Stories of support

Many Methodist churches have found themselves involved with supporting people seeking sanctuary and refugees. Sometimes these churches have become involved almost unawares.

In Darwen, Lancashire, it is an ecumenical group of churches that is engaged with helping. The concern of one church member at the number of people seeking sanctuary hanging around the Post Office on benefit day led to her speak to her Methodist minister. That conversation led on to the establishment of a drop-in centre in one of the churches. At the United Reformed Church, in the same partnership of churches, the distress of an Iranian mother and daughter alerted others to the problem. The family, who had been persecuted for their Christian faith while in Iran, had been given leave to remain in Britain. The father had, though, become stranded in Turkey whilst fleeing separately from Iran. The problem they faced, and the difficulties they experienced in getting help, led to the political involvement of the church. Eventually the family were reunited and given permission to remain in Britain.

Seeing the growing need and range of issues, the churches got together and worked on obtaining grants to employ two workers. They were to support families and to run two drop-in centres, one within the Darwen Churches' Partnership and another within the Blackburn Circuit. Both workers are sponsored by Churches Together in Blackburn with Darwen, and have the support of the Anglican Board of Social Responsibility. Methodist, Anglican and United Reformed Church members were already working together.

The following passage is from a recent report from on of the workers, John East :

"Sanctuary and refugee issues bring emotive thoughts and feelings to the minds of most people. Media coverage especially by some national tabloids, fan the flames of fear and ignorance and some of middle England's Christians may never have met or experienced the richness of working with asylum seekers and refugees - victims of world injustices and regimes of terror and of volatile governments.

"As Asylum Seeker Coordinator, I see some of the 4,000 Asylum Seekers dispersed to the North West, awaiting a result of an asylum appeal. In fact over 350 asylum seekers live in the town.  From Iran, D.R. Congo, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and from both Christian and Islamic backgrounds, our visitors are made to feel welcome and safe within our Churches and community.

"Some are successful and gain status to remain, others wait for the courts decision and are in limbo with their lives on hold. We estimate that, in this borough, up to 20 have been made destitute by the present legislation and add to an already unacceptable level of poverty and deprivation in the North West.

"Over the last three years the churches have responded with emergency food, furniture, friendship and love for a group of needy people who are often traumatised and marginalised. Many people in the churches in the Darwen Partnership and the Blackburn Circuit have met the challenge head-on by advocating for changes in the treatment of these very lonely and vulnerable people living in our community.
 
"Clearly, the issue of sanctuary and refugee status needs to be given serious thought and some explanation:

"Asylum seekers are those seeking leave to remain - claming a violation of their human rights, for physical, political or religious persecution; those granted Refugee status are allowed to stay up to five years in relative safetyin the UK or, in our case, Blackburn with Darwen."
 
Central United Reformed Church in Darwen has hosted one of the drop-in centres with support from the other churches and has up to 20 asylum seekers and refugees worshipping on Sunday. Over the last three years it has accepted six into membership, had six baptisms, one interfaith wedding and one renewal of marriage vows.

The other drop in centre is at Wesley Hall in the centre of Blackburn and has the advantage of being opposite the College for Further Education. It is ideally placed to contact many of the young asylum seekers and refugees who are studying to improve their chances of finding work in Britain.

Other Churches, such as St Paul's Methodist, have taken to heart the supporting and championing of individuals and families, making representations to the Home Office, contacting MP's and accompanying them to tribunal hearings.
 
A whole variety of church members from Blackburn with Darwen have caught this new vision and the wider church community supports this mission. The asylum and refugee community has brought new insights, new life, and a renewed mission to our churches lives. A dimension now accepted by most, is a sharing of traditions and culture that has enhanced worship and church life as we see the cutting edge of cultural diversity, social justice, integration and cohesion.
 
As one refugee member from Zimbabwe said, "Once I just existed, but now, through my new life and friends in Darwen, I can live my life to the full - with God's help and guidance."