Leviticus 19:33-34
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. I am the Lord your God.
Immigrants & Refugees
Key Metric
Foreign Born
Foreign-born (9.5%)
Native-born (90.5%)
The rapid rise of immigrants and refugees in our city presents the church of Columbus with a unique opportunity to live out our Biblical call to love and welcome foreigners.
Whether leaving your native country by choice or fleeing because of tragedy, finding your way in a new city can be difficult. Over the years Columbus has seen an increase in both immigrants and refugees relocating to the city, with (ratio) people in the Columbus metro area were born outside of the United States and contribute to the rich diversity of our city. Connecting to a community remains an important part of successfully integrating and flourishing in a new home. Serving a multitude of languages and cultures creates ways for these new arrivals to begin to navigate a new life. Overall, these individuals tend to move into the city at a greater rate than the surrounding areas.
By The Numbers
Helpful insight into some of the factors that affect the key metric and have an impact on this reality. Select an area on the map to view neighborhood-level stats.
Non-English Language Breakdown
Spanish
Indo-European
Other Asian
Arabic
Chinese
Other
Language Speakers by Limited Proficiency
Spanish
Other
Indo-European
Other Asian
Arabic
Chinese
Immigrants by Generation Breakdown
Gen Alpha
Gen Z
Millennials
Gen X
Baby Boomers
Silent Generation
Immigrant & Refugee as % of Immigrants
37.2%
New immigrants
14.6%
% of Refugees & Asylees
Scripture Reflection
Scriptures we’ve collected to help you consider this reality through the lens of Christianity.
Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
Prayer Topics
Suggestions to help you connect this reality to your prayers.
Pray for displaced families
Pray for families who have been displaced from their homes. The journey for many refugees is filled with hardship. Ask for God to provide for them and show you ways you might get involved.
Pray for a new friend
Pray for an opportunity to get to know someone from another country that is living in Columbus.
Pray for the courage to help
Ask God to show you where you can help. Engaging with a person from another country can feel like a big leap for some people. Pray for the courage to step out and take action when the opportunity presents itself.
Ask a Question
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Here are the answers to some of the questions that have been submitted.