Since 2019, WHK has welcomed 65 guests (35 kids) including 8 single-mom families. Guests have represented parts of Africa, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Mexico, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Egypt. Currently, we have a Minister of Hospitality, Sunny Ikojoh, who also lives at the first house and provides daily contact and assistance as needed. Our new house will have a married couple living onsite as House Hosts to act as community and family.
WHK is supported by a team of volunteers who offer hospitality, settlement assistance and integration into the Knoxville community. Church partners and individuals give to meet our monthly financial needs. Monthly donations are needed to help subsidize rent for the guests to pay our expenses yet keep their rent affordable. We also collect/donate items for our guests’ next home. Locally, we are partners with Bridge Refugee Services, KIN, Center for English and churches.
Welcome House is a temporary housing ministry but it is so much more. It is a place for the church to practice Christian hospitality. Our new neighbors have physical needs but more than that they need friends and a network. Also, we have so much to learn from them. As scripture promises, you will receive more than you give. There is huge need for more safe and affordable housing with the current housing shortage. Please follow us on Facebook to find updates and specific needs.
What is Welcome House Knoxville?
Our main goal at Welcome House Knoxville (WHK) is to share the love of Jesus through the ministries of hospitality and friendship. We provide safe and loving space for Internationals including refugees - individuals and families - in transition to permanent housing. A place to exhale and rest!
Why are we doing this? - Biblical Response to Immigration:
Matthew 25 - The way we treat “the least of these” is actually our response to Jesus. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were refugees in Egypt.
Acts 17:26-27 - God determines the exact places where we should live. (including Knoxville!)
Revelation 7:9 - The great multitude in heaven will be from every nation, tribe, people and language before the throne. ALL people are God’s image bearers. You can practice God’s Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Who are we working with?
There are 108 million forcibly displaced persons around the world as of the end of 2022 and about half are children. Over 35 million are refugees. 1 in every 74 people on earth has fled their home as a result of conflict or persecution. These numbers are not current but last reported (www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-are/figures-glance).
It is heartbreaking to watch the news on television. We cannot help them all but we can welcome those who come to Knoxville. God is sovereign and migration is part of HIS redemptive plan. Christians around the world are being called to action!
Where are we?
Our first location is a rented church property off Kingston Pike near UT campus. We opened in August of 2019 but one house is not enough. Safe and affordable housing is a crisis in Knoxville as in most cities. As of May 2024, we purchased a second house which is ready to open and will expand our capacity by 4 units. This is a giant step of faith to purchase a large property but Radical Hospitality is needed!
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