Rajeev Tiwari, a 2022 graduate of Duke Divinity School with a Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Faith-Based Organizing, Advocacy, and Social Transformation, is living out his calling in the field of refugee resettlement.
As a housing coordinator for World Relief Durham, Tiwari’s work combines advocacy, compassion, and community-building to secure permanent housing for refugees in the Durham area.
Says Tiwari, “I have a passion for nonprofit ministry, and I wanted to work in a field where people are central to the mission of what we do.”
A Passion for Advocacy and Refugee Resettlement
In his role, Tiwari advocates with landlords, property managers, and community stakeholders to ensure refugees have access to stable housing.
“Nothing beats seeing a family walk into their new house and feel a sense of safety and security that they didn’t get in their home country,” Tiwari shares, reflecting on the deeply rewarding moments of his work.
Working with refugees and immigrants, a group for whom he feels a unique perspective, has allowed him to channel his faith into action. “Nobody wants to be a refugee,” he says. “While it is a new beginning, it is not the beginning they asked for. Learning how to walk alongside them as they journey through this is some of the best on-the-spot learning.”
A Theological Foundation for Action
Tiwari’s time at Duke Divinity School laid the groundwork for his ministry in advocacy and justice. “The study of theology teaches you the beauty of loving your neighbor, not just in a superficial way, but in such a way that is built on Christ’s sacrificial love that pushes you to the margins,” he says.
This theological lens informs his work in refugee resettlement, helping him see refugees not as a marginalized group but as beloved individuals created in the image of God.
Certain classes and professors at Duke Divinity stand out as instrumental to Tiwari’s formation. “My classes with Dr. Luke Bretherton taught me about the importance of advocacy in this work,” he says. “The work of refugee resettlement is political work, and knowing what it means to be political in the kingdom of God has allowed me to approach this work with a kingdom mindset.
“Hearing the cry of the marginalized is necessary, but you cannot hear the cry if you are not listening. We were taught how to listen well in order to advocate well,” he says.
For those considering Duke Divinity School, Tiwari offers encouragement to explore. “Duke Divinity School is a place where you can explore your deepest questions about God, theology, the world, and yourself without judgment,” he says. “Those questions you’ve been scared to ask, know that you can ask them at Duke. I promise you that you will find your reason for being there.”
Learning in the Field
Despite the robust preparation Duke provided, Tiwari acknowledges that some lessons could only be learned on the job. “As with any job in ministry, seminary only prepares you for a quarter of what you will actually experience,” he admits.
“Working with clients to help them build a whole new life here is something you don’t learn in Divinity School,” he says. The stories of the refugees he works with—stories of fleeing violence, political oppression, and other injustices—have deepened his understanding of the human experience.
In his role, Tiwari sees opportunities to use his voice to challenge discrimination and advocate for refugees. “The pulpit can change the tides of society for better or worse,” he says.
Reflecting on a mission trip t-shirt that read, “The church has now left the building,” Tiwari says: “Keeping a pulpit stationary in a building doesn’t allow us to be the church outside the walls. Like that shirt, I believe we as the body of Christ are called to pitch pulpits in many places to speak words of love and compassion, modeling the way of Jesus.”
While his Duke Divinity education provided theological, intellectual, and practical tools that now aid his ministry in advocacy, Tiwari says the real-world experiences taught him the importance of presence, compassion, and resilience.