God is on the move
Our Beyond Borders colleague, who pastored among fellow civil war refugees in Uganda, reflected on the dehumanizing treatment many displaced persons experience, often being labeled as threats, burdens or cultural invaders. “The movement of refugees,” he said “should be seen not just as a crisis, but as part of God's divine plan. From a biblical perspective, refugees are kingdom builders, fulfilling a mission even if it’s not immediately visible.”
The Karatepe (Greece) refugee camp on September 9, 2020.
The apostle Paul reminds us that, in light of the new life we undeservingly received, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Reconciliation is at the heart of God’s kingdom, and it is through such love that we reflect Christ’s teachings.Those on the margin, the displaced and those with deep wounds suffer from stigma and stereotype because of unspeakable suffering which only unconditional Christ-like love can heal.
A young Afghan woman was 14 when she received a marriage proposal from a member of a militant group. Struggling with extreme anxiety, she sought guidance from a local mullah. To minimize pressure to arrange the marriage, her father found a good man for her to marry. However, the pressure and threats continued, and the couple escaped to a neighbouring country. The first of their two daughters was born there, before finding help to cross the Mediterranean to the island of Lesvos, Greece.
The refugee camp was overcrowded, and they lived in a tent with four other families. One night, fleeing violence inside the camp, they met a group of volunteers who shared the gospel with them. Through this encounter, they began to follow Christ and were baptized.
After relocating to Athens, they joined a discipleship team church planting among the transient refugee population. Miraculously, this Afghan family received asylum in Canada two years ago. They are currently preparing to return to Greece to rejoin the discipleship team.
David (a doctor and Ethiopian Jew) went to Niger as a refugee after being held hostage by a rebel group. He began attending Bible studies at the Beyond Borders library near the camp which offered educational and community building opportunities for refugees fleeing crises in surrounding nations. Reading the New Testament for the first time, David was deeply convicted and received Christ. When a coup caused the team leaders to evacuate, he took over leadership of the centre. Besides Bible and English classes, this includes caring for unaccompanied minors, helping with food shortages and advising people from fleeing into even less secure environments.
A young man in Addis Ababa left his teaching job to commit himself to the education of internally displaced children compelled to beg on the street. Through his tutoring and wholistic care, the children build their capacity and bridge the gap to enter school.
These are a few glimpses into the work Beyond Borders supports in refugee camps and refugee-populated cities around the world. We are witness to the phenomenon of God’s people on the move and partner with refugee believers and leaders who see purpose in where God has led them.