Submitted photo Mr. Abdelhamid Ali shares his journey with Pastor Karen Erskine-Valentine.

On April 30, Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish welcomed guest Abdelhamid Ali, a volunteer for the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (www.lirs.org), to share his refugee journey with the congregation and visitors. Mr. Ali resettled in Baltimore several years ago from Sudan with the assistance of LIRS, fleeing the violence and suffering of the civil war in his home country.

“We are called to ‘invite in the stranger’ and shine the light of God’s love in the face of destruction and persecution,” said Pastor Karen Erksine-Valentine. “Mr. Ali’s story shows how Lutherans and others are putting faith into action and we’re happy to raise awareness of that in our congregation and community.”

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has helped over 500,000 refugees resettle in the United States since its founding in 1939, coordinating with congregations and social service organizations across the country that help resettle refugees in local communities. For more information, visit www.lirs.org or facebook.com/shepherdstownlutheranparish.