Missions Update - December 2025
Monthly Missions Update / December 2025 / volume 2 issue 12
Hello Morning Star Family!
I hope you had a good thanksgiving and were able to take some time to reflect on all that we can be thankful for. As we enter the final month of the year, we are also in the final stretch of our Season of Giving initiative to gather Restart Kits, food boxes and gift cards to Winco/Walmart/Fred Meyer for our new neighbor refugees who are settling into Salem after years of fleeing persecution, war or famine in their home countries. Let's be the hands & feet of Jesus as we serve those in need during this Christmas Season! Details on how to help below.
Take a look at this month’s updates:
HAPPENING AT MORNING STAR:
SEASON OF GIVING:
Restart Kits For Refugees with our Local Partner Salem For Refugees
Deadline extended - Return food by Dec 10 Return restart kits by dec 14!
We'll be supporting new refugees in our community through Restart Kits like we did last year. Additionally there are food box options we will be focusing on for additional support. You'll hear about this in church services and through all our communication channels so this is just a heads up to be in prayer & see how you can help!
local partner – salem Angels
At the start of 2025, our team set a goal to match 35 foster families or youth in our Love Box and Dare to Dream programs in 2025. Guess what? Our incredible team did it - with four weeks to spare!
In total, we have matched 20 Love Box families, 18 youth in Dare to Dream for a total of 131 youth and children served in 2025.
But our work does not stop at 35. There are over 200 active foster homes in Marion and Polk County caring for the nearly 400 kiddos in care.
Although our work does not stop, we do want to pause for a moment to thank all of you. Without a community around us we could not do the work we do - like pack 13 Love Boxes full of food for our youth and families. Heritage Grove Federal Credit Union hosted a holiday food drive to help provide meals for youth and families in our programs.
This is the kind of support youprovide that helps us wrap support around youth and families in the foster care community.
There are so many more stories to share, Love Boxes to pack, coffee meetings with new mentors; but right now, we just want to take a moment to be thankful: we are changing the stats. The children, youth, and families in the foster care community of Marion and Polk County are wrapped in support and relationships - and that would not happen without you.
Thank you.
We have 38 combined matches in 2025 - with half a dozen more matches pending and even more on our waitlist. As our case load grows, we must grow with it. (Remember, our goal was 35, so we are well beyond that.) We need you to help catalyze this growth.
Starting today, we have a $3,500 matching campaign. We can turn $3,500 into $7,000: every dollar given is matched up to $3,500. That is more coffee meetings with foster moms, more trips to the arcade with youth, more Kid Fun Nights, the list goes on. It's more youth and families in the foster community that are consistently supported.
If you want to learn more about our programs or support a youth or foster family, visit our website.
Salem Angels is part of the National Angels network spanning across the United States.
Local Partner – Salem for refugees:
Thank you for your continued support in this season as we provide resources and services to support new neighbors in our community.
THRIVE UPDATE:
We want to say a heartfelt thank you to all who attended THRIVE! We had a great event and we appreciate all those who volunteered, hosted a table, or came as a guest.
The Corvallis and Salem communities have shown incredible generosity and we have currently raised over $180,000 toward our $250,000 goal! We're overwhelmed by your kindness and your generosity!
If you did not have a chance to donate yet but would like to, you can do so below!
LEGISLATION APPEAL FOR UKRAINIANS:
Thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war have found safety and a new beginning in the United States under the humanitarian parole (U4U) and TPS programs. The Ukrainian Adjustment Act (H.R. 3104) would allow these families to apply for permanent residency - giving them long-term stability and allowing them to continue contributing to our communities, workplaces, and churches.
This bill already has growing bipartisan support in Congress, thanks to people who are speaking up and writing to their Representatives. Every message counts!
What You Can Do:
Enter your ZIP code to find your district’s Representative
Send them a short message or email in support of the Ukrainian Adjustment Act (H.R. 3104). Draft letter template link below:
VOLUNTEER TRAINING:
Interested in volunteering with SFR? Join our volunteer training on Zoom on Tuesday, December 9 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Please register at the link below. This is an exciting time at SFR with expanded programming and new volunteer opportunities at our affordable housing complex Blossom Gardens!
We are also currently hiring for a full-time Volunteer Coordinator! We are accepting applications until December 1st. You can read more about this role at our website salemforrefugees.org/careers!
ETHIOPIAN CHURCH SEEKING SPACE:
As our office has resettled new neighbors in Salem from all countries of origin, we have sought to make connections with familiar communities that exist locally. For many, one of the most important connections is a place to observe their faith tradition in their own language, and we are glad to have local faith communities like International Prayer Gathering, the Salem Islamic Center, and others. When an option does not exist in Salem, some of our clients may travel to Portland.
