City of Refuge

Our Mission: 

At City of Refuge, we are dedicated to helping refugees navigate their new lives in mid-Missouri. We serve and empower refugees through relational care, education, and development, offering holistic services that are built on relationship and trust—because we know that the journey to a new life shouldn’t be walked alone.

Why We’re Great: 

We’re all about helping, providing, and equipping. It’s our honor to welcome those who have fled their home countries seeking a fresh start in Columbia, MO. But we don’t just stop at offering essential services like housing assistance, job placement, and language support. We go further—we give refugees something invaluable: relationships.

We work with people from all over the world—40 different countries and at least 23 different languages. We truly are a hub of cross-cultural beauty, reflected in the lives and stories of those we get to know. At the heart of our mission is the idea of loving our neighbors—immigrants and refugees who are rebuilding their lives here. When we say “Love Your Neighbor,” we mean more than just offering assistance. We mean investing in deep, lasting friendships. These relationships are the foundation of a strong, welcoming community where refugees can find support, build trust, and flourish in their new life of freedom.

The value of community is immeasurable. For refugees, these connections mean more than just friendship—they are the support system that helps them adjust, find stability, and build a future of hope. We work to be the safe space, the bridge, and the hand extended in kindness.

Why Your Support Matters:

As we close out 2024 and look forward to 2025, City of Refuge needs your support to continue providing the life-changing services that make a real difference in the lives of refugees. Whether it’s helping a family buy their first home, guiding them through the maze of paperwork, enrolling them in preschool, getting them launched with their own business, or simply offering a welcoming hand of friendship, your year-end gift ensures that this work continues.

Your contribution goes directly to:

• Care: Building trust and offering emotional support for refugees adjusting to life in a new country while assisting with jobs, housing, medical, social benefits, and much more!
• Education: Providing language classes, job readiness training, driving lessons, artisan & culinary skills to help refugees integrate and thrive.
• Development: Empowering families with the resources and opportunities they need to become self-sufficient and successful.

Make a Difference Today

We need your help to keep loving our neighbors—to continue serving and empowering refugees who are starting over in mid-Missouri. Your gift this season will not only provide practical support, but it will send a powerful message that these refugees are loved and valued members of our community.

Give today and be part of the change. Your generosity ensures that our work continues and that refugees feel welcomed, supported, and loved. Together, we can make 2025 a year of hope, opportunity, and belonging for refugees in Columbia, MO.

Thank you for helping us Love Your Neighbor and make a lasting impact this holiday season.