I'm packed and ready to head to Lille, France. We have a local ministry there that is opening a Centre that will serve as a safe space in which locals and refugees can connect in mutually beneficial ways.
A local French church is renovating a service garage and turning it into a ministry center. IAFR will begin leasing the space to use for refugee ministry in January.
One of the big challenges in the French context is finding spaces in which refugees and locals can meet. This Centre will serve that end.
We're thankful that local churches see the value of creating this safe space in their community.
She was born into a Christian family in Pakistan. She was kidnapped by a relative and sold as a 16 year old bride to an older Muslim man. After too many years she finally found a way to escape. She is now a refugee in Thailand.
That was why the person called my office this morning. She knows the young woman and wants to find a way to help her to safety and a place in which she can begin to rebuild her broken life.
Although the United Nations recognizes her as a refugee, Thailand does not. Her life there is tenuous and as a single mother, she is among the most vulnerable refugees.
I reached out to two Christian leaders that I know who have trusted connections in Thailand. Perhaps they can help this sister survive while there. I also reached out to a Christian leader in Brazil, as his country is among those to which refugees can be resettled. Many churches in Brazil are exemplary in their active concern for refugees.
And I connected with the IAFR Canadian office to see if they knew of a church or network that might be willing to sponsor this sister to Canada. There are few countries that offer a private refugee sponsorship option as does Canada.
We prayed together before hanging up. We know that God alone can help this sister and single mother find refuge. So be it.
The caller met me way back in the early 2000's. We had completely lost touch. An old copy of The Map of the Refugee Highway brought my name to mind as she was searching for a Christian agency that might be able to help with this situation. I glad she found us. I hope and pray that God gives us the privilege of participating with him in answering our sister's cry for help.
I spent a good part of today assisting a friend that is in the process of fleeing her country. For obvious reasons, I can't share any details. While I count it a privilege to offer prayer and encouragement as she steps out on her dangerous journey, it is weighing heavily on me that anyone has to make such a decision and take such risks.
I am encouraged to see how fellow Christians from diverse churches are standing in solidarity with her. The church is right where she should be.
Twenty-four people came to the quarterly gathering of the Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) Asylum Network yesterday. They represent churches and local agencies that somehow include asylum seekers within their work.
The Asylum Network was started by IAFR's Sarah Miller, our MSP Ministry Leader. When she first came to the Twin Cities, her research identified asylum seekers as an underserved group in the community. As she met with different people involved in some sort of assistance to asylum seekers, she found that they weren't all connected with each other. Everyone was serving in isolation. So she launched the Asylum Network. It's been going strong for a couple of years now.
Subject: Thank you for your commitment to our cause.
I am so glad to have met you. Thank you so much for your choice to dedicate yourself to the cause of refugees. Thank you deeply for creating a space for asylum seekers. It is terrible to fall in a category that has zero eligibility in the nation's social protection. Thank you. This is just a note of thanks, I would like to meet you any time soon you can be available. I hope you live in Minnesota.