World Refugee Week 2023
"You're here to be a light!"
This year's theme for reflection ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20th is, "Be the Light."
Our Canadian context is beautifully mixed with people from various countries around the world. The world is on our doorstep. As people continue to relocate for economic, socio-political, and other reasons, what exciting opportunities exist for the EMCC and the Canadian church? We can reach out in friendship, offering community, and varying levels of support depending on their journey. "You're here to be a light," (Matt. 5:16, MSG). We have the privilege of journeying alongside these folks in relationship, demonstrating the love of Jesus. "Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven" (Matt.5:16, MSG). We don't want to hide that light. We're light-bearers on a mission.
Inspiring stories
We are excited to share a series of stories about the power of building reciprocal relationships with newcomers. Throughout this week, we will be featuring different individuals who have generously dedicated their time to be in proximity with those who are new to their community. From helping newcomers navigate the challenges of settling in a new country, to sharing their own experiences and culture, these volunteers have created meaningful connections and encourage us to do the same. Join us as we celebrate the incredible impact and emphasize the importance of building welcoming communities for everyone.
Day 1: An Encouragement to 'Be the Light' ⇩
Introducing this week's theme and telling the story of volunteers at Nova Church in Surrey BC extending relationship to newcomers.
Day 2: 'Keep Open House' ⇩
Reflections and prayer from Lucy Chiamiti, Executive Director of Adam House.
Day 3: 'On a Stand, Not Under a Bucket' ⇩
Listen to an audio interview with J&R as they consider the proximity they have the privilege to share with new neighbors moving into their small-town context.
Day 4: 'Give Glory to God' ⇩
Read an account from those recently settled in Canada, with help from one of our EMCC churches.
Day 5: 'Be Generous with Your Life' ⇩
Hearing from one of our EMCC recognized workers and considering opportunities for further engagement.
Day 1: An Encouragement to 'Be the Light'
In this fourth year of reflecting ahead of World Refugee Sunday (June 18th) and World Refugee Day (June 20th), we are privileged to collect stories across the EMCC of those who have been a blessing and who are blessed by relationships, connection, and service alongside newcomers to Canada.
We hope you will join us in collectively considering this passage of Scripture this week.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I am going to put you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand–shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)
I have been convicted by the phrase "Keep open house; be generous with your lives." What might be grabbing your attention?
We are excited to share stories from those community-builders, our partner Adam House, and from some newcomers themselves. Finally, World Partners hopes these stories and links to further resources are helpful in your journey to keep open house and be generous with others.
Enjoy today's reflection from Nova Church in Surrey, BC, and Liane's journey in walking alongside newcomers to her neighbourhood.
- Nicole Jones-Qandah,
For the World Partners Team
One Nova Church Volunteer Helping Create Community
After retiring from a professional career in teaching, Liane now spends her time volunteering at New Hope Community Services (NHCS) teaching ESL in Surrey, BC.
More than 20 years ago, Liane started a Mission committee at Bear Creek Community Church, now called Nova Church. The church heavily invested their time and resources with an organization in Mexico that started as an orphanage and later grew into a large community development with daycare staffing, an ambulance, kitchen gardens and a macadamia nut orchard/business.
This became the vision of Bear Creek (now Nova Church) as they asked, How do we respond to the need in our community? And so, the relationship with NHCS began.
New Hope Community Services provides transitional housing for newcomers with their 13-unit apartment building. Three of those units are staffed with people who are seeking to serve or have already served in cross-cultural ministry. In addition to ESL teaching and conversational English times, NHCS has a doula, a math tutor, and many volunteers for after school and summer children’s programs.
The team has walked alongside multiple newcomer families resettling in Canada by collecting household items, setting up apartments, helping families move and get groceries, and providing fun birthday gifts for kids. For many years, the church hosted special Christmas and Easter celebrations, providing opportunity to share why we celebrate. The celebration continues today.
The photo above is from a baby shower recently hosted for a new mother in the building. For newcomers without any family connection, relationships are important. Liane says, “I get to be a grandma to all these kids, and a mom to these mothers who are missing their mothers.” Here are some words from those who participated.
"I am in Canada, far away from my family, but God sends my kind and loving sisters who are close to my heart. Today is one of the happiest days of my life. Thank you all for the baby shower... Thanks, New Hope...you are my family."
Liane shares another story of helping those families in NCHS in a critical circumstance.
“A mattress was lit on fire, leaning against the back fence. It burnt down their entire parking structure – 40-foot-high flames! In the fall, they had installed double-paned windows. It saved [NCHS's] building. Everybody got out.... It’s just kind of a miracle…."
