Beginning with Adam and Eve, many of God’s people throughout biblical history have been refugees through
famine, human trafficking, wars and persecution. Cain and Abel are displaced by sin, Noah by a natural disaster.
In a time of famine, Jacob’s family moves to Egypt to seek food security and Joseph’s protection. Moses leads the
Israelites away from the oppression of the Egyptian pharaoh into the desert where they languish as refugees for 40
years before entering the Promised Land. The people of Judah and Israel endure several deportations to and from
Babylon. Jesus, Mary and Joseph flee Herod’s wrath and become refugees in Egypt.
Beginning with Adam and Eve, many of God’s people throughout biblical history have been refugees through
famine, human trafficking, wars and persecution. Cain and Abel are displaced by sin, Noah by a natural disaster.
In a time of famine, Jacob’s family moves to Egypt to seek food security and Joseph’s protection. Moses leads the
Israelites away from the oppression of the Egyptian pharaoh into the desert where they languish as refugees for 40
years before entering the Promised Land. The people of Judah and Israel endure several deportations to and from
Babylon. Jesus, Mary and Joseph flee Herod’s wrath and become refugees in Egypt.
Perhaps that is why the Bible is so concerned with
foreigners and sojourners, exhorting us to defend them,
offer shelter and provide for their needs. Leviticus
19:33-34 is just one of many Bible passages that tell us
we must treat refugees fairly and love them as we do
ourselves. Isaiah 16:3-5 tells us to rescue and defend
refugees. Hebrews 13:2 asks us to welcome refugees into
our own homes and show them hospitality.
Perhaps that is why the Bible is so concerned with
foreigners and sojourners, exhorting us to defend them,
offer shelter and provide for their needs. Leviticus
19:33-34 is just one of many Bible passages that tell us
we must treat refugees fairly and love them as we do
ourselves. Isaiah 16:3-5 tells us to rescue and defend
refugees. Hebrews 13:2 asks us to welcome refugees into
our own homes and show them hospitality.
As of June 2014, there were more than 13 million refugees suffering in makeshift refugee camps in countries bordering their homeland. They live in dire poverty, unable to return home. They have few prospects for employment
and are at risk of violence, food shortages and exploitation. Recent conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Africa
have shifted refugee populations so that a majority of refugees now come from this region rather than Asia. More
than 3 million refugees are from Syria alone.
As of June 2014, there were more than 13 million refugees suffering in makeshift refugee camps in countries bordering their homeland. They live in dire poverty, unable to return home. They have few prospects for employment
and are at risk of violence, food shortages and exploitation. Recent conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Africa
have shifted refugee populations so that a majority of refugees now come from this region rather than Asia. More
than 3 million refugees are from Syria alone.
They need our help.
They need our help.
Canadian Baptists have a new opportunity to respond to the massive refugee crisis. With CBM and our sister
denominations, we want to sponsor 100 refugee families in 2015. We hope that CBWC churches will sponsor 30
refugee families in 2015, and have mounted a campaign called 30 in 2015: Welcoming Refugees. We hope the
majority of sponsored refugees will come from Syria where a refugee crisis is unfolding.
Canadian Baptists have a new opportunity to respond to the massive refugee crisis. With CBM and our sister
denominations, we want to sponsor 100 refugee families in 2015. We hope that CBWC churches will sponsor 30
refugee families in 2015, and have mounted a campaign called 30 in 2015: Welcoming Refugees. We hope the
majority of sponsored refugees will come from Syria where a refugee crisis is unfolding.
Through the Blended Visa Office Referred program (BVOR), the federal government is speeding up the process to
welcome travel-ready refugees from Syria to Canada. These families have already been cleared for welcome in
Canada by the federal government and have been recommended to us by our CBM partners in Lebanon. There is
no limit to how many Syrians we can sponsor in 2015 – and the federal government will pick up half the cost of
hosting these families for a year. Through this process, refugees from Syria can arrive in 1-4 months, instead of the
usual 2-6 years.
Through the Blended Visa Office Referred program (BVOR), the federal government is speeding up the process to
welcome travel-ready refugees from Syria to Canada. These families have already been cleared for welcome in
Canada by the federal government and have been recommended to us by our CBM partners in Lebanon. There is
no limit to how many Syrians we can sponsor in 2015 – and the federal government will pick up half the cost of
hosting these families for a year. Through this process, refugees from Syria can arrive in 1-4 months, instead of the
usual 2-6 years.
We are hoping that CBWC churches will take a risk and respond to this opportunity. Is God calling your church to
welcome a refugee family from Syria or any other nation?
We are hoping that CBWC churches will take a risk and respond to this opportunity. Is God calling your church to
welcome a refugee family from Syria or any other nation?
What You Can Do
What You Can Do
SPONSOR a refugee or a refugee family through your church as part of the 30 in 2015: Welcoming Refugees
campaign by contacting Rod Olson at [email protected].
PRAY for refugees and peaceful resolutions in conflict areas.
LEARN about the global refugee crisis and refugee living conditions.
KNOW what the Canadian government is and is not doing to address the global refugee crisis.
UNDERSTAND the refugee sponsorship process by visiting www.rstp.ca.
WELCOME refugees into your home.
INVITE refugees to go with you to sporting and cultural events, on hikes and walks, and family activities.
ACCOMPANY refugees to appointments, banks and support agencies to offer translation and emotional
support.
HELP refugees get oriented to your community by going shopping with them, taking them to the library, or
locating government offices.
TEACH English to refugees.
PROVIDE clothing, furniture, and household items to refugees to help them launch their Canadian household.
GIVE to agencies that support refugees.
SPONSOR a refugee or a refugee family through your church as part of the 30 in 2015: Welcoming Refugees
campaign by contacting Rod Olson at [email protected].
PRAY for refugees and peaceful resolutions in conflict areas.
LEARN about the global refugee crisis and refugee living conditions.
KNOW what the Canadian government is and is not doing to address the global refugee crisis.
UNDERSTAND the refugee sponsorship process by visiting www.rstp.ca.
WELCOME refugees into your home.
INVITE refugees to go with you to sporting and cultural events, on hikes and walks, and family activities.
ACCOMPANY refugees to appointments, banks and support agencies to offer translation and emotional
support.
HELP refugees get oriented to your community by going shopping with them, taking them to the library, or
locating government offices.
TEACH English to refugees.
PROVIDE clothing, furniture, and household items to refugees to help them launch their Canadian household.
GIVE to agencies that support refugees.
This bulletin insert prepared by the CBWC’s Justice and Mercy Network: cbwc.ca/ministries/justice-mercy-network
This bulletin insert prepared by the CBWC’s Justice and Mercy Network: cbwc.ca/ministries/justice-mercy-network