Refugees want to be proud contributors in their new home but, instead, feel shut out. That's why we provide even more than English and U.S. citizenship free of charge.
With you, we create real connection, where refugees and Americans belong together, contributing and receiving from each other.
DONATE to make a differenceIn 2025, our refugee English students have engaged in 10,725 Welcome Conversations, both in person and in our online "Conversations & Connections Class"
A Welcome Conversation is a meaningful 1-on-1 dialogue in English with an American volunteer or another refugee. Here's what consistent Welcome Conversations make possible for refugees like Sada (Congo, below):
Refugee parents like Sada speak into the lives of their children who are making American friends, learning English in school, but growing apart. You will bridge the gap in their families.
🤍 Refugees nail the notoriously difficult citizenship test and interview — and swear the Oath of Allegiance as proud, new American citizens!
Refugees proudly volunteer to serve the unhoused, hungry, and recently sober in Phoenix — with dignity.
🤍 Refugees grow in confidence that their voices matter!
Sada's Story (Emmy-Nominated)
Sada and her family came to America after years of struggle and devastating loss in Congo. She and her husband, Olivier, began taking English classes and building community at Abounding Service. Now, their entire family is on a path toward connection and contribution.
Together with you, we’ve taught English and citizenship with 1-on-1 volunteer Encouragers to over 1,600 refugees with over 1,600 volunteers for 17 years — all free of charge for them.
Without English and connections, refugees will stay shut out — in their own families and in our own communities. You can change that.
Leadership
Gary and Derek lead Abounding Service with the belief that the entire trajectory of a refugee family can be wonderfully changed by giving them the ability to learn English and become part of a new culture.
Gary DeVelder
Pastor Gary DeVelder is the Founder of Abounding Service. Gary was ordained to the ministry in 1969 and has held positions in religious education, fundraising development, and non-profit administration.
Derek DeVelder
Derek DeVelder is the CEO/Executive Director of Abounding Service. Derek is a CELTA-certified English instructor of adults and a Certified Guide in group facilitation through the xchange Approach, bringing people together and elevating the voices of all.
History
“What do your people need?”
In 2009, after decades of helping people so that they can go and serve others, Gary met Tara Nepal, a Bhutanese refugee leader in Phoenix who exclaimed, “My people need English!”
Building relationships
Gary paired eager volunteers with refugees to learn English in a way that made it easy to jump right in. These relationships built belonging and confidence.
Helping more
Classes at a nearby church gained over 100 adult refugee students, then expanded to a donated apartment in a complex entirely of refugees, and continued over the years in a similar condo.
Continuing to serve
Over 16 years, more than 1,500 refugees have taken English classes at Abounding Service with over 1,500 volunteer Encouragers. We have coached several each year who passed the difficult naturalization test/interview and are now proud U.S. citizens!
Our Team
Our Board
Pastor Rafiki Niyonzima (Rwanda), Chair
Dan Snead, Vice Chair
Randy Gault, Secretary/Treasurer
Cynthia Asfaw, Director
Dr. Jenny Muriithi, Director
Cindy Snead, Director
Charlotte Warren, Director
Our Team
Gary De Velder
Founder
Derek DeVelder
CEO/Executive Director
Beth Allen
In-person Faciliator/Teacher, Coordinator
Poli Bellan-Wilson
Online Facilitator/Teacher
LaSchelle Low
Online Facilitator/Teacher
James McCardell
Financial
Special thanks to the City of Phoenix
Community Development Block Grant CARES Act
Partner Organizations
Music Serving the Word
Vision & Values
Our Vision
The marginalized are empowered to serve others
Our Mission
Core Beliefs
- We believe everyone is created to serve others in such a way that those people, in turn, will serve others.
- Volunteers are key to our vision and mission because of the relationships they develop with refugees.
- Refugees who learn English will connect, belong, and serve others, changing the trajectory of entire families and impacting their communities.
Our Values
Connect
We value providing opportunities for refugees to connect and contribute. In Luke 14, Jesus says that we are to go out, find the marginalized, enable them to come in, and fill His kingdom.
Serve
We value serving people created in God’s image in such a way that they will be able to serve others.
Belong
We value what God says in Leviticus 19:34. “Treat them (foreigners) as you would an Israelite, and love them as you love yourselves.” We want to provide a community where refugees contribute and belong.
Read more about what we value in our Statement of Faith.
Looking for something to use right now? Connect with refugees you meet. But, be sure to avoid the "Ten Traps" when communicating with your new friends.
