed and hopeless. Changing Stories provides a fresh vision and deeper motivation for Christians to become personally involved in the lives and stories of the refugees that God has placed around us. This book reminds us that our response to this crisis depends not only on Christian compassion but also on obedience to God’s commands. In addition, by sharing the personal stories of refugees and those who welcome them, Jairo shows how this feeling of hopelessness can be turned to joy in seeing God write a new chapter in the lives of both refugees and volunteers. We have been blessed to see the way that God has used Jairo and his family in the lives of refugees here in Columbia, South Carolina, and we look forward to seeing how God will use this practical and timely book to spur on his church!”


—Robert Turner, Pastor, Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church





“There is plenty of information about refugees today. There are stats, graphs, maps, and charts. As important as those are, stories capture the true essence of what is happening as people are on the move globally. Jairo de Oliveira writes about these stories and reminds us of the humanity amidst the overwhelming numbers.”


—Ted Esler, Former Executive Vice President, Pioneers USA, and President, Missio Nexus





“Jairo de Oliveira has complemented his years of personal refugee ministry experience with in-depth research to produce a timely resource intended to help local churches engage in effective ministry among forcibly displaced people. Jairo offers many specific insights concerning how to come alongside Muslim refugees in ways that demonstrate respect and love in action. Jairo’s use of the Best Practices for Refugee Ministry document of the Refugee Highway Partnership is a helpful example of applying this ministry assessment tool in a specific refugee ministry context. The book will be particularly helpful to churches in the United States and Europe.”


—Tom Albinson, Founder and President, International Association for Refugees, and Ambassador for Refugees, Displaced, and Stateless People, World Evangelical Alliance





“Displacement and homelessness are profound and disturbing realities today. Jairo de Oliveira invites us to engage these realities with love, compassion, and integrity. The missiology behind Changing Stories demonstrates that God is already there, amid the pain and suffering. Moreover, he is inviting us to be part of his redemptive presence, healing touch, and reconciling arms. This book is a sign of hope for this troubled time and will encourage and challenge us to engage these realities from our own vulnerabilities, a context where God’s grace finds home. It is a privilege for me to celebrate and recommend this account of hope and transformation.”


—Zazá Lima, Executive Director of Pueblos Musulmanes Internacional (PMI)