World Refugee Week: Moved to Engage 2024

Day 1: A Call to Compassionate Action ⇩
An introduction to this week's theme and the global context of those forcibly displaced.

Day 2: An Invitation In ⇩
A conversation with David Benjamin (WP Church Engagement Facilitator), and prayer requests for engaging with the newcomers in our midst.

Day 3: Enduring Faithfulness ⇩
Read and consider the story of *Elizabeth, a recently arrived refugee to Canada whose sponsorship was supported by one of our EMCC churches.

Day 4: Collective Impact ⇩
Celebrate the partnership EMCC has had with The Alliance Canada over the last 8 years of refugee sponsorship.

Day 5: The Next Move ⇩
Considering ways to engage out of this week's stories, and opportunities to learn and pray on World Refugee Day.

Day 1: A Call to Compassionate Action

In the Gospels we read a few instances of Jesus’ compassion for people:

Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. – Matt 9:36

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ – Mark 1:41

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34

In this fifth year of reflecting ahead of World Refugee Day (June 20th), we want to share some stories and resources which encourage reflection on those vulnerable people seeking protection, or newcomers in our own neighbourhoods.

Our theme this week is "Moved to Engage," drawn from one of our five core services for World Partners: Activating Compassion. We want to respond like Jesus to the needs of the world with the same love and care that He demonstrated in his humanity.

When we read those earlier verses, we recognize ourselves in that bunch and receive that compassion, knowing He gives freely to us. And as Jesus taught us to love our neighbour, we can also recognize how we should emulate the same love and care.

May we be moved to compassion, and further, moved to engage with the stranger–including refugees and newcomers.

-Pam

For the World Partners Team

Below is a summary of the UNHCR 2023 Mid-Year Report, giving a glance at the plight of those forcibly displaced worldwide as of June 2023.

Major highlights include:

There are over 110 million people forcibly displaced from their homes, which equates to 1 in 73 people on earth.
There are over 36.4 million refugees worldwide.
9 in 10 live in low to middle income countries.
90% of the displaced are from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latin America and Caribbean countries, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine.

In Canada, we recognize that our country has been a place of refuge and welcome for many. As the IRCC notes, from Canada's Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and plateau at 500,000 in 2026.

Day 2: An Invitation In

Today, I considered the way Jesus was invited in (and in some ways invited himself in) to Zacchaeus' story in Luke 19: 1-10.

5"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus was willing to be in the company of Zaccheus, to receive his hospitality, and it was transformational for Zaccheus' life. In our interview with Church Engagement Facilitator, David Benjamin, he helps us consider Jesus' posture and to consider our Way of Jesus statement two: I am being sent by Jesus to bless others and invite them to follow Him.

As you consider David's encouragement, and pray for the requests below, I pray Jesus speak clearly to you. And, may you be obedient if He invites you in to consider the newcomer in your midst.

-Nicole

For the World Partners Team

Prayer Together

We want to be moved with compassion like Jesus was. Pray for our eyes to be opened to the need for connection of the newcomers in our neighbourhoods and to welcome them into our lives and homes.
Pray for our EMCC churches to consider avenues of engagement with refugees and newcomers and to connect with them in tangible, practical ways. May they experience followers of Jesus as welcoming people, generous in building and extending relationship.
We’re eager to see more of our churches participate in sponsoring refugees. It can be such a beautiful experience of serving others, hoping that Jesus is evident through our actions. Pray that our churches would respond to the call of refugee sponsorship, recognizing this is another opportunity to participate in global mission, as the nations come to Canada.
Some refugees are counted as part of the persecuted church. They’ve had to escape their home because of their faith in Jesus and are still living precariously, without any set future in view. Pray for their protection, tangible needs and future, as they cling to Jesus for life and hope.
Pray for our church members currently invested in sponsoring. May they find opportunities to express the reason for their sacrificial service to these newcomers and be able to share about Jesus with those who haven’t heard before or who follow other faiths. May the Gospel be shared and received with gratitude.

Day 3: Enduring Faithfulness

It has been a pleasure to get to know a young woman who came to Canada in March. She was sponsored by one of EMCC churches, who collaborated with two other churches, to bring her to Canada. Another related family was sponsored as well and we’re eager to receive them in the next month or so.

As you read this woman’s story, you’ll encounter heartbreak and trauma. Her extended family has suffered so much. Yet God has preserved them.

He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and he will save the lives of the needy. – Psalm 72:13

Despite the suffering in her short lifetime so far, she remains steadfast in her faith: “God had a reason for that. Everything happens for a reason. It’s something that I have grown to believe that there is a God in heaven. You just have to pray, believe and wait…. You just wait upon the Lord.”

I’m so grateful for the compassionate action of these churches resulting in a changed life for her. I wonder how many more lives we can impact through our collective compassionate action.

-Pam

For the World Partners Team

The Life of a Refugee

Elizabeth* was at her grandma’s house when she was captured by rebels, along with an uncle, who was only a few years older than her. The rebels would train the young boys to fight alongside them, while women and young girls would be forced to cook and clean around the rebel encampment. If there was any resistance to a command, the women would be raped.

An aunt had been captured as well, along with her young children. She recognized the danger for these young boys being conscripted to fight, so she looked for a way of escape. She managed, with the help of God, to negotiate with a lorry driver to transport a number of kids to safety and eventually their journey brought them into Kenya. In Kenya, Elizabeth was reunited with her grandma, who became the mother figure in her life.

