Brief History and Mission

In 1939 as the Nazi government in Germany unleashed World War II, Lutherans in the United States formed a cooperative program based in New York City to help Lutheran refugees from Europe who managed to escape to this country. That fall a fund drive for the new program asked Lutheran congregations to join in giving refugees "a whole chance at life." Over six decades the basic mission of what came to be called Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has never changed. It is now expressed similarly in the signature line, "Bringing New Hope and New Life." How the mission is carried out, however, has developed significantly. And that makes a big difference in the daily lives of many uprooted people, whatever their label. LIRS rejoices in every new phase of our life in mission during more than 60 years of Bringing New Hope and New Life.


Help for 342,000+ of All Races and Religions
Specializing in Unaccompanied Children
Outreach Beyond Federal Programs
A Network of Affiliated Local Agencies
The Embracing Welcome of Congregations
Donors Crucial to Unmet Needs
Volunteers and Advocates for Justice
Leaders Past and Present


Help for 342,000+ of All Races and Religions

LIRS early on moved beyond serving only Lutheran Europeans to all refugees, "regardless of national origin, race, religion, culture or legal status." The more than 342,000 refugees resettled in 1939-2007 through affiliated regional offices have come from all over the globe and practice a variety of faiths. As the second largest of the 10 U.S. voluntary agencies that handle this work in the United States, LIRS resettled 6,425 refugees in 2007.

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Specializing in Unaccompanied Children

LIRS has specialized in resettling refugee children who come to this country without family members. The only other agency so involved is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Together since the start of this program in 1979 the two have placed some 11,500 unaccompanied refugee children in foster care through child welfare affiliates.

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Outreach Beyond Federal Programs

LIRS has increasingly reached out to those who do not fall under official federal programs. They include asylum seekers, undocumented persons and other vulnerable immigrants served through a network of community-based projects and the coordination of a Detention Watch Network. Those served also include persons who are here as permanent residents and need help with legal issues or the steps to citizenship.

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A Network of Affiliated Local Agencies

Through a national network of affiliates, LIRS resettles refugees, reunites families, promotes education and employment, and provides the supports necessary for early and continuing self-sufficiency.

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The Embracing Welcome of Congregations

From day one, LIRS has considered the embracing welcome of congregations essential to good resettlement. Church co-sponsors give gifts of time, love and cultural orientation as well as what is needed to "welcome the neighbor"-food, clothing, home furnishings, transportation and financial assistance. LIRS grants limited seed money to Lutheran congregations who want to go beyond resettlement work to establish regular, hands-on ministries for their immigrant and refugee neighbors."

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Donors Crucial to Unmet Needs

The voluntary financial support of individuals is of increasing importance to LIRS. Such support is primarily channeled through the Friends of Refugee Fund, which helps meet needs not covered by LIRS's regular funding sources.

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Volunteers and Advocates for Justice

Volunteers have an important and valued part in LIRS's resettlement work and also as advocates. Some of the advocates are part of a national group of trained volunteers who make up the Ambassador's Circle. Advocates work to see that the United States treats uprooted people with fairness, equity and justice.

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Leaders Past and Present

LIRS's "founding father" in 1939 was Clarence Krumbholz, a Lutheran pastor who oversaw the program as part of other responsibilities as a cooperative agency executive and who served until 1948. First full-time director was Cordelia Cox, a social work educator and administrator, serving from 1948 to 1958. Her successors have been

• Vernon E. Berstrom, an attorney, 1958-62
• Donald E. Anderson, who previously was a church-related resettlement officer in Europe, 1962-75
• Ingrid Walter, a refugee from Estonia who in 1950 joined the LIRS staff, 1975-85
• Donald E. Larsen, also a Lutheran pastor and cooperative agency executive, 1985-90
• Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr., also an attorney and cooperative agency executive, since 1991