Okay, it’s a bit early for Christmas content – but not for the Salvation Army, which is busy organizing its annual Christmas Kettle teams. Donations made during the Christmas season are very important for all their ongoing good works. Following…
On a February Saturday morning this past year, more than 85 people gathered to explore how their churches could provide more housing for refugee claimants. In March, over 160 people gathered to share ideas for how they could develop their…
Members of several groups and churches will meet for Refugee Housing Crisis: Developing a Response February 3. Dena Nicolai is inviting wide participation, including those who might be a bit skeptical. In my theological tradition, we sometimes talk about “square…
New Hope Community Services has welcomed more than 800 refugees since 2004, offering them community and housing at their 13-unit apartment building in Surrey. Their recent email to supporters linked the stories of their new arrivals to that of Mary…
Dear friends in the Christian community of Metro Vancouver: In recent news about the Afghan people, countries bordering Afghanistan, most notably Pakistan, have begun to crack down on immigration from Afghanistan, arresting and deporting families, some of whom have been…
Journey Home Community works with refugee claimants, those who arrive in Canada without sponsors. Also known as asylum seekers, they arrive with few resources and are at grave risk of homelessness. In its June newsletter (slightly modified here), Journey Home…
When church planters are asked why they went on the mission field, most will say it was because God had called them to take the gospel to the people in another city or country who needed to hear it. Not…
New Hope is all about building community – and its focus on community was particularly harmed by an act of arson April 25. A Global News story stated: A Surrey-based charity that supports refugees integrating in Canada is reeling from a…
I had a couple of pleasant revelations last Friday morning (March 31), when I attended the annual conference of the Evangelical Missiological Society. First, the venue. Second, the content. Pacific Life Bible College I have known about Pacific Life Bible…
Kinbrace has been welcoming refugee claimants to Vancouver since 1998 – and now are sharing the core values that have guided them with the broader community. The first of five Becoming Neighbours Workshops will be held March 25, both in…