Refugee Sponsorship Update... Arrival of 2 families on Thursday, February 4th
MORDEN CHURCHES PREPARE FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES
If ever there was a time when our Christian story was relevant for our world it is now! Our Christmas story of joy at the birth of Christ also contains anxiety and threat when the tiny boy Jesus and his parents found themselves homeless, fleeing to neighbouring Egypt as refugees. Violence and fear forced the little family away from their home to a foreign place of relative safety. Without refugees being welcomed, there would be no Christian faith.
Three Morden Churches have partnered in offering support for refugees. Morden Mennonite Church, Pembina Parish - United Church of Canada and Pembina Mennonite Fellowship felt called to be part of an answer to the desperate plight of so many, many people. They felt strongly that they must say YES to providing hospitality and friendship to two related refugee families from Syria.
The support committee, made up of more than 20 members from the three Morden churches, met on January 19th to plan for the arrival of the two families. The committee was told that the applications could take 2-6 months before the families would arrive. That has all changed! Things have been fast-tracked and the two Syrian families will be arriving on Thursday, February 4th!
It has been amazing to see how people have pulled together to make this happen. Everything needed to be organised, - short-term housing, furnishings, clothing, transportation, finances, medical care, schooling and so much more, all within a week! The three churches agreed to raise an amount of $20,000 each for refugee sponsorship. They are immensely grateful for the support of the local community in reaching their goal. It has been wonderful to see how people have opened their hearts to this ministry of hospitality. Through the three churches the Refugee Support Group will keep the community informed of any items or donations that may still be needed. If members of the public would like to donate to the on-going support of refugees in our area then please be in touch with Morden Mennonite Church, (tel. 204-8227450), Pembina Parish, United Church (tel: 204–8224508) or Pembina Mennonite Fellowship (tel. 204-3621285)
If ever there was a time when our Christian story was relevant for our world it is now! Our Christmas story of joy at the birth of Christ also contains anxiety and threat when the tiny boy Jesus and his parents found themselves homeless, fleeing to neighbouring Egypt as refugees. Violence and fear forced the little family away from their home to a foreign place of relative safety. Without refugees being welcomed, there would be no Christian faith.
Three Morden Churches have partnered in offering support for refugees. Morden Mennonite Church, Pembina Parish - United Church of Canada and Pembina Mennonite Fellowship felt called to be part of an answer to the desperate plight of so many, many people. They felt strongly that they must say YES to providing hospitality and friendship to two related refugee families from Syria.
The support committee, made up of more than 20 members from the three Morden churches, met on January 19th to plan for the arrival of the two families. The committee was told that the applications could take 2-6 months before the families would arrive. That has all changed! Things have been fast-tracked and the two Syrian families will be arriving on Thursday, February 4th!
It has been amazing to see how people have pulled together to make this happen. Everything needed to be organised, - short-term housing, furnishings, clothing, transportation, finances, medical care, schooling and so much more, all within a week! The three churches agreed to raise an amount of $20,000 each for refugee sponsorship. They are immensely grateful for the support of the local community in reaching their goal. It has been wonderful to see how people have opened their hearts to this ministry of hospitality. Through the three churches the Refugee Support Group will keep the community informed of any items or donations that may still be needed. If members of the public would like to donate to the on-going support of refugees in our area then please be in touch with Morden Mennonite Church, (tel. 204-8227450), Pembina Parish, United Church (tel: 204–8224508) or Pembina Mennonite Fellowship (tel. 204-3621285)