Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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PREPARING THE CHURCH COMMUNITY
TO WELCOME AND BEFRIEND THE REFUGEE FAMILY
Before the refugee family arrives, it may be a good idea to prepare the church congregation to receive
them. It would be especially meaningful to prepare the youth and young adults of the church to befriend
the youth in the refugee family, since isolation and difficulties in meeting friends their own age are
common problems for refugee youth and young adults.
When a refugee refugee family arrives and is embraced by church members of all ages, they receive a
valuable gift that will strengthen their family in the months to come. On the other hand, when a refugee
family comes with young adults, youth and children but the only members of the church that they
connect with are middle age and older, the youth of the family may struggle to integrate and will have a
higher risk for loneliness, isolation and difficulties connecting with Canadian society. What better place for
young refugees to create a social group than in the church? Genuine efforts from the youth of the church
to welcome and include them will be treasured by the refugee family’s youth.
Here are some questions to consider as you think about how to get church members
of all ages involved in welcoming and including the refugee family:
1. What are the ages of the members of the soon to arrive refugee family? What activities or
ministries does your church have that correspond to their ages? (i.e. youth group, college
and careers, mid-week adult Bible studies or small groups, sunday school, DVBS, worship
team and so on.)
2. How will you ensure that each member of the refugee family is genuinely included in
the activity or ministry that corresponds to their age? Are there people in each group that
could be responsible?
3. Logistical concerns such as transportation probably need to be taken into account - how
can rides be provided to different activities, when needed?
4. How multi-cultural is your church and community? Are church members used to
befriending and including people that may not be able to speak English? If need be, how
can you encourage church members to overcome the initial barriers and invest time and
energy in real relationships with the refugee family?
Some ideas to help prepare church members of all ages to welcome
and befriend the family:
1. Before the family arrives, could you consider having some sessions about Colombia in
the context of different church activities, so as to reach all the different age groups (ie.
youth group, adult small groups, Sunday school). These sessions could be used to learn
about Colombia as well as to talk about the family that is coming and what you know
about them so far. You could use library books or videos and MCC resources to learn
about Colombia. From what your Provincial Refugee Coordinator has told you about the