Sunday, October 04

For the past few months, the ongoing development of the growing refugee and migrant crisis in Europe has largely dominated the world news cycle. Millions of Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in response to the civil war in their country. They have carried their most important possessions and streamed across Europe and the rest of the world in search of a stable environment. The heartbreaking story of Aylan Kurdi, a two-year-old boy who died at sea and then washed ashore in Turkey, is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s a confusing situation for those of us who have the privilege of living in a stable country, and it can leave us feeling incapacitated as fellow humans, as Christians and as a church community. The following thoughts are by no means a comprehensive action plan for how we should respond, however they do give us somewhere to begin as we prayerfully and diligently respond to this developing world crisis.

What are we supposed to do about the migrant/refugee crisis?

By the end of 2014, the global population of "forcibly displaced" people reached more than 59 million - the highest number since World War II. Of that number, nearly 8 million Syrians are displaced within their own country. Another 4 million Syrians have made their way out of Syria into other countries desperate to find a home that offers hope, opportunity and safety for their families. Syrian refugees have flooded Greece, Turkey and Jordan and are now making their way into countries in the European Union and beyond. With thousands upon thousands risking their lives every single day trying to find hope and a new life, to say it’s a “bad situation” is an understatement at best. There’s no clear solution, and any response will require many countries to band together to respond with politics, policy and a substantial humanitarian and development effort.

It also requires Christians to be Jesus in a very deliberate way.

Let’s back up for a minute…why is this situation even happening? Remember the Arab Spring way back in spring 2011? That was the spark that ignited the Syrian Civil War, which lead to the deaths of nearly a quarter of a million people (50% or more of whom were civilians). The war has decimated Syria, leaving almost 8 million Syrians displaced within their own country. Refugees are fleeing to countries like Lebanon, Jordan and – in terrifying acts of desperation – Greece.

As a community of faith, what are we to do?

Here at Central, as a missions team and staff, we are actively praying, seeking and connecting with our partners to learn how we can best respond.

Here’s what we’ve done thus far:

• We have made an initial $5,000 gift to the Refugee Relief Fund administered by Global Partners, one of our key partners in many regions of the world. These funds will be directed to missionaries on the ground in Europe (lead by Dave and Dina Horne, whom many of your know). They are primarily working with two groups, one is a ministry center doing short-term relief (clothing, food and literature distribution), and the other is a center that’s connected to their church in Vienna, which offers a Farsi service, German class and ongoing relational support.
• We’ve reached out to partners throughout Europe to see how we can potentially resource their needs
• We’re praying as a community and as a Missions team on what our next steps should and will be

So, as individuals and families, what can we do?

Christian author Ann Voskamp has done a fantastic job publicly unpacking the Church’s role in this crisis, as well as our role as individuals. The #WeWelcomeRefugees movement is one that we’d recommend strongly aligning with. This is one of those opportunities where we, as a community of faith, have an opportunity to step up and holistically support those who are disenfranchised. Those on the refugee journey are lacking hope and desiring answers. They might be, for the first time in their lives, ready to hear about Jesus.

Pray

Dina offered the following points:

• Pray for the refugees, that they would find safety and care on their journey and that they would see and experience Jesus’ compassion for them
• Pray that Austria and the European Union would develop a workable solution that provides sustainability and compassion for the refugees
• Pray for wisdom for teams on the ground as they discern the best avenues and partners for distribution

Give

If you are interested in contributing financially to immediate relief, you can give to Central (mark “Refugee Relief” on your gift) and we will route your dollars directly to our partners on the ground. Global Partners’ Refugee Relief Fund is another option; learn more here.

Learn & Share

This crisis may have already passed water-cooler talk and become Page 2 news; but, the crisis isn’t going away anytime soon, and it’s important to arm yourself with current, accurate information. Here’s the best one-stop-shop for understanding what’s happening, courtesy of Mercy Corps. The New York Times has a simple Migrant Crisis FAQ; both the BBC and USA Today have reporters embedded with groups of refugees making their journeys. Their posts and pictures are candid and real.

Pay Attention to the Immigrants in Our Own Community

It’s no secret that immigration in the US is a hot topic right now. As the global community grapples with what to do about the refugee crisis, it will only become more significant. Let’s work on paying attention to and loving the immigrants that call West Michigan home. Here’s a helpful guide on just how to do that. (Hint: it starts with remembering that they are people, too.)

We’ll continue this conversation as our response evolves. If you want to discuss other opportunities to get engaged, or if you have any questions, connect with us at missions@centralwesleyan.org.