This year Refugee Sunday is April 11. We hope that you will focus on refugees in some way in your church’s worship that day. Unlike previous years, we will not be providing you with a bulletin insert. Instead, we have prepared a PowerPoint presentation to be used during your offering that day, or on any other Sunday that you would like to show it.
The PowerPoint celebrates the arrival in Canada of two Karen Burmese families that were welcomed to Canada and helped in their resettlement by Christian Reformed congregations. The power point focuses attention on the plight of refugees in today’s world and encourages churches to take part in sponsoring refugees.
Even if your church is not in a position to sponsor a refugee family at this time, we hope that you will consider showing the power point and taking an offering for CRWRC’s refugee work in Canada.
Refugee Worship Service suggestions(pdf)
prayers, suggested scriptures, and other suggestions for a worship
service about caring for refugees.
Canadian Refugee Reform -The Canadian government recently proposed reforms to Canada’s refugee system. These reforms have resulted in both praise and concern from refugee advocates and the general public. The proposed legislation (Bill C-11) lays out plans for a refugee appeal division, as well as more resources being allocated to the system and an increase in the number of refugees being resettled to Canada from overseas. Refugee advocates have been asking for these changes for years. The key to making these reforms successful is to do so without compromising justice for all refugees.
While applauding the positive steps proposed in Bill C-11, there are also areas that have raised concern. The introduction of a safe countries of origin designation has raised flags for many. A country may be safe for most of its citizens, but not for all. The potential for a country where human rights abuses are suffered to be named and placed on a safe country list is unacceptable. The refugee system needs to give everyone a fair hearing, based on the facts of each individual case. While the goals of speeding up decision-making regarding refugee claims made in Canada and weeding out false claims are laudable, it is of greatest necessity to ensure fairness for all refugees, no matter the country they come from or where they are making their refugee claim (either Canada or overseas).
For more information regarding the proposed legislation, as well as ideas about what you can do, check out the website for the Canadian Council for Refugees.
In Exile For Awhile - A refugee camp simulation designed to stimulate faith, thinking and action in youth. Contact CRWRC at 1-800-730-3490 for more information.
This short children's book tells a story of the refugee experience from the point of view of Monzi, a seven year-old boy. Monzi has lived a quiet loving life with his mother, until one day things go horribly wrong. Orphaned and afraid, Monzi becomes a refugee and the stories his Mama used to tell him provide him comfort through the hard journey. Each book is beautifully illustrated and can help make the plight of refugees more understandable to young readers. The cost per book is $5.The author will donate all her royalties from this book to CRWRC’s refugee sponsorship program."
To place an order, e-mail sonyavf55@hotmail.com.
Please include Monzi and Mama’s Stories in the subject line.
Most refugees resettled to Canada arrive with a debt of up to $10,000 because the government expects them to pay for their transportation to Canada and medical exams.
Since refugees of course can’t afford these expenses, Canada offers them a loan, on which interest is charged. As a result, refugee families start their new life in Canada not only with the challenges of adapting to a new country, learning a new language, catching up with missed schooling and recovering from trauma, but also with a large debt. The government could easily lift this burden from refugees by absorbing the costs of the transportation and overseas medical expenses for refugees. Ask your MP to support waiving the loans.
This year Refugee Sunday is April 11. We hope that you will focus on refugees in some way in your church’s worship that day. Unlike previous years, we will not be providing you with a bulletin insert. Instead, we have prepared a 
Monzi and Mama's Stories