Meeting real people’s real needs

The Australian government has recently announced that we will receive at least 12,000 Syrian refugees into our community. With countries across the world receiving more and more refugees, I want the church body to be prepared and ready to love and care for those who will soon be joining us.

I believe stories are powerful in effecting change, even more so when they are the stories of ones we share salvation with. So I asked one member of my church family to share her family’s experience with our congregation, and she has also graciously allowed for part of her story to be told here:

My family is originally from Iraq. We left the country in 1991 when Iraq was involved in the Gulf War. Because of the war, water and electricity would regularly be cut off. Food was limited and, even if you could get it, it was very expensive. When the war reached Kirkuk, the town we lived in, my family decided to leave. My parents remember feeling helpless and afraid because they could no longer really protect us or keep us safe. They wanted us, their children, to have a good future and they knew that if we remained in Iraq our lives would be in constant turmoil.

Part of our journey to Australia involved four years of waiting in Morocco on temporary refuge visas. While we were living in Morocco, my parents wanted to go to church. My family came from an Orthodox background, but we usually only went to church during Christmas and Easter. As Morocco is a Muslim country, there were no Arabic churches for us to attend. The closest church to us was St John’s Anglican Church, and we began attending on Sundays. My father filled out the visitors’ log, and people from the church contacted and met with us. When they heard our story, they helped us out. They knew my mum was a tailor, so they gave her a sewing machine. Then they advertised it in church, so the congregation began paying my mother to make them clothes and to tailor for them. I started attending Sunday school, even though I didn’t understand.

They then connected us with a Christian Arabic group who met in peoples’ homes. That is when my mum heard and understood the gospel, and realized that we were just Christians by name and that we didn’t really understand Christianity at all. After that, both my parents chose to follow Christ, and we children were fortunate enough to be brought up to know him as our Lord and Saviour.

After my father’s many attempts, we were finally granted a humanitarian visa for Australia, because my aunt had sponsored us. It was difficult adjusting in the beginning, as we didn’t know how to speak, read or write English, but we quickly adapted. We were very fortunate to have people in the Australian community who helped us to settle.

Coming to Australia meant that our lives were changed for the better. We were finally able to live freely without fear. There was no longer the risk of war, or my parents feeling like they would not be able to provide for us. We are very thankful to be living in Australia. It is a blessed country.

My friend’s testimony shows us two things about caring for asylum seekers:

Relationships come first

Refugees are often from collectivist cultures where community and family are very important. When they come to Australia, despite the relief of persecution, they are likely to feel incredibly isolated and alone. The first loving thing we can do then is to extend the hand of friendship, even (or especially) where religious and cultural barriers exist. 

We will be able to meet needs as we meet people

The church in Morocco was able to meet a very specific need and provide for my friend’s family because they got to know them first. By entering into their lives they became aware not only of their needs, but also their gifts. Her family was able to support themselves through the provision of a sewing machine and the church’s willingness to create opportunities for business. Churches in Sydney and globally have already begun the process of raising considerable material support for the suffering. However, we should always be ready to ask our refugee friends: “What do you actually need?”

Not only were my friends’ material needs met, but the Moroccan church was also concerned for their spiritual well-being. This church took the step of connecting them with a Christian group that would be able to present the gospel in a way that was accessible to them. There are many opportunities for this sort of ministry—but are we aware of all the options? Do we need to create any? (Probably!)

My church was encouraged to hear this story from our own congregation member, and we were reminded that it is not a unique story from within our fold. Many of us have felt the effects of war, and yet have seen those scars of war become gifts. Some of those who have travelled far seeking refuge have come to know Jesus and have been grafted into our churches as essential members and heavenly kingdom heirs. They are incredible witnesses to the sovereignty of God, and the love and kindness of his own people. Let’s help grow the body by stepping out and making Christ-fuelled connections.

Photo credit: Krista Hudson