In many countries around the world, migration has become a major topic in politics and the news. By the end of April 2025, there were around 42.7 million refugees worldwide.1 Among these are almost six million who fled Afghanistan, a country that has seen more than 40 years of conflict.2 Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis, more and more countries around the world are making it ever harder for Afghan refugees to settle there. But there is hope!
In 2021, a then only 18-year-old girl from Brazil founded an organisation that would change the course for her country and for thousands of Afghan refugees. Panahgah is a Christian organization dedicated to welcoming and caring for those who have been forced to flee their homes.3 Since its inception—in a simple and spontaneous response to God’s command to love our neighbor—Panahgah has supported over 1,500 people on their journey toward safety and a new life in Brazil.
we were obeying the Lord’s command to welcome the foreigner
Today, they work in partnership with the Brazilian government to assist with both the visa process abroad and the first 12 months of integration in Brazil. By the end of 2025, Panahgah will have welcomed a total of 500 people this year alone. Churches and local communities play a vital role, opening their neighborhoods and hearts to personally welcome families, reflecting Christ’s love in practical and transformative ways.
My husband and I have been pastors for 25 years, but 13 years ago, we started Orvalho, a cell-based church in Goiânia. Our goal is to evangelize people and teach them to have a personal relationship with Christ. Throughout the year, we organize discipleship and evangelistic events to reach people who do not yet know the love of God.
our reward comes from Jesus
It was the partnership with Panahgah that led our church to welcome five Afghan refugee families in 2021. And in 2025, we received two more. Initially, opening our doors to these families was a mix of celebration and uncertainty. Our church mobilized quickly—collecting donations, organizing volunteers, and assigning responsibilities to support each family. We were filled with joy, knowing we were obeying the Lord’s command to welcome the foreigner and, without a doubt, doing missions right here in our own land.
Over time, however, challenges began to surface. We faced seasons of frustration and discouragement as our expectations were not met—especially when some of the families decided to leave Brazil in search of other destinations. We hoped that the families could understand, through our actions, that God loves them. And we prayed that they would settle in our country and feel welcome by developing a relationship with both the Brazilian community and the church. Then one day, the Lord reminded us of a simple but powerful truth: ‘Do it unto the Lord’. We immediately remembered Colossians 3:23-24:
‘Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as unto the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; it is the Lord Christ whom you serve.’
We realized that our reward comes from Jesus, and that we should expect nothing in return—neither from the families we serve nor from any form of earthly recognition. Christ loved us, expecting nothing back; he simply did what was right. And that is what we chose to do. The church members did everything in their power to welcome the families. We received furniture donations, household utensils, bedding, food, toys for the children, clothing, and shoes. Some assisted with the procedures to regularize their documentation in Brazil, while others helped with transporting the families when needed. We also had volunteer teachers who gave Portuguese lessons to both adults and children. We also organized social events to welcome refugee families and make them feel warmly received in our community.
The first family we received eventually moved to the United States. Today, they live with dignity, their teenage daughters have graduated from high school, and we still receive messages from them expressing how deeply our support impacted their lives. As for the families that remained here in Goiânia, all of them are now fully integrated and live with dignity.
we know that in some way, we have planted a seed in the hearts of these families.
Welcoming Afghan families has been a great challenge, but also a precious opportunity to fulfil our calling: to show Jesus and proclaim the gospel to people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Our experience has led us to want to welcome new families and provide them with the opportunity to experience God’s love through our actions. We truly believe that everyone deserves to have a dignified life, different from the life of persecution they had in their country of origin. I know it is not an easy task. As I write this, I have just learned that another family we welcomed in Goiânia left the country secretly, without informing us. However, this does not discourage us, because we know that in some way, we have planted a seed in the hearts of these families. Even where there is no Panahgah, the community can take action, welcome people, migrants, and give them the chance to settle with dignity, demonstrating that it is possible to start over and have hope. Even if we receive no return, we must do it for the Lord, trusting that he will reward us.
Podcast
From Afghans to Brazilian: Panahgah and the Power of Community Sponsorship
In this episode of God on the Move, Sophia Nobre shares the incredible journey of Panahgah, an NGO she founded to help Afghan refugees integrate into Brazilian society.