🕊️ A Night to Remember
- Collin Jester
- May 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 28
On May 18, we opened our doors and our hearts.
More than 75 friends, neighbors, and community leaders gathered at The Refuge to dedicate this newly purchased space at 3901 S Wayne Ave. The evening was filled with music, prayer, and gratitude. It was a moment to pause and commit this building to the sacred work ahead: serving immigrants and refugees in Fort Wayne.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, prayed, sang, and walked the halls. You made it holy ground.
🧱 Behind the Scenes: What’s Next?
Now the real work begins — renovation and transformation.
This former school building is being reimagined as:
Short-term housing for up to 8 immigrant and refugee families
Office and co-working space for mission-driven nonprofits and businesses
Future classrooms and daycare for language learning and life skills development
Community gathering areas to celebrate cultures and foster connection
We’re not just restoring a building — we’re creating a place of belonging.
🧤 Volunteer Days – Come Get Your Hands Dirty
Help us prep the property this May! We need your strength, gear, and good company:
🧼 Pressure WashingMay 23 & May 30 | 10 AM–6 PM→ Have a pressure washer or a lift? Bring it!
🌿 Landscape DayMay 31 | 9 AM–5 PM→ Bring shovels, rakes, gloves, and energy!
🛏️ Sponsor a Room at The Refuge – Make a Lasting Impact
You can now sponsor a room at The Refuge and play a personal role in welcoming immigrant families to Fort Wayne! Individuals, families, churches, and businesses are invited to furnish and personalize one of our apartment spaces or common areas.
Your sponsorship can help with:
Furniture (beds, dressers, tables, etc.)
Fixtures and finishes (paint, carpet, flooring)
Household items (kitchenware, linens, décor)
General upkeep and upgrades
💡 This is a powerful way to directly serve incoming families and create a warm, safe environment for their new start in our community.
📩 Interested? Email us at TheRefugeFW@gmail.com to learn more and choose a space to sponsor!
👀 Want a Tour?
Curious about the space and what’s to come?
We’d love to show you around — just email TheRefugeFW@gmail.com to schedule a private or group visit.
🙏 Monthly Prayer Circle
Each month we’ll send a few prayer prompts for those who want to cover the immigrant community and our team in consistent support.
Want to receive them?📩 Sign up for the prayer circle
📅 Mark Your Calendar
A few key events to connect with our global and local community:
🌍 World Refugee Day — June 20Join communities worldwide in honoring the strength and resilience of displaced people. Stay tuned for local ways to participate.
📘 Citizenship Prep Classes — Tuesdays in May, 6–8 PMHosted by International House. Free support for immigrants preparing for the naturalization process.
⚽Amani Fort Wayne FC Night — Saturday, June 28, 7-9 PM
Hosted by Amani Family Services. Join them as Fort Wayne FC faces off against Atlas Fútbol Club U-23 team in an International Friendly Match. For more info click here!
🎉 International Festival Fort Wayne — Coming in JulyA celebration of global cultures through food, music, and dance. Details coming soon!
🧾 National Immigration Headlines
Work Permit ExtensionsAs of April 2025, USCIS now grants 540-day automatic extensions for many Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), helping avoid work interruptions due to processing delays.More info → USCIS.gov
TPS for Afghans Ending
DHS is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans. The program will officially end on July 12, 2025, affecting over 9,000 individuals.More info → USCIS.gov
Venezuelan TPS Not Extended
The Supreme Court allowed the end of the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuelans. The 2021 designation remains in effect until September 10, 2025.More info → USCIS.gov
New Alien Registration Rule
USCIS now requires certain undocumented individuals in the U.S. for 30+ days to register using Form G-325R. This does not provide legal status but is mandatory.More info → USCIS.gov
Faster Asylum HearingsThe Department of Justice (EOIR) has launched a new system to prioritize recent arrivals for asylum hearings, aiming to speed up decisions and ease backlogs in immigration courts.More info → Justice.gov
Family Reunification Parole ExpandedDHS has expanded parole pathways for family reunification, now including nationals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia, offering a faster, legal path to join family members in the U.S.More info → DHS.gov
The Supreme Court Blocks Wartime Deportations—For Now
The Supreme Court temporarily halted the Trump Administration’s attempt to deport a group of Venezuelan detainees under a wartime law, citing due process concerns. The case now returns to lower courts for review.
📞 Questions? Call us at 260-800-1558 or email TheRefugeFW@gmail.com
🧡 You Make This Possible
This vision doesn’t move forward without people like you. Every donation, volunteer hour, prayer, and invitation matters.
💻 Learn more at therefugefw.com📬 Share this newsletter with a friend📥 Want to be featured? Email us at TheRefugeFW@gmail.com
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