Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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w a l k i n g t o g e t h e r 97 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
98 w a l k i n g t o g e t h e r refugee family you can start to imagine who might like to befriend different members of the family, and what kinds of activities the family would like to do or be included in upon arrival. 2. Intentionally plan with children, youth, young adults and adults in the church how they would like to welcome and befriend the family. Gather ideas and also commitments. When the family comes, there should be people from each age group that are not only committed to but are also anticipating befriending and inviting members of the refugee family in their age bracket to corresponding church activities. 3. In some cases, it is possible to correspond with the refugee family before their arrival. Check with your MCC Provincial Refugee Program Coordinator to find out. If it is possible, have church members of different age groups write letters to the refugee family even before their arrival, describing themselves, the church, the community and so on. This is a great first step to helping the family feel welcomed and at home. 4. Despite initial language barriers, try to include each and every family member in church activities. Even if at first they can’t understand everything that is being said, and even if no translator is available, there are many ways to make the members of the refugee family know they are welcome and loved. Humor, gestures, smiles and hugs and perhaps a bilingual dictionary will all be useful tools.
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WALKING TOGETHER: Healing and Hope
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There are stories embedded in our s
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shalom Wiebe serv
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Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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