We recently learned of an Ethiopian Orthodox congregation that is in the early stages of forming. Part of this process is securing a leased space where they can hold weekly services. We are excited at the possibility for Eritrean new neighbors to have a local church option in Salem, and so we wanted to share the request with our community to see if anyone knows of possible rental spaces we could share with their priest.
Leased Space Considerations
2,000 square feet (approx), and able to accommodate up to 60 people
$2,000 rent per month or less
No separate offices or rooms needed, but ideally a common area or cafe space - optional, but a nice addition
Space must be a dedicated space, not a shared space
If you know of an available space that might fit this group's needs, please share it with us and we will forward them to the church. Thank you!
IN CONCLUSION:
As we move into winter and reflect on this past year, we are encouraged by the resilience of our new neighbors and the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and community.
Thank you for walking alongside us as we continue to welcome, equip, and empower refugees to thrive here in Salem.
global Partner – reid saunders:
This season of ministry has been one of the most eventful I’ve ever experienced, as doors to share the Gospel continue to open wide around the world. In the past four months, our team has ministered in:
Uruguay
Pakistan
Japan
Egypt
Zimbabwe
I’m so grateful for these opportunities to share the hope of Jesus with people who long for the love and care of a Savior.
While we were ministering in Pakistan last month, we witnessed several miraculous healings during the festival. While I was proclaiming the Gospel and praying for the sick, believing that God would heal them, our prayer team in the U.S. was praying for a woman with a tumor at the exact same time! In an incredible display of God’s power, she was healed! The very next day, her doctor confirmed that there was no trace of it left. Truly, the Lord heals and does mighty things!
(The woman came forward on stage to testify that the tumor on her neck had miraculously disappeared.)
This picture of ministering together, while on opposite sides of the world, moves me to overwhelming gratitude this Thanksgiving. I’m so grateful for you and the invaluable part you play in sharing the Good News! I pray your heart will be full of joy as you reflect on God’s love for you this week.
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”
- Psalm 103:1-4
All for Jesus!
Reid
global partner: salem free clinics
In This Season of Gratitude, We Thank You
As we enter this season focused on gratitude, we are reminded daily that Salem Free Clinics exists because of a community that chooses compassion. Every appointment, every smile, and every moment of relief a patient feels when they walk through our doors is possible because of people like you—our donors, volunteers, partners, and friends.
This year, we are on track to provide nearly 6,000 no-cost appointments to neighbors who need medical, dental, or counseling care they cannot otherwise afford or access. Behind each of these visits stands a network of supporters who give generously in so many ways.
We are especially grateful for our volunteers, whose dedication transforms our clinics into places of hope. Last year, 231 volunteers served 16,555 hours—a contribution valued at $936,442. From clinicians providing specialty care to front-desk volunteers offering a warm welcome, each person plays a vital role in delivering the quality, compassionate care our patients count on.
Their willingness to serve reflects the best of our community, and we could not do it without them.
And to our donors, Compassion Partners, event attendees, and community partners—you ensure our doors stay open. Your generosity keeps our services free, accessible, and grounded in compassion. Your support makes a tangible difference in the lives of people who have nowhere else to turn. The way you share about Salem Free Clinics with friends, family, and colleagues has expanded community awareness and increased generosity, allowing even more neighbors to receive the compassionate care they deserve.
This season, and every season, we are deeply thankful for you. Together, we are making compassion possible for individuals and families across Marion and Polk Counties.
Thank you for standing with us, serving alongside us, and helping us bridge the gap in healthcare access for our community.
SPIRIT OF SALEM AWARD - October 20, 2025
On October 20th, Salem Free Clinics was honored and recognized by the Salem Chamber of Commerce, who awarded us with the 2025 Spirit of Salem Award for our impact in the community.
Our CEO, Trina Fowler, accepted the award, giving a brief impactful speech sharing about the clinic’s work providing better access to healthcare. Attending this forum were several hundred business leaders, including former Oregon Governor, John Kitzhaber, who was the main speaker talking about "Solutions for a Healthcare Industry in Crisis." Salem Free Clinics is proud to be recognized as one of those solutions.
KARISA THEDE -
a former ER nurse, volunteers as an intake nurse twice a month. Reflecting on her time at the clinic, she says, “I probably get more out of volunteering than the patients do.” Karisa sees firsthand the difference our care makes for neighbors who are uninsured or underinsured and might not have seen a provider in years.
BLAKE DEMPSTER -
a Certified Nursing Assistant, also regularly donates his time and skills to support patients at the clinic. Blake said, 'I feel like I have a calling to serve people and I really do enjoy it.'
