Jay & Tiffany*

Asbury Mission Team Area:  Judea

Jay and Tiffany live in an ethnically diverse suburb of Atlanta, home to many refugees from all around the world.  These refugees have resettled here as they fled from religious, social or political persecution.  Jay and Tiffany are also part of a local church-planting team, bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to immigrant families in Atlanta.  Asbury has wonderful opportunities to join Jay and Tiffany in their work, ministering to refugees seeking freedom and peace in their new American homes.  Many challenges exist for these immigrants, as they try to adapt to a new culture and a new language.  Short term mission trips to bring children’s ministry and puppeteers will help build relationships and teach families about Jesus through song and Bible stories. Our help is needed to promote activities and programs that will encourage economic and social development, including English instruction, hospitality ministry, mentoring and small business loans. 

“…I was a stranger and you invited me in…”—Matthew 25:3. 

“In order to ‘test the water’ we decided to move into a Muslim refugee apartment complex for the period of a year.  Now five years later, we feel more than confirmed that God has indeed led us to a unique community within our own country in order to reach out to the world…in time, our hearts were in love with the people the many refugee families that had befriended us.  We feel that God has uniquely brought us to this place demonstrate and tell of His love.” – Jay 

“We serve a community that is almost always challenged by adjusting to life in America, both culturally and financially.  Many families are from rural farming communities where even the idea of a doorknob is new to them.  Others may have professional degrees but still lack the language skills to communicate.  Though they are initially given three months of financial assistance, it is in that time that refugees are expected to learn English and secure meaningful employment.  Since this is rarely a realistic situation, many families quickly feel emotionally, financially, and spiritually desperate.   It is in this context that we find our ministry and in which we see God provide time after time, not only for our own family but for those who do not yet know Him as their savior and provider.  Though we can not always help with every need, we often find the most encouraging thing we can do is ask ‘May we pray for you?’”—Jay   

“Refugees do not just need things; they also need people.  Refugee ministry offers a unique opportunity for [people] to partner ‘hands on.’ There are many refugees that do not have even one significant relationship with a Christian friend.” – Jay and Tiffany