I have a complicated relationship with the word ‘community’
Mehdi arrived in Australia seeking asylum in 2011 at the age of 15. Here he shares his experience as a refugee and the long journey towards healing, holding onto hope and finding community.
19 - 25 June 2022 is Refugee Week. This week only comes around once a year and is a unique opportunity to take time to learn about the experiences of people from refugee backgrounds and to celebrate the valuable contributions made by refugees to the world and our communities.
The theme of Refugee Week 2022 is Healing.
Common Grace is celebrating Refugee Week 2022 by sharing a special series of stories, reflections and prayers pointing to the hope and journey of healing made possible through relationships.
Healing comes through welcome into community and welcome into the journey of building relationships together.
We will be hearing moving and powerful stories of welcome, advocacy, connection and friendship from individuals with lived experience of seeking asylum in these lands now called Australia, as well as Christians seeking to live out Jesus’ call to love our neighbours.
Our prayer is that these diverse stories and experiences will inspire, challenge and encourage us to reflect on the role and opportunity each of us has in creating communities that welcome, advocate, connect, care and seek to love our refugee neighbours.
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Clayton Fergie reflects on his time as a librarian on Nauru and how the Kingdom of God was at work even in the midst of hopelessness and despair, building relationships of hope and healing. As a proud Wuthithi and Mabuiag Island woman Safina Stewart reflects on the women in her life whose experience of displacement and courage have helped inspire and teach her the importance of belonging and privilege we have to offer the gift of welcome. Kubra and Carly Squire reflect on the bond of friendship they have shared for more than five years and the continued joy of sharing life and discovering connection together. After years in Australia’s detention system, asylum seeker Fazel Khodayer found hope through the action, support and friendship of others including Lisa Bridle. Vova and Yana arrived in Australia in March 2022, seeking asylum from the war in Ukraine. Here they and the Dobbie family who opened their home in welcome share their story of friendship and healing.
God was there
Soul Sistas of Courage
A true and loyal friend
“You are not forgotten. You are seen.”
"We have experienced God’s mercy on each step"
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As part of our journey through Refugee Week 2022, artist and proud Wuthithi and Mabuiag Island woman Safina Stewart has designed a beautiful series of images to help us reflect on the gift of welcome, connection and belonging.
(Left to Right)
Travelling lines to honour the journey and stories of our refugee and asylum seeker friends.
Two friends sitting at a campfire in honour of friendships made.
A community campfire that recognises welcome, safety and belonging as a basic human right.
The ripple effects of the enrichment and gifts our refugee and asylum seeker friends bring to our lives and communities.
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Refugee Week is also a great opportunity for churches to get involved to grow collectively into communities of healing and welcome. Common Grace has a range of prayer resources to help churches engage in praying for Refugee Week and Justice for People Seeking Asylum.
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As an independent movement, Common Grace relies on generous donations to reach more people and raise a generous Christian voice in the public conversation. As part of your Refugee Week 2022 engagement we invite you to consider making a donation to support the work of Common Grace as we continue to join our voices in calling for Justice for People Seeking Asylum in these lands now called Australia.