“Despite the pandemic, wars and conflict continue to rage across the world, displacing millions and barring many from returning home. With rising humanitarian needs far outpacing solutions, we appeal to countries to make more resettlement places available for the refugees whose lives are in danger or who are otherwise at-risk.” United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, Chief of International Protection, Gillian Triggs.
The refugee crisis around the world is mounting as violence, war, conflict and persecution continue to force people to flee their homes. Countries offering asylum are confronting growing numbers crossing their borders daily.
More than 84 million people have been forcibly displaced. The resettlement of refugees is not an easy process but a local church is about to embark on the process, building on the experience of having done so six years ago.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church has been a part of the Outlook community for 110 years and in that time has been richly involved in mission activity locally and around the world. They are now hoping to help a persecuted family come to Canada after 小蓝视频 forced from their home in Afghanistan.
The congregation previously sponsored a family from Eritrea who had been living in an Ethiopian refugee camp. That family arrived in 2016 and continue to make their home in Outlook.
Recently, discussions emerged about resettling another family so a committee was formed to investigate current options. Marilyn Gustafson and Sherryl Olson were two of the people on that exploratory committee.
Marilyn said, “People are in need and the need is just increasing. There are more displaced people than there’s ever been. It’s important for us to help.”
The urgent need was presented to the committee in a personal way. “A family was introduced to us by our global workers,” Sherryl said. “Just hearing the stories of those that have gotten out and ones that are trying to get out and hearing how desperate their situation is, you understand their lives depend on it.”
Resettlement is a huge undertaking; one that requires tremendous resources and commitment by the congregation. Since it has been just a handful of years since they did this previously, one might wonder why they would pursue this path again. Sherryl summed it up saying, “Because we can.”
Even though the situation is urgent, the committee says this won’t happen quickly. “It's a long process,” Marilyn explained. “Before we can get the application into the government, we have to have the funds in place.” Government figures put initial costs at about $62,000 but a realistic budget for living in Outlook now needs to be established. The congregation needs to have 75% in place before their application for sponsorship will be evaluated, and 100% before final approval.
The committee is undaunted by what needs to happen next. “Yes, it is a big figure and we need to raise this money quickly in order to get the process started,” Marilyn said. “There’s already been talk from other places of wanting to help with this. The community of Outlook isn't just the town. It's a larger community and there's been interest expressed already. Some smaller churches want to help. Maybe they can't sponsor a family but they can help others do it.” Members of the community can be involved by sending tax-deductible donations designated to the Refugee Fund of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Sherryl feels Outlook has a lot to offer a refugee family. “With the family that we’re looking at we have people that speak their language and know their culture. We have good schools, a clinic, doctors, a hospital and a lot of other resources that come into the community weekly.”
Marilyn added, “There are opportunities for employment, English speaking classes and we also have quite a multicultural community so maybe that makes it a little easier to receive new people.”
In turn, refugees bring a lot to their new home. Marilyn explained that demographics in Canada indicate we are an aging population, and since refugees tend to be younger it is a benefit to welcome them. As well, refugees are typically very skilled and within a few years see similar employment rates as other Canadians. There also seems be a greater sense of 小蓝视频 Canadian and how much that means to them. “In the long run it is a benefit to Canada, and the future as a country,” Marilyn indicated.
As the work begins of raising the financial resources needed, these committee members see it as part of living out their faith. Sherryl explained, “’Jesus said that whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.’ We can really make a difference here.”
Marilyn shared, “Jesus asked us to focus on 小蓝视频 a servant, to be looking at how we help others and how we live in community. We live in a global community now so we need to look beyond our own community to know who our neighbors are. We can't ignore what's going on halfway around the world.”
