REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP and resettlement
Refugees have had to flee for their lives from war and persecution. They live in vulnerable and precarious situations and are in need of protection and opportunities to build a new life.
There are 42 million refugees globally. These men, women, and children have often been displaced by war, persecution and violence. Many live in very difficult conditions and struggle with food insecurity and poverty.
Since 1979, World Renew with churches and other sponsoring groups, has responded to the needs of refugees around the world and has successfully sponsored and resettled more than 11,000 refugees to Canada.
Sponsor
World Renew is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
This enables us to sponsor refugees for their resettlement to Canada through Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSRP).
Partner
World Renew partners with churches, other faith based organizations and sponsoring groups to sponsor and resettle refugees to Canada.
Advocate
Join us in pursuing advocacy for refugee rights. It is a way of putting faith into action that can change lives – those of refugees and of those who advocate for them.
Join us in advocating on behalf of refugees to your local MP.
Counting up hope
In 2025, Sponsorship and Resettlement looked like:
Celebrating Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement
Join us as we recognize Refugee Sunday and World Refugee Day throughout the month of June. With resources to engage your church and family, find new ways to support refugee sponsorship and resettlement, advocate, and pray for refugees around the world.
What is refugee sponsorship?
Provides refugees protection, the opportunity to rebuild their lives and hope for the future.
The Private Sponsorship of Refugee Program allows Canadian citizens, as well as permanent residents, an opportunity to help sponsor refugees to Canada.
Through sponsorship you share the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
As a sponsor you support and resettle refugees to Canada; you support the refugees for the duration of the sponsorship period, which is usually one year.
The support you provide will include:
- Housing
- Food
- Clothing
- Transportation
- Social & Emotional Support
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
– Leviticus 19:33-34 NIV
The Sponsorship Process
Advocating together
In November 2025, Canada’s Federal Government released its Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028. Following cuts from the previous year, this plan reveals an ongoing downward trend in the number of refugees that will find a safe home in Canada over the next three years. In 2026, only 8% of permanent resident admissions were refugees, down from the two previous years.
Join World Renew and the Centre for Public Dialogue in encouraging the Canadian government to re-extend its commitment to welcoming people seeking refuge. Support refugee advocates and agencies in their shared call to increase the number of refugees resettled in Canada to at least 15% of the Permanent Resident target and to rescind the cuts on the Global Cap this year, and in the years to come.
Journey with Me
Take a glimpse into the life of a refugee.
An essential aspect of our work is to raise more public awareness on the experiences of refugees. We’ve partnered with the Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue to create a 90-minute interactive workshop that focuses on the plight of refugees around the world.
This workshop can be done with your congregation, a small group, or at any gathering of 5-500 people.
Support our Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement Program
Your gift today will help World Renew support churches and sponsoring groups in resettling newcomers to Canada.
