With the Strength God Provides: Refugee Ministry with Language in Action

Written by, Kristin Nadeau

GOD Int'l ELL Program Volunteer

"Each one should use whatever spiritual gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." — 1 Peter 4:10. This verse is what first led me to serve with refugees in our Language in Action (LIA) program offered through Global Outreach Developments Int’l. From the very first day they walked into the community room at Buffalo Trails Apartments, our students have been a blessing to me in more ways than I can count.”. From the very first day they walked into the community room at Buffalo Trails Apartments for our English Language Learning class , they’ve been a blessing to me in more ways than I can count.

Every Tuesday brings something new. We never know who will walk through the door — Congolese, Venezuelan, Afghani — children as young as 3, adults up to age 50. Most have been in the U.S. for less than six months; some, only a few weeks. But despite the language barriers and cultural differences, what we all crave is simple: human connection. And that’s exactly what happens here — deep, meaningful connection that transcends backgrounds and borders.

The very next verse continues: "If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 4:11. That small but powerful line, “with the strength God provides,” has become my lifeline. As I’ve stepped into this ministry, I’ve watched Him multiply my time, energy, and resources. There are moments I walk out the door, lesson plans barely printed in time, yet I feel sustained by a strength that isn’t my own. It’s exhilarating to witness God’s provision in such tangible ways.

One Tuesday stands out vividly. We were reviewing basic greetings: “Hello,” “How are you?” “What did you do today?” When it was Martha’s turn, a Venezuelan woman, she shared that she had just lost her father. She was devastated, grieving not just the loss, but the distance from her family. As she cried, so did I. I held her and prayed over her. In that sacred moment, the truth of Romans 12:15 came alive: “Weep with those who weep.” Since then, Martha and I have continued to connect, and I check in with her often.

Another special moment came through Modest, an older man from the Congo. During class, I noticed him squinting at his paper. When I handed him my reading glasses, he put them on and his face lit up. “Now I can read my Bible,” he said. What a profound reminder of how small acts can have eternal impact. Since then, Modest and I share a little ritual — we both don our readers together before each class.

Every week, as I leave that community room, I find myself reflecting: That was time well spent. We come away filled, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually. One verse captures it perfectly, "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched." Proverbs 11:25. Serving in this way has shown me what it truly means to administer God’s grace. And in the process, I’ve discovered that the blessing flows both ways.