“My most impactful moment was after the fire because people were really terrified.... Some of these people who have come from very traumatic backgrounds were retraumatized by [the subsequent explosions of gas canisters as a result of the fire]... Thursday was when I went for my first class after this [fire] happened on Monday. There was a father just clutching his child and kind of rocking back and forth and saying, ‘You know, before I felt really safe and now I feel like I got to lock the door and I need a go-bag near the door in case all of my papers get burned.’ One of the ladies was there and she said to me, ‘What do you do if something [terrible happens]?’ ... I said, ‘Well, I pray. And if I haven’t got the words, I read my Bible.’ And she said, ‘Do you just open it up?’ I said, ‘Well, I do. I just open it up and then always there’s something. Always there’s something that helps me.’ "
Day 2: 'Keep Open House'
Today's story comes from Lucy Chiamiti, the executive director of Adam House. Her story of receiving hospitality from those she is connected with at Adam House brings good questions about how each of us consider sacrifice in this call to be a light, open our homes, and give of our time, resources, and networks generously.
“...I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand–shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:15b-16 (MSG)
Enjoy today's reflection and the opportunity to pray for the work of Adam House. If you want to be connected to the work of Adam House, you can find them and Lucy in our workers and partners directory
-Pam Hicks, for the World Partners Team
Receiving the Generosity of the Humble
Lucy Chaimiti (nee Hill) is the Executive Director of Adam House, a short-term home for refugee claimants in the process of resettling in Canada. Adam House, serves as a unique place where both refugee claimant residents, staff, and volunteers create bonds that feel like family.
"Our clients are on a meager allowance, yet never hesitate to share a meal. They invite staff and Adam House volunteers into their homes, offering what little they might have.
"[Earlier this year], a 67-year-old Muslim woman from Eritrea invited me to her tiny bachelor apartment for a meal. I arrived later than I had expected, and I couldn’t stay for long. She still heaped my plate full of spaghetti and salad. When we packed up my leftovers, she insisted that I take everything that she had cooked, except what was on her own plate. In very limited English she told me that she didn’t want me to have to cook for my family when I arrived home. What an extraordinary gift from someone who has so little.
"We, the affluent west, might be tempted to think, that as we welcome refugees, we are the ones who are showing hospitality. But we give out of much, and seldom sacrificially. How can we love and welcome others sacrificially? I would challenge us to consider that sacrificial hospitality might not only refer to how much we give, but about allowing ourselves to be a bit uncomfortable in welcoming and loving others. Maybe it’s not only about opening Canada’s door and supporting through organizations like Adam House but inviting people into our homes and lives."
Prayer Requests for Adam House:
Please pray for the speedy completion of the Gladstone renovation so that we can open our doors again to meet the immense need in our city. In 2022, 92,000 refugee claims were made in Canada. The previous record was just 64,000. We have encountered several unanticipated issues (structural, water in the basement); however, we are now at the stage where we are putting things back together again. We are over budget and could use some volunteers to help with painting. Hoping to reopen in 3-4 weeks.
It is increasingly difficult for refugee claimants to find long-term housing and move out of refugee homes and shelters. Besides the current housing crisis in our region, welfare shelter allowances are only covering a small fraction of actual rental rates. Please pray and advocate for policies that provide access to housing for all!
Worldwide, attention to the refugee crisis is dwindling. There is fatigue and discrimination. Please pray that people would continue to be compassionate and respond where they can.
Several of our former residents have not been granted protected person status and are making permanent resident applications on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Please pray for these dear ones who continue to struggle to stay in Canada, where they experience peace and freedom that cannot be found in their home countries.
Pray with us that our current and former residents would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Day 3: 'On a Stand, Not Under a Bucket'
Today's story comes from J & R, a couple who have felt the call of God to be engaged with those coming to Canada after a period of international cross-cultural service. Their reflections includes particular attention to the following part of our key passage:
“...If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!”
- Matthew 5:15a (MSG)
How can we remain in full view and be in proximity with those newcomers around us? This is part of letting our light shine.
- Nicole Jones-Qandah
For the World Partners team.
A Conversation about Calling to Proximity
Enjoy this audio interview with Director of World Partners, Nicole Jones-Qandah, and J & R on the ways in which they, as a couple, are discovering how to be light-bearers as they establish community with newcomers. Their guiding Scripture in this lifestyle includes 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT), "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too." If you want to be connected to the work of J&R, you can find them in our workers and partners directory.
Day 4: 'Give Glory to God’
We’ve featured Cornerstone Oromo Christian Missions Centre a few times in past World Refugee Week campaigns. We again want to bring attention to their sacrificial commitment to sponsoring refugees. This church has submitted 45 sponsorship applications over seven years! Many from the church have lived the life of a refugee at one time, while others have relatives and friends seeking asylum in countries with little prospect of building a secure future. So this is personal to some of them.
Members in the congregation have committed to opening their home up to refugees, living in community together and helping the newcomer get acquainted with Canadian culture while building relationship and a support network. Some refugees who come are family. Others are hardly known to them. And, amazingly, each cosponsor is financially invested, having set aside savings of their own to provide for the sponsorship cost. What a beautiful model of sacrificial giving – it truly is all encompassing.
