The RHPNA (www.rhpna.com) is a network of Christian organizations and churches committed to sharing the whole gospel with displaced people, including refugees and asylum seekers living in North America. The RHPNA organizes the Roundtable every two years as a gathering for churches and organizations dedicated to serving those who experience forced displacement. It is a time for personnel within these organizations to connect with one another, to share insights and learn about ministry among displaced individuals. The Canadian churches and organizations represented spanned from Vancouver to Montreal. There were also participants from the USA and Mexico.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at Portage Avenue Church was the bowl, towel, cup, and jar. To me, they conveyed a clear message about why we, as followers of Christ, love and serve refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers in our midst.
The theme this year was “Listening Together.” Our goal was to practice listening to God by quieting the noise around us. We also aimed to listen to one another and learn from each other’s diverse experiences. Over the three days we engaged in this listening with people from various nations, cultures, political views, and theological traditions.
Discussions and workshops focused on the reasons we continue to swim against the tide by welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. These workshops provided a chance to exchange strategies for overcoming the challenges present in these ministries.
One organization, Naomi House in Winnipeg, shared their experience as a church-based initiative serving refugees from any nation and religious background. They operate a seven-bedroom house that hosts refugees for a year as they transition to their new lives.
On the west coast in Burnaby, BC, the Journey Home Community also aims to provide shelter for homeless refugee claimants and guide them through the process of receiving support until they can transition to permanent housing and achieve greater stability in their integration journey in Canada.
Around 28 workshops covered various themes, with participants discussing the importance of English as a second language, mental health, private sponsorship pathways, sports ministries for refugees, and other topics. They collectively emphasized the significance of showing Christ-like hospitality and the church’s role in welcoming those who are strangers among us.
Throughout these workshops, coffee breaks and worship sessions, the words of Jesus resonated in our hearts: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” The urgency of our calling to love and welcome thousands weighed heavily on us. There is a pressing need for more safe spaces for those who are hurting, alone, hungry, or scared. We prayed for more workers, pastors, leaders, and followers of Jesus to listen to the cries and needs of people just like us who are already among us.
May the Lord help us cultivate serving hearts, washing their feet and feeding their bodies and souls.
