•16 Apr 2025
Refugee coordinator shares insights, ideas on how to better reach migrant populations.
Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review
Terri Saelee, North American Division Refugee and Immigrant Ministries coordinator, discussed, during the Atlantic Union Conference SEEDS Festival of the Laity conference in Stamford, Connecticut, United States, how to better reach refugee populations across the region. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]
“God often uses migration to spread the message,” said Terri Saelee, North American Division Refugee and Immigrant Ministries coordinator, on March 30. Saelee’s words were part of a presentation entitled “Refugees and the New Pentecost,” given during the 2025 Atlantic Union Conference (AUC) SEEDS Festival of the Laity conference in Stamford, Connecticut, United States.
Saelee explained that even though “you won’t find the word ‘refugee’ in the Bible . . . , most of the Bible is about how God mentored, loved, used, and helped a group of refugees,” starting with Abraham. “When people come to our country, there’s a tendency . . . to push back on any new immigrant.
Just a Distraction?
Even though Saelee grew up on a Nebraska farm in the U.S. that had been part of her family for generations, she said that God led her to serve refugees in Thailand. It was a life-changing experience, she shared. There she was not only able to connect with refugees but also to see how it was not uncommon for locals to look down on newcomers, even though they contributed to their economy. “I think it’s human nature,” she said. “When we think of refugees overseas, it happens that if we can choose whom and when to help, we feel good about it. But when we come across refugees or asylum seekers and they don’t fit into our plan, it’s harder to have a proper attitude.”
Saelee said that against that background, she has come to appreciate the Bible story of the good Samaritan more. “I think that nowadays most would praise the priest and the Levite because they didn’t get distracted; they kept on track with their goals for the day. But the Samaritan came by and saw an opportunity in the distraction.” In that sense, she emphasized, “one key to be someone God can use to reach refugees and immigrants is to be prepared to see opportunities in distractions from our schedule.”
“God often uses migration to spread the message,” said Terri Saelee, North American Division Refugee and Immigrant Ministries coordinator, on March 30. Saelee’s words were part of a presentation entitled “Refugees and the New Pentecost,” given during the 2025 Atlantic Union Conference (AUC) SEEDS Festival of the Laity conference in Stamford, Connecticut, United States.
Saelee explained that even though “you won’t find the word ‘refugee’ in the Bible . . . , most of the Bible is about how God mentored, loved, used, and helped a group of refugees,” starting with Abraham. “When people come to our country, there’s a tendency . . . to push back on any new immigrant.
Just a Distraction?
Even though Saelee grew up on a Nebraska farm in the U.S. that had been part of her family for generations, she said that God led her to serve refugees in Thailand. It was a life-changing experience, she shared. There she was not only able to connect with refugees but also to see how it was not uncommon for locals to look down on newcomers, even though they contributed to their economy. “I think it’s human nature,” she said. “When we think of refugees overseas, it happens that if we can choose whom and when to help, we feel good about it. But when we come across refugees or asylum seekers and they don’t fit into our plan, it’s harder to have a proper attitude.”
Saelee said that against that background, she has come to appreciate the Bible story of the good Samaritan more. “I think that nowadays most would praise the priest and the Levite because they didn’t get distracted; they kept on track with their goals for the day. But the Samaritan came by and saw an opportunity in the distraction.” In that sense, she emphasized, “one key to be someone God can use to reach refugees and immigrants is to be prepared to see opportunities in distractions from our schedule.”
