On the afternoon of January 31, World Relief—a well-known evangelical organization committed to aiding refugees around the world, especially in the U.S.—received an unexpected order from the U.S. Department of State. This directive instructed the charity to suspend all activities tied to its contract with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. The timing of this announcement was particularly perplexing, as it coincided with the arrival of a group of Afghans who had supported American forces during the lengthy conflict, scheduled to land at Sacramento airport that evening. World Relief was prepared to assist with their resettlement process.

“The directive was unequivocal: cease all operations,” remarked Matthew Soerens, the vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief. “Nevertheless, we were determined to be present at the airport. Our priority was to ensure these individuals had a safe place to stay and a warm meal.” While welcoming newcomers and providing a meal might seem manageable, the greater concern for World Relief is the uncertainty surrounding who will finance the rent for these families over the upcoming three months. Generally, federal funds are allocated to cover this period via various partners, granting refugees time to find employment and achieve stability. However, the State Department’s abrupt order to halt this support has raised alarms regarding the financial security of thousands of families that World Relief serves both domestically and abroad.

Since the new administration took charge, a freeze on spending and stop-work orders have been implemented across many areas of U.S. foreign aid. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which operates with an approximate budget of $40 billion—constituting less than 1% of the federal budget—has had its funding paused for 90 days, except for a few programs addressing urgent hunger and health crises. This funding freeze has resulted in numerous USAID contractors and employees being laid off or placed on administrative leave, and the agency’s website has been taken offline. Similar restrictions have impacted the developmental and humanitarian efforts of the State Department.

On February 4, shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his temporary oversight of USAID, most of the agency’s staff—excluding those working on critical missions or designated projects—were also placed on leave. Employees stationed in overseas missions were informed that arrangements would be made for their return to the United States within 30 days.

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The effects of these funding cuts have also reached evangelical and other Christian charities. Major organizations such as World Vision, International Justice Mission, Samaritan’s Purse, and Catholic Relief Services—which received the highest amount of USAID funding in 2024 at $476 billion—have lost considerable support. Due to unclear guidelines regarding which programs would still receive funding, some charities have chosen to reduce their spending as a precaution. “World Vision is responding to the executive order that pauses U.S. foreign assistance funding—barring emergency food assistance—while programs are evaluated for alignment with the current administration’s foreign policy,” the organization stated in a message to TIME.

On the other hand, some organizations have chosen to continue their operations despite the directives. “Despite receiving notices of suspension, we are pressing on with our work in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia,” a spokesperson for Medical Teams International stated in an email. “We’ve made this choice for now because, as a Christian organization, we are committed to upholding the dignity and worth of every individual we serve, alongside our staff.” At present, only a specific segment of a program in Uganda has been allowed to proceed, and the organization is aware of the risk of not being reimbursed for their other efforts.

“Our understanding is that essential emergency supplies are exempt from the stop-work order,” Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, stated in a conversation with TIME. “However, the specifics of the waiver process remain vague.” He elaborated that his organization, which relies on USAID for less than 5% of its international aid budget, intends to move forward with projects in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia.

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Some organizations have allies within the Trump Administration or the State Department and are working to navigate back channels for clarity on the future of USAID and its funded initiatives. Others are urging the President to reconsider his approach. “If President Trump believes that evangelical Christians want secure borders, he is correct,” Soerens remarked. “However, if he assumes that evangelicals wish to deny entry to thoroughly vetted refugees, many of whom are persecuted Christians, he is mistaken.”

Despite 80% of white evangelicals voting for Trump, Soerens points to a recent survey conducted by LifeWay Research, the polling division of the Southern Baptist Convention, indicating that 70% of U.S. evangelicals feel the nation has a moral duty to accept refugees. This sentiment may shed light on why, in the two weeks following the funding freeze, World Relief raised $3 million, primarily from smaller donors. However, this amount is insufficient to cover the three months of rent the government had committed to. “About 4,000 individuals are being invited to the United States, with travel arrangements already made by the government,” he emphasizes. “This scenario is fundamentally different from other immigration debates.” The organization anticipates an $8 million shortfall in its budget if the U.S. government continues to withhold rent support for legal refugees.

For Christians involved with USAID, the stop-work orders and funding halts, along with ongoing criticisms of the agency’s operations from figures like Elon Musk—who branded it as “evil”—and Trump adviser Stephen Miller, represent a significant betrayal of what they perceive as a sacred mission. “I’m committed to doing my part as the hands and feet of God in this world,” expressed Anne Linn, who has dedicated her career to combatting malaria in various African nations and in Washington, D.C. “What can I do to alleviate the suffering of others, my neighbors?” She faced a layoff on Friday when her contract with the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative was terminated, mirroring the situation faced by World Relief.

Linn acknowledges that many Americans believe countries dealing with malaria should take charge of their own healthcare instead of relying heavily on U.S. aid. “Those nations want that as well,” she concedes. “However, a significant portion of their GDP goes toward servicing debt. We need to offer them a launching pad; it cannot happen overnight.” With the rainy season approaching in several affected territories, Linn fears that mosquitoes will soon proliferate, yet the bed nets required to fight malaria remain trapped in warehouses, and those assigned to deliver them are also facing stop-work orders. She is particularly concerned about vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and children under five, who are at heightened risk of malaria. “How can one read the teachings of Jesus Christ and find this acceptable?” she queries. “It’s incomprehensible to me. If we claim to be pro-life, we cannot condone this situation.”