Employment, language barriers, and even transportation can create obstacles for many refugees who are trying to settle into life in a new country. That’s where Pastor Jaime Coleman and Nexus Church of the Nazarene are working to help bridge that gap for Afghanistan refugees.

Nexus is located near a large apartment complex in the Dallas metropolitan area. The 1,500-unit complex is commonly used for refugee resettlement, specifically Afghan refugees. Coleman’s office is in an apartment at the complex, and during his prayer walks he met Afghan family after Afghan family.

The church connected with a food distribution program through the North Texas Food Bank, and the connection allowed Coleman to meet with almost all of the Afghan families on a monthly basis. Slowly, the families began to invite Coleman in and tell him their stories: where they came from, what they’ve been through, and what they are currently going through.

“They’re coming to live next to us and across the street from us,” Coleman said. “What an opportunity the church has. But few are answering the call.”

Coleman’s wife, Aizada, is from the Middle East, and the couple has a passion for people from the area. Jaime saw that other refugee outreaches did not have any Pashto or Dari speakers, which are the two major languages of the Afghan people.

“As we know, people more easily reach their own people than outsiders,” Jaime said. “I wanted to be used of God to be part of raising up Afghan disciples to then carry the work forward.”

The church also began a nonprofit organization: Nexus Neighborhood Outreach. They partner with other “Kingdom-minded” programs and organizations in Dallas to offer English classes, help with emergency rent and utility assistance, provide infant and child care assistance, and even facilitate auto-financing and job acquisition.

Mohammed* resettled in the complex a few years ago from Afghanistan. He said the English classes have been a major benefit to both him and his cousin, Noor*. Mohammed used to go everywhere with Noor to help him navigate conversations. 

Thanks to the English classes, Noor is able to “stand on his own two feet,” he says. Noor also received rent assistance after a severe workplace injury kept him out of work for four months. Because of the ways that Nexus has walked alongside Noor and Mohammed, when a family the cousins knew resettled, the two immediately helped this new family receive assistance from the programs.

As Nexus continues to help raise up Afghan disciples and walk alongside the relocating families, Jaime hopes other churches will recognize opportunities in their communities.

“There is a massive number of Afghans being settled right now throughout the country,” Jaime said. “The question is, will the church step up and help address this need? Right now, it’s a key strategic window where the church can step in and help meet these needs.”