Elizabeth would spend the next 20 years of her life as a refugee in Kenya. There were oftentimes up to 20 people living in their tiny, one-room home within the refugee camp. They were reunited with some family members and also welcomed others who were from the same tribe to live with them until they could get their own place. UNHCR offered food, education and some materials like blankets, cooking utensils, clothes. The family had to build their own house with metal sheets and UNHCR provided the roof when the walls were built. Even though there are provisions through UNHCR, Elizabeth says, “It’s not a pleasant life in the camp. Life is not easy.”

A year ago, Elizabeth’s grandmother passed away from cancer. This was a hard loss in the midst of an uneasy life. “She [was] always there for me. She was a mother to me.”

A refugee sponsorship application was submitted for Elizabeth back in 2019 but there were delays through Covid. And last fall, Elizabeth received a flight booking email indicating she’d be leaving in a few weeks. However, her flight was canceled due to the exit permit not being processed in time. This was such a huge disappointment! She had already given up everything she had in expectation of leaving.

But her faith in God was strong. “God is number one in everything…. You know, when we were called for the embassy, I was in prayer. I was fasting, for I was having a prayer for three days, until the first day, second day, when I received an email that we were needed at the embassy and I went. We started this journey in 2019, I remember. And everything went quiet and I gave up. I said, you know, if God had wanted me to go to another country and start a new life then that thing will happen one day. I don’t have to worry about that. That’s what I was telling myself… My aunt, she’s very, very prayerful woman. Sometimes she used to call me and encourage me that don’t worry. ‘One day he will come and get us. Don’t worry. I’m telling you so.’”

Elizabeth came to Canada in March, traveling all on her own for the first time. Her aunt who helped her escape as a child was there to receive her at the Toronto airport, as she and her family had been sponsored to come to Canada roughly a decade earlier. Their reunion was gripping. Elizabeth is so happy to be here, with extended family and with a new life ahead of her.

*(named changed)

Day 4: Collective Impact

EMCC has been partnering with The Alliance since 2016 in sponsoring refugees. The Alliance is registered as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and over the last 8 years they graciously offered to be an intermediary in submitting sponsorship applications. We’re grateful for that partnership and desire to collaborate together. The Alliance indicated to us a change in the volume of their work and this partnership with EMCC will come to an end this year. We want to celebrate the amazing impact of our eight years of collaboration with some highlights below.

Though this avenue is ending, there is still a pathway for churches to sponsor. World Partners is passionate about the opportunity to welcome newcomers into our midst and care for them as Jesus had compassion for each of us. May these newcomers see Jesus in us, in our actions, in our love, and an invitation into our lives. As some become followers of Jesus, may they have impact on their families and friends back in the refugee camp or in their home country. It’s disciple-making of a unique kind! I am happy to connect with those who are eager to learn more about the sponsorship process.

You remember the story of Jonah and the plant that grew quickly, providing him shade in the hot desert. The plant died rather quickly and Jonah was angry at God.

Then the Lord said, “You had compassion on the plant, for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not also have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 people, who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left, as well as many animals?” – Jonah 4:10-11

God has great compassion for the refugee as well.

Would you consider the part you can play, as part of a team (as David Benjamin reminded us) in this particular type of welcoming?

-Pam

For the World Partners Team

Celebrating Partnership

Here are some statistics that indicate the amazing investment of our EMCC churches.

With only 9 EMCC churches sponsoring this way through this partnership, applications for 114 refugees were submitted since 2016. That’s 70 applications submitted to the government. Of the nine churches involved, Cornerstone Oromo Christian Missions Centre, who we’ve highlighted a few times before has submitted 52 applications and anticipate submitting 12 more this year! Based in Calgary, Alberta, this church has made refugee sponsorship a part of their church mandate. Some in their congregation were refugees themselves. So, they feel the plight of refugees keenly and are ready to give sacrificially to help – some are family, but others are simply people they’ve been referred to by others. Each cosponsor is personally investing their own finances and offering a space in their home for the refugee to come live with them. Isn’t that an amazing opportunity to shine the light of Jesus? Read more about this church here.

As of today, 69 people have come to Canada and are well established or are starting to get to know their new homeland as the churches walk alongside them in the resettlement process.

Currently, there are 30 refugees in the processing stage, waiting for the day the Embassy of Canada would contact them for an interview. This could be years yet. The oldest application in queue at the moment is from December 2019. They’ve been waiting a long time! But this family is hopefully coming in a few weeks. (If you read yesterday’s story, this would be Elizabeth’s relatives.)

A number of churches have been sponsored through other partnerships and we want to acknowledge their missional participation as well. May this obedience to Jesus be for His glory and our growth in following Him and depending on His Spirit in our journey.

Day 5: The Next Move

Thank you for joining us this week to reflect on the invitation that we have to join a compassionate God. First, we can respond to those globally displaced. Second, we can provide deep-rooted welcoming as followers of Jesus across Canada.

"Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind." – 1 Peter 3:8

In years past, we published a World Refugee Sunday resource which included a prayer that says the following:

"Lord, open our eyes to needs and opportunities as we pray for ourselves. That we might respond to refugees with openness and sensitivity in unique and simple ways."

Thank you for reflecting with us for a fifth year. I hope that in the review of this week's stories, and the next steps you can take, that you would move toward the invitation to consider near and global neighbours.

-Nicole

For the World Partners Team

Ways to Engage

Here are some options to consider, individually, and as part of the EMCC, as we all take compassionate action toward refugees and newly arrived people to Canada.

integrate prayer for the displaced in your devotional practice or the practice of the community of followers of Jesus you meet with.
set up a conversation with David Benjamin, considering the chance to respond to newcomers with collective effort and relationship-building at the forefront.
contact Pam Hicks about further options for EMCC churches to participate in refugee sponsorship.