Over the last year and a half, immigration in the US has been completely upended. With refugee resettlement effectively closed and mass deportation instituted throughout the country, it's immigrant families that are getting the brunt of these policies. In this episode, Brandon Stiver interviews Matthew Soerens from World Relief about US immigration policies, refugee resettlement, family separation, and biblical perspectives on immigration. They explore the impact of current policies, stories of affected families, and how the church can respond biblically and practically.

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Resources and Links from the Show

World Relief Online

Joined Together, Torn Apart : Family Separation Report

Seeking Refuge: The Human Face of the Global Refugee Crisis (Amazon)

Jump into more conversations around creation care, environmental justice and community development on the Earthkeepers Podcast - Link

Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

• 02:21 Matthew Soerens' Journey with World Relief
• 04:58 The Global Refugee Crisis and Its Impact
• 07:41 World Relief's Approach to Refugee Resettlement
• 09:27 Current U.S. Immigration Policies and Their Effects
• 10:24 Reflections on Recent Immigration Challenges
• 12:27 Family Separation and Its Consequences
• 17:25 Real Stories of Affected Families
• 21:43 The Broader Implications of Family Separation
• 24:48 The Scale of Family Separation in Trump's Second Term
• 26:52 Challenges of Reuniting Families That Have Been Separated
• 29:48 The Economic Impact of Immigration Policies
• 31:10 Advocacy and Political Engagement In Modern America
• 41:11 Biblical Perspectives on Immigration

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Are all global justice issues created equal or are certain causes worth more of our attention and funding? Is it possible to get more bang for our buck by prioritizing certain geographic areas when it comes to missions and economic development? Joining the show today is JD Bauman of Christians for Impact. He is the co-author of the new book "All the Lives You Can Change" which explores how Christian principles intersect with the modern movement of effective altruism and global impact. In this episode, JD shares insights on prioritizing charitable efforts, the importance of data-driven giving, and pursuing a life of maximum global impact.

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Subscribe to Our New YouTube Channel

Podcast Sponsor

Are you ready to take your impact to the next level? Then join this year's OneAccord conference October 13th-15th in Washington, DC! Use Code "Global" for Discount

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Resources and Links from the Show

All the Lives You Can Change by Bauman, Roser and Zhang (Amazon)

Christians for Impact Online

GiveWell

The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer

80,000 Hours ITN Framework

Jump into more conversations around child protection, global health, and ethical mission on the Optimistic Voices Podcast – Link

Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

• (01:22) – JD's background and the role of faith in his work
• (02:38) – Effective altruism and evidence-based good deeds
• (03:23) – JD's missions family and background
• (04:36) – Connecting faith, service, and career impact
• (08:11) – Insights into Christian impact and career advising
• (11:51) – Funding effective global health interventions
• (18:03) – Examples of cost-effectiveness in charitable work
• (23:52) – Reframing local giving and global giving
• (28:43) – Using the ITN framework for impactful careers
• (48:07) – Top global causes to prioritize through effective altruism
• (50:45) – The connection between creation care, a plant-based diet and animal welfare
• (52:21) – AI risks and opportunities for advocacy
• (56:29) – The radical opportunity when Christians donate 10%

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

There is a bit of dissonance when it comes to the trajectory of Christian support of global orphan care. More Christians are accurately understanding that kids in orphanages have families AND they are increasing the amount of financial support towards that residential care. In this episode Brandon Stiver is joined by Elli Oswald of the Faith to Action Initiative and Julie Walton of the Martin James Foundation. Together, they explores the recent Barna study on U.S. Christians' perceptions and support of orphanages and family-based care, highlighting shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors over the last five years. If you have a heart to see kids in families and Christian orphan care progress beyond putting kids in orphanages, you've gotta listen in on this important conversation.

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Subscribe to Our New YouTube Channel

Podcast Sponsor

Are you ready to take your impact to the next level? Then join this year's OneAccord conference October 13th-15th in Washington, DC! Use Code "Global" for Discount

Register for OneAccord 2026

Resources and Links from the show

Faith to Action Online

Martin James Foundation Online

Barna Report on Residential Care: U.S. Christian Giving and Missions (2026)

Jump into more conversations around child protection, global health, and ethical mission on the Optimistic Voices Podcast - Link

Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

• 03:19 Understanding the Barna Study and Its Goals
• 05:24 The Importance of Family-Based Care
• 09:17 Knowledge Gaps and Misconceptions
• 14:22 Support and Funding Trends in the U.S.
• 21:14 Behavior Change and Emotional Connections
• 26:09 Next Steps for Care Reform and Donor Engagement
• 34:07 The Role of Faith and Cultural Mindsets
• 41:44 Impact of Global and Political Changes
• 51:49 Practical Strategies for Application and Collaboration
• 01:01:07 Personal Stories and Case Examples
• 01:05:16 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License