America welcomed me as an immigrant, so I’m paying it forward | Opinion

By Dr. Simone Bamba

This World Refugee Day, I’m thinking about the many people around the world seeking safety and about my own journey to America with my husband 24 years ago. As immigrants, the United States gave us a place to feel safe and secure.

Born in Haiti, I fled the violence of the 1990s, enduring the trauma of leaving my son behind and bringing my sick mother with us. After studying medicine in Mexico, I came to America, where I learned English and found a new community. Today, my husband and I lead the Mission Maranatha church in West Roxbury, a suburb of Boston. Like me, our church community includes many refugees and immigrants from Africa and Haiti, making the spirit of welcome especially meaningful to us.

Given what America has done for us, we firmly believe we can’t cross our arms and fail to do the same for others. Solidarity with refugees goes beyond empathy:  it means taking real actions that show our shared humanity and commitment to justice and equality.

Part of my calling is to show God’s love in practical ways, including welcoming the stranger. This is why I jumped at the chance to volunteer last year when the U.S. government introduced the Welcome Corps, a new program that empowers regular people to make a meaningful difference in refugees’ lives by welcoming them directly into our communities, helping them access essential services and fostering a sense of belonging and stability.

In my community, seven members of our church came together and sponsored a young man from Somalia named Ibrahim. As sponsors, we helped Ibrahim sign up for benefits, get identification, and furnish his first home in America. We also showed him how to shop for groceries and fill out forms, and we helped him learn basic English phrases. 

Although Ibrahim is Muslim and we are Christians, our different faiths did not stop us from connecting. We made sure Ibrahim felt welcomed and valued. We helped him find a local mosque and the Somali community center, which gave Ibrahim a safe place to be with others who share his language and culture. We even helped him find a roommate who is also from Somalia. 

It has been almost a year since we first welcomed Ibrahim. Sure enough, Ibrahim is now self-sufficient. He works as a security guard, manages his finances, and is working toward attending school in America. His English improves every day, and I love talking to him about the new things he is learning.

We are learning from Ibrahim, too. He is respectful and kind. He takes nothing for granted. As a minister, it is a powerful testament to show exactly how we can take action. Ibrahim has shown us the depth of our compassion and how much stronger we are when we work together. One person cannot do it alone. Our church is now helping newcomers find their way in America, including applying to sponsor more refugees through the Welcome Corps. 

Today, I know so many Somalians who I consider to be part of my family. This was possible because of Ibrahim. By sharing his journey, he brings hope to so many in our community who want to make a difference for refugees they do not know yet, or even reunite with their loved ones through the Welcome Corps. 

Our sponsor group meets weekly at church, brainstorming ways to welcome more refugees. Last fall, I helped a member with her business, and since then, she has hired several Haitians and other refugees. Welcoming others—regardless of their origins—enriches our communities and helps us grow together.

As America welcomed me, I urge my fellow Haitians here in the United States to consider how we can pay it forward. Becoming a sponsor will change your life and the lives of those around you. For me, giving is part of God’s love. But you don’t need to be of a certain color or creed to stand with refugees; you can help people whether they are from Haiti, Somalia, Afghanistan, or Venezuela. The opportunity to make a difference is significant and at your fingertips. 

Refugees have dreams and aspirations and want a safe and dignified life, just like everyone else. Let us extend a warm welcome in solidarity with those seeking safety and new beginnings. On this World Refugee Day, let us be the beacon of hope and compassion the world desperately needs.

Dr. Simone Bamba is the compassionate pastor of Mission Maranatha church in Boston.  To learn more about how you can change a life, including your own, visit WelcomeCorps.org. 

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