Throughout our world there are 45 million refugees suffering from injustice, traumatized by war, and living in limbo because they have been uprooted from their homeland. These men, women, and children are longing for hospitality and a safe place to call home. The story shown above is the story of one Eritrean family. Here below is another.

Betiel spent many years in this very state of vulnerability and uncertainty. On December 24, 2013—while many of us were gathering to celebrate the holidays with our loved ones—Betiel was at the Toronto airport joyfully reuniting with family members she had not seen for a long time.

Originally from Eritrea, Betiel was forced to flee for her life due to religious persecution.  She first ended up in Uganda and later made her way to a  refugee camp in the Ukraine. Knowing that she could never return home, Betiel applied for resettlement to Canada.

“Refugees are people that have fled unspeakable situations of war and oppression. Congregations who sponsor refugees have often discovered that in spite of this, they somehow bring God’s grace and presence with them."

Canada is the only country in the world that allows sponsorship of refugees by private organizations, which gives it a unique opportunity to welcome refugees. Within Canada, World Renew has a sponsorship agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This enables World Renew to connect refugee families with host churches that can help them with their resettlement in Canada.

In the past year, 31 families (69 individuals) were welcomed into Canada under the auspices of World Renew’s Refugee Sponsorship ministry.

The testimonies from churches and refugees involved in this ministry prove it is an experience of mutual hospitality and blessing. Coming to Canada through church sponsorship gives refugees the support they need to build their life in a secure environment and welcoming community.

Canada was an obvious choice for Betiel to make a fresh start. Betiel’s sisters, who were born in Eritrea, already lived in Canada.  One of Betiel’s brothers had also come to Canada through World Renew’s refugee sponsorship program.  Betiel’s siblings approached World Renew and asked for help to sponsor Betiel.

“She’s really happy in Canada and says it’s like a dream. She wanted it for a long time, and it happened.” said one of her sisters. “Canada is a big country—a safe place to work hard and to move on. Refugees can go to school part-time—they can help themselves. Betiel can improve herself and go to school to learn English so some day she can work.”

Although the sponsorship process can be a long and unpredictable road, Betiel demonstrated a powerful sense of trust in God through her journey. This sense of trust still shines through her today.

“She speaks of God’s faithfulness which she never doubted even though her life was turned upside down,” says Rose Dekker, World Renew’s Refugee Coordinator. “When she was sponsored by World Renew and her sisters, we worried about obstacles to her arrival, but she never doubted God’s plan for her”.

Most people who have been involved in refugee sponsorship find that they, too, are challenged to trust God in new and life-changing ways as they build a relationship with a family in need.

“Refugees are people that have fled unspeakable situations of war and oppression. Congregations who sponsor refugees have often discovered that in spite of this, they somehow bring God’s grace and presence with them,” shares Dekker.

April 6 is Refugee Sunday in the Christian Reformed Churches in Canada. Many churches will be praying for refugees and  celebrating the fact that CRC members have been showing the love and mercy of Christ through refugee sponsorship and settlement for many years.

To help your church commemorate Refugee Sunday, order the video shown here and present it during the offering or at another time during your worship service.