Who is arriving in the UK and what is the opportunity for the Church?
Refugees in the UK
74,751 asylum applications in 2022* (UK Home Office, 2023).
If every church in the UK welcomed two people seeking refuge, then no refugee would be alone.
Refugees leave their homes, families, jobs, communities… their whole lives behind. Many have experienced severe trauma, loss and distress.If every church welcomed people seeking refuge in their community then we could easily see our vision become a reality! No matter where your church is, there is something that you can do to welcome refugees and asylum seekers into your community.
“The war came suddenly in Syria. One day when I was working and came back home, the streets were closed and there were guns around us. I left Syria to Lebanon, then Turkey. In Turkey I managed to flee to Greece but the first time our boat sank in the water. We were around 300 people in the water, 30 of them died.”
Milad - Syrian Refugee
“Before I found the church, I was really struggling. All my family was gone. I felt so lonely and lost. I remember the first time I visited my church; I felt so welcome and I found a new life. I was really encouraged, especially when people prayed for me. I had lost my whole family, but with my church I have found a new home and a new family.”
Abbas - Kurdish Refugee
The opportunity for your church
Your church is a ready-made community where refugees can find family. Churches are often at the heart of local communities; they can introduce refugees to local people, help them to learn English and to develop their skills. Churches can enable refugees to contribute to the local community and integrate more effectively.
“Working with Welcome Churches is helping to turn our church inside out, helping us to reach out to people from all walks of life. We want to see more and more asylum seekers and refugees becoming part of the church, finding community, family and belonging.”
Nicky
Welcome Boxes Coordinator, City Church Sheffield