…I was a stranger and you invited me in Matthew 25:35
We are told in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus spent a short part of His very early life as a refugee in Egypt when Joseph took Mary and Jesus out of Israel, in order to protect Jesus’ life from Herod. Many people around the world have become refugees as a result of ongoing conflicts, the most recent being the situation in Ukraine.
A large number of churches are joining with charities, community organisations and businesses to support Ukrainian refugees. The support churches are offering include welcome packs, pop up café, advice, and church members opening their homes to provide accommodation. If this is something your church or organisation are considering, you might find the links below a helpful starting point:
The Government offer information on opening your home under their ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme: Homes for Ukraine: factsheet for Ukrainians – GOV.UK
Welcome Churches offer a network for churches around the UK who are committed to welcoming refugees. They provide training for church leaders and those who want to be involved directly in welcoming through their welcome box scheme, and their website has a number of useful resources:
The Sanctuary Foundation, is a collaborative project headed up by Dr Krish Kandiah in partnership with charities, churches and other agencies, supported by Stewardship. The Foundation offer training and support for churches:
