Pray for refugees this World Refugee Week

My heart broke watching the 2015-16 refugee crisis in Europe and I wanted to help in some way. I have always had a heart for hospitality and was the one in a room who wanted to make sure no-one was left out. I wanted to be part of that tangible welcome for those who had been pushed out of their homes or who were displaced for other reasons. Once I found out about the good work of Baptists across Europe and the Middle East who were extending welcome, I knew I had to come and support the work!

I love how my job is extremely cross-cultural and allows me to interact with people from dozens of countries and different cultural backgrounds. I am constantly astounded by the breadth of diversity of the Church and yet how God’s consistent character is woven into that diversity. I love that I get to witness God’s Kingdom breaking through in such unique and unexpected places.

I am constantly faced with the reality that the number of displaced people continues to grow and not decrease. I have had the privilege of walking alongside many refugees and hearing their stories and it is crippling some days to realise that their reality is the reality of millions around the world. My work often feels like throwing a cup of water on a forest fire.

This line of work is challenging and seemingly endless. I have to trust that, despite the harsh realities, God is good and he is still at work. Without this hope that comes from my faith, the pain and darkness would be all consuming. My prayer is that I will be able to, in a small way, shine light and hope into these dark spaces.

Reading the Bible alongside refugees completely changed my whole understanding of faith and of Scripture. The Old Testament in particular came alive in a new way for me as I saw that Scripture consistently told the story of people displaced, cast out and persecuted, and God walking in solidarity with them. It also shifted my concept of home and what it means for Christians to abide in Christ and Christ in us. I no longer see church as just a place to gather and worship, but as home; a space where we invite all in to experience God’s abiding love.

The first few days after the war broke out in Ukraine were some of the most stressful of my life. Yet, I have never felt more hopeful as I witnessed the monumental movement of Baptists around the world who rapidly came together to respond. To see such a massive show of solidarity, I can only attribute it to God’s Spirit moving in a powerful way. And of course, experiencing the faith of Ukrainian Baptists in the face of unimaginable hardships is further testament to the fortitude of God’s grace. Despite our flaws as Baptists, I’ve never been more proud and thankful that this is the family God has called me to work alongside.

My hope and prayer is that the Church would mobilise to be a force of welcome and hospitality for people on the move. Practically, this looks like preparing our churches to welcome the stranger well, but it also means advocacy at all government levels, financially supporting organisations working in refugee camps, and praying deeply for the needs of displaced people. I believe that the Church has an incredible witnessing opportunity to mirror the hospitality that God extends to us, through a robust and co-ordinated welcome of displaced peoples.