“This World Refugee Day, a time when we face an unprecedented migration crisis, we must remember and lift up in prayer all those who have been forcibly displaced from home and are in search of safety and security. We honor their journeys, their stories, and their courage, and we continue to advocate for the protection of their human rights.” Kendall Martin, Episcopal Migration Ministries.
June 20th marks World Refugee Day. Please join us in praying for refugees in every part of the world and the places that host them, especially with the added stresses of the Covid pandemic. Despite all the challenges, the UNHCR’s message for this year’s World Refugee Day is positive, focusing on the power of inclusion, saying “Together we heal, learn and shine”.
Across the world, Christians are making refugees welcome, helping them settle into new lives.
In the UK, Christian Concern for One World is helping resource local communities to support refugees and asylum seekers. In this beautiful and powerful video, churches in the Thames Valley, who are engaged in welcoming refugees, reflect on their vision of what a welcoming society looks like. They speak of mutual flourishing and blessing, echoing UNHCR’s message.
Refuge Egypt serves refugees, migrants and asylum seekers living in Egypt who have fled their home due to war or disaster, and who have well founded fears of return due to persecution or loss of rights. A ministry of the Diocese of Egypt in the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria, Refuge Egypt seeks to “provide humanitarian assistance, spiritual guidance and encouragement to help build self-sufficiency and self-respect in preparation for repatriation, resettlement or integration into Egyptian society”.
In the USA, Episcopal Migration Ministries welcomes refugees, educates communities, and mobilizes congregations to advocate for the protection and rights of all migrants. They too understand the gifts refugees bring, saying, “Every newcomer who reaches our shores brings tremendous gifts and capabilities to achieve success in the United States. Our mission is to provide every person we serve with the foundation required to live out those gifts to the fullest.”
One of the priority work areas of the Anglican Alliance is responding to the most vulnerable, especially people on the move. Within this, we work on addressing the rights of refugees, internally displaced people and migrants; promoting safe migration and tackling human trafficking; and supporting people affected by disasters and conflict. Find out more here.
