Faith in action
Palm Sunday 2025
On Sunday 13th of April 2025, Palm Sunday, join in prayer and action for a just future for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Read moreExpanding your understanding about the injustices faced by people seeking asylum
Just as Jesus portrays heaven as a place of lavish, gracious, ‘borderless’ hospitality and celebration, we long for Australia to exercise this same generosity to all people who come to our shores seeking safety from persecution.
To pursue peace, restoration and welcome for people seeking asylum in Australia we seek to challenge the systems and structures in our country that do not foster a nation of inclusion, acceptance, and protection. We call for more embrace and protections for people seeking asylum so that Australia can be a place of compassion and generosity.
We’ve been grateful for the change in posture by the incoming government of 2022 and the Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Andrew Giles.
Since the 2022 federal election, Australia has seen around 20,000 people who are on temporary humanitarian visas be granted a pathway to permanency, stability and hope. We’ve also seen an increase in our baseline humanitarian intake to 20,000.
These are steps that the Common Grace movement, alongside the wider sector, have been calling for. We are thankful that the government has listened.
We know that more needs to be done. The Labour government is still falling short of their pledge to increase our humanitarian intake to 27,000, plus an additional 5,000 community sponsored places.
Australia’s foreign aid levels to support displaced people overseas and build security in regions impacted by conflict is at a historic low. We should be rapidly rebuilding Australian aid and increasing our support for those being displaced.
There are also still thousands of people seeking asylum in Australia that have been here for up to a decade, many of whom have had their claims for asylum rejected by the former governments heavily criticised and unfair “Fast-Track” system. Australia should do more to provide certainty and security to this cohort.
One of the most important things you can do to contribute to a country which welcomes refugees is to learn more and encourage your church or faith community to go deeper in learning about people seeking asylum and the issues they face, biblical principles that underpin a Christian response, and what the Australian context is.
Expand your understanding and awareness through these resources:
On Sunday 13th of April 2025, Palm Sunday, join in prayer and action for a just future for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Read moreJames Harris reflects on his journey walking along communities seeking asylum and his hope in taking action with the Common Grace movement towards a vision of flourishing and welcome in Australia.
Read moreAs we live through the biggest global displacement crisis in history, and conflict and starvation ravage Gaza, we ask ‘What would it look like for Australia to respond in love and compassion?’ Join us in advocating for safety, welcome and freedom.
Read moreSign up to access Common Grace's special four-part Bible Study Series exploring justice for people seeking asylum.
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