Rev. Nicholas Whereat's story
Rev. Nicholas Whereat shares his story of taking part in the End the Waiting Campaign, and the long road toward justice for people seeking asylum.
Over the last 75 years, Australia has welcomed one million refugees — and that legacy is one of our greatest strengths. Here, James Harris, Common Grace’s Justice for People Seeking Asylum Coordinator shares the story of Rev. Dr. John Jegasothy, whose journey from refugee to advocate reminds us that welcome transforms lives—and strengthens our communities.
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Before arriving in Australia almost forty years ago, Rev. Dr John Jegasothy was a church leader in Sri Lanka, serving communities caught in the violence and division of civil conflict.
As a Tamil Christian minister, he stood alongside people facing injustice, supported families affected by violence, advocated for human rights, and worked to build peace across deeply divided communities. His faith was never confined to the walls of a church.
"It is not easy to stand up for the vulnerable or oppressed people," John reflects. "You are putting yourself in trouble and your life is on the line."
As threats against his life intensified, John and his family were eventually forced to flee. Australia offered them safety and the opportunity to begin again.
"We were no one in Australia" John recalls. Yet Australia became home.
Today, John's story includes children, grandchildren, decades of ministry, and a lifetime of service to Australian communities. But finding safety did not mark the end of his calling.
John went straight into ministry in the Uniting Church when he arrived. Then, in 1996, John visited an immigration detention centre after being invited by a detained asylum seeker. What he witnessed changed the course of his ministry.
For nearly three decades, he has walked alongside refugees and people seeking asylum—visiting detention centres, supporting families, advocating with decision-makers, and helping people navigate the long journey toward belonging. The men in detention began calling him "Father John."
Not because he preached at them.
Because he showed up.
The same commitment that led John to stand with people facing oppression in Sri Lanka led him to stand with people seeking safety in Australia. His story reminds us that refugees are not defined by what they have fled, but by the gifts, courage and contributions they bring with them.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to practise love, care and welcome. Together with the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT), Common Grace is part of a movement of Christians working for a more compassionate refugee system and walking alongside those seeking safety.
As we celebrate one million refugee stories in Australia, we must also remember those who are still waiting.
That's why we are calling on the Australian Government to expand Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program, grow community sponsorship and complementary pathways, and ensure people seeking asylum have access to work rights and Medicare while their claims are processed.
As the Church lives out Christ's call to love, care and welcome, we remind Australia who we are as a nation.
Join us as we work to #EndTheWaiting.
Join in taking action
Common Grace is launching the next stage of the #EndTheWaiting campaign at our 2026 Refugee Week Webinar. Sign up to join this webinar, co-hosted by National Council of Churches’ Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT), on Thursday 18 June 7:30pm - 9pm, to find out how you and your faith community can join these calls to #EndTheWaiting.
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Common Grace is thankful to be sharing stories of welcome as part of Refugee Week 2026 celebrations of 'A Million Stories' to mark the remarkable milestone of Australia granting one million permanent humanitarian visas since 1947. Explore further stories below.
Rev. Dr. John Jegasothy served in the Uniting Church beginning from Parkes and Shellharbour, Dulwich Hill - Hurlstone Park and Rose Bay - Vaucluse and retired in December 2020. He was Chairperson of Central West Presbytery in the early nineteen nineties.
James Harris is Common Grace’s Justice for People Seeking Asylum Coordinator and Director of Strategic Projects with NAYBA, where he leads The Welcome Home Project, supporting churches to engage in community refugee sponsorship. He has served in many roles globally, including being based in Jordan with World Vision and Nauru with Save the Children. James is a co-founder of the global Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage movement.