In my interviews this week, I learned that not long ago, Cornerstone baptized 11 people. The team lived out their faith before these newcomers – shining their light – resulting in transformed lives.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” — Matt. 5:16 ESV
May God be honoured by the people of Cornerstone who live out the gospel as they interact and serve in His name.
-Pam Hicks
For the World Partners Team
Sacrificial Living
Badane came to Canada in November 2021. He came on his own, having left his wife and three kids back in the country he fled from. A cosponsor shared his home with Badane and the church rallied around him to help get him established. He was able to find a job within two months of arriving, with help from church members. “Church helped with writing a resume, just helping me by everything. Even I’m not at the church, but they just advising me, teaching me about this culture. Everything. They’re supporting me very well.” And this was during Covid, so there were some hurdles to cross.
Badane says, “I’m very happy because they take care of me very well. For this country, I’m new. Because of that I brought even my family here.… Even now, I have plan to help. If I get the chance, I can sponsor, I can help that people. Because I’m on good condition. I’m helping myself. I’m supporting my family. You know, before when I’m in Uganda, sometimes I can sleep without eating. You know, Africa-life is very difficult.… I have plan to help another person. Which one, I don’t know. There’s many people I see in Uganda.... I have plan to help that people if I get the chance.”
Solomon arrived in Canada a week before the pandemic shut down the country in March 2020. He and his wife were welcomed into his auntie’s home. Church members immediately helped with setting up a bank account, visiting a settlement services office and looking for job opportunities. But the following week, the country shut down.
Of his auntie, Solomon says, “It’s not just a blood relationship with us. It is her heart to help us. … She’s treating us well, even my wife. My wife was pregnant when we [stayed] with her. [In the first] year, we are still not much here in Canada to know everything but we started work. [My wife and I] we started the same day [at Amazon]. We came in March, we started in May. After two months we became permanent workers, both of us. That [first] year, we need driving and a lot of things, right? So she supported us in financial things, even transporting us. She’s the one transporting us, taking us to the work, for months. She’s driving us, then going to her work, then she come in evening time… So we [drove together] for four months. After four months, we tried to work hard, me and my wife. We tried to understand money. Then we bought a car.”
Solomon speaks highly of the church family and has grown in His relationship with God through these disciple-like relationships. “Still today they are encouraging us.”
Day 5: 'Be Generous with Your Life'
This week has been an opportunity for us to consider the light we have and how we steward it with newcomers to our neighbourhoods and communities. It has been a privilege to share stories within the EMCC of those who are being generous with their lives and considering the call from Matthew 5: 14-16.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5: 14-16 (MSG)
Today, those that gathered to pray considered this week's theme verses and the stories of those who you've interacted with. We are grateful to share one more story from the Azarms, EMCC recognized workers.
May you sense the Spirit’s leading in how you are called to act for the good of refugees and newcomers to Canada. Hoping the opportunities below are useful to you and/or the community of followers of Jesus you are a part of.
- Nicole Jones-Qandah
For the World Partners team.
Extending Friendship and Explaining Faith
It’s been 20 years since Torpekai and her husband, Najib, first came to Canada. They serve with Operation Mobilization, and are involved in radio programs reaching Central Asia and all over the world. And out of that ministry, they have ample opportunity to disciple listeners in their journey with Jesus.
Torpekai finds it natural to connect with newcomers in her region. When she’s at the park or in a store, she can strike up a conversation easily. As the connection continues, she’ll offer her help with practical things like taking them to government buildings for procuring documents, or registering for school. Sometimes she can act as a translator.
Having just arrived in the country, newcomers are seeking friendship, community and support from anyone who is willing to give of their time. Many come from very social cultures, and our Canadian culture doesn’t provide as much natural social connection. It can be lonely. Torpekai says “It would be wonderful if we reach out to them. We shouldn’t wait that they come and ask us for something. No, we have to reach out to them… [Asking] how can I help you? How can I do something for you? Or if you don’t need help, can we just come and sit and talk and have a cup of coffee or tea or ice cream or something at Tim Hortons or McDonalds?”
Torpekai continues, “Always they say, why you are helping? Are you taking money for it? You know, these kinds of questions. I say, No, it is my desire. It is my heart for refugees… Jesus said if somebody need help, just go two more miles with him. So I said, I’m helping. People helped me. They helped me and I helped others as well. I’m also Christian.…. And I share my testimony how I became Christian and why I became Christian. Praise God!”
Torpekai brought some special food to a Sudanese young woman living in a temporary home for newcomers. The woman wondered how Torpekai knew about this custom, since she’s a Christian. It gave Torpekai opportunity to share how she followed these customs before she discovered Jesus. The woman shared her concern for how risky that change would’ve been and questioned if she was afraid for her life. Life in Canada is much more free than this young woman knew yet. The young woman asked Torpekai to bring her a Bible and next time Torpekai visited she brought her one in her native language.
“One thing that we clearly speak of [is] our faith and our Jesus. Don’t be shy. Share.”