CLAIRE TRUAX -
RN, joined Salem Free Clinics as a volunteer in late 2024 saying “I wanted to use my nursing skills in a way that I felt was helpful in the community.” As a full-time nurse in Salem Health’s ED, she finds her clinic work “very refreshing” — commenting that it gives her a window into primary care, helps connect with people earlier, and supports patients who are often surprised that our services are truly free.
Karisa, Blake and Claire were all recently highlighted by Salem Health for their exceptional commitment to volunteer service and for making a lasting impact in the community. Every volunteer embodies the spirit of community and compassion that makes our work possible.
We are deeply grateful to Karisa, Blake, Claire and all of our volunteers! You can read their articles on Salem Health's You Matter posts here: https://salemhealth.org/you-matter
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR REFUGEES
Dear Salem and Corvallis For Refugees Communities,
I’m writing to share an important update on three rapidly evolving areas of federal policy that directly affect refugees in our community: a new federal review of recently resettled refugees, changes under H.R.1, and the newly announced refugee admissions ceiling for 2026.
1. Re-interviewing 200,000 refugees and freezing green cards
A new federal memo directs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to re-interview roughly 200,000–230,000 refugees who were admitted during the Biden administration. At the same time, the memo halts all green card approvals for these refugees and allows cases that were already approved to be reopened.
Refugees are already among the most heavily vetted people admitted to the U.S., often waiting years overseas before arrival. This mass re-interview process will create deep anxiety and long delays for families who have been living, working, and going to school here for several years, and it introduces the risk that refugee status could be terminated with very limited avenues for appeal.
2. H.R. 1 and access to basic benefits
H.R.1 changes who can receive food and health benefits. Under this law and the implementing guidance, Congress has removed refugees and many other humanitarian categories from SNAP eligibility and sharply narrowed access to Medicaid for non-citizens. This means that for many refugees, continued access to food assistance and, in some states, stable health coverage is now contingent on successfully obtaining a green card. Unlike other states, Oregon offers Healthier Oregon that could help refugees maintain access to health insurance but would add strain to Oregon’s budget.
Because USCIS has frozen green card processing and is forcing refugees to repeat interviews they already passed, families who should be moving toward long-term stability may instead face extended gaps in food and health coverage. All this despite being lawfully present and working hard to rebuild their lives.
3. A record-low refugee admissions ceiling and “priority” populations
The refugee admissions ceiling for Fiscal Year 2026 has been set at just 7,500 people. This is the lowest cap in the history of the U.S. refugee program, down from 125,000 in Fiscal Year 2025. For context, more refugees had already been conditionally approved and saw their travel canceled in January of 2025 after President Trump took office,froze reception and placement funding, and canceled travel for thousands.
The language around the presidential determination also calls out a sharp departure from decades of practice that centered the most vulnerable to a potential focus on Afrikaner refugees from South Africa. This combination of a historically low cap and a racially narrow priority population raises serious questions about equity, legal integrity, and the many refugee families (including those with relatives already here) who may now never receive a travel date.
The language around the presidential determination of the refugee admissions ceiling indicates a sharp departure from decades of practice that centered the most vulnerable. It has shifted to a potential focus on Afrikaner refugees from South Africa. This racially narrow priority population and historically low cap raises serious questions about equity and legal integrity. It is even more troubling for the many refugee families (including those with relatives already settled here) who may now never receive a travel date.
Our posture and your role
Salem and Corvallis For Refugees share deep concern about these developments, especially policies that re-litigate already-vetted cases, take away supports that provide stability during the resettlement process and prioritize one population at the expense of others who have waited for years.
Even in this climate, our commitment remains the same: to walk alongside our New Neighbors with dignity, compassion, and empowerment, and to advocate for policies that honor both their humanity and our community’s values.
In the coming weeks, I encourage you to:
Contact your elected officials and urge them to restore a robust, needs-based refugee ceiling and to protect food and health assistance for refugees and other humanitarian arrivals. You can find your congressperson’s contact information at congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
Not add to the panic and fear that this brings to the refugee community. We will all wait for further developments and guidance before creating a strategy to support our clients through these new processes.
Stand with local refugee families through welcoming relationships, volunteering, and, where you are able, financial support that helps us bridge gaps created by federal policy.
Thank you for continuing to be a community of welcome and courage in a time of uncertainty.
Luke Glaze
Executive Director
Salem for Refugees and Corvallis For Refugees
To learn more about each of our Global & Local Partners, CLICK HERE. If you’re interested in helping more with Missions at Morning Star, please email: jared@mstar.church
Thanks for all you do to help share the Good News of Jesus with a world in need!
– Morning Star Missions Board
