Siva’s Story
Siva* shares his heartbreaking journey in seeking asylum and the hope found in the blessing of community.
Refugee Week, 15 - 21 June, is a unique opportunity to take time to learn about the experiences of people who have sought refuge and asylum, to celebrate the valuable contributions made by refugees to the world and our communities, and consider how we can take action together for justice.
Refugee Week 2025 theme is ‘Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community’.
In 2024, the global displacement crisis reached unprecedented levels, with over 120 million people forcibly displaced by war, violence, and persecution — the highest number in history. New and ongoing conflicts, including those in Gaza, Syria, Haiti, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine and Sudan, have driven forced displacement across the globe. The global number of refugees has tripled in the last decade to nearly 44 million; that is nearly 44 million people fleeing for their lives - risking everything - in search of safety.
This year’s Refugee Week theme recognises the importance of finding support and belonging in new, and diverse communities as a significant step in the journey towards finding safety, healing and freedom.
We long for the day when those who come to our shores for safety are welcomed with the kindness and compassion that Jesus teaches.
In Australia, we are so thankful for the humanitarian resettlement program, and the efforts by the Government when they were first elected, to help 20,000 asylum seekers living in limbo find a pathway to permanent settlement. However, thousands of people who have sought safety on our shores still remain in limbo, facing an uncertain future. Many have lived here for years — raising families, working, contributing and building community — yet remain denied permanent protection. Every day of waiting chips away at hope, dignity, and the possibility of rebuilding life.
During Refugee Week this year Common Grace is holding a special Webinar ‘End the Waiting’, Thursday 19 June 7:30pm - 9:00pm AEST, as an invitation for our movement to come together in prayer and engage in upcoming opportunities to take action together for Justice for People Seeking Asylum.
Find out more and register for this Refugee Week webinar ‘End the Waiting’ here.
Join Common Grace’s Justice for People Seeking Asylum Coordinator James Harris, Common Grace National Director Gershon Nimbalker, Sister Brigid Arthur co-founder of the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, and Major Colin Elkington of the Salvation Army Asylum Seeker Service in Melbourne, to learn how churches are standing together in solidarity and be equipped to take action through our upcoming #EndTheWaiting campaign.
Please share this opportunity with your church and faith community, to join in prayer and action this Refugee Week.
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Explore further resources and information below.
It is our deep hope and prayer that the resources below will help you and your community go deeper in learning more and taking action this Refugee Week, moving you closer towards God’s heart for justice, as we work towards the day when those who come to our shores for safety will be welcomed with kindness and compassion.
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Listen
This Refugee Week we are grateful to be sharing stories from people seeking asylum in Australia that give insight into the reality many people face in their journey to find freedom, safety and a future.
For over a decade, thousands of refugees in Australia have been trapped in limbo.
We invite you to read Ali* and Siva’s* stories of seeking asylum - journeys marked by suffering, courage, and resilience, but also stories that reflect the hope in building a life with purpose, finding connection, healing, and strength in community.
Ali* shares his journey of seeking asylum - one marked by suffering, courage, and resilience, but also a story of hope in building a life with purpose, finding connection, healing, and strength in community.
Ali's Story
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Take Action
The Church has a critical role to play in advocating for the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum. Together, our collective voices can have a powerful impact in calling our nation's leaders to respond in compassion, welcome, love and action to those seeking safety on our shores.
Sign up to join our Refugee Week Webinar ‘End the Waiting’ to learn how you and your community can be joining together in a powerful moment of prayer over the coming weeks.
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Reflect + Learn More
Take the opportunity this Refugee Week to learn more and encourage your church or faith community to go deeper in listening to the voices of people seeking asylum and considering how you can take action together. Explore resources to spark conversations with your faith community below.
Common Grace’s 4-part Bible Study Resource
Common Grace’s four-part Refugee Week Bible Study series shares powerful, personal stories from Common Grace’s 2022 Refugee Week series. Each study includes a story from someone with lived experience of seeking asylum, a bible passage, and a series of discussion questions that will inspire, challenge and encourage you to reflect on the role and opportunity that each of us has in creating communities that love and seek justice for our refugee neighbours.
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“For Christians in Australia, the current asylum seeker and refugee crisis is a call to embody the values of justice, compassion, and radical hospitality that are at the heart of the Gospel.” Gershon Nimbalker, Common Grace National Director
Gershon Nimbalker, National Director of Common Grace, shared a reflection for Refugee Week 2024, looking at Australia's historic response to those seeking refuge on our shores, and our call as Christians to embody the values of justice, love, compassion and welcome. Read Gershon’s reflection here.
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Christian Leaders Raising their voice for Justice
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Book Review, Refugee Reimagined
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Connect with Community
Refugee Week offers a wonderful opportunity to engage and connect with our communities in celebration, support and welcome for our brothers and sisters seeking asylum in Australia. You can find a range of events happening throughout Refugee Week at the Refugee Week webpage here.
Big Walk for Refugees is happening again in 2025. Find out more about this action and how you can join your community in walking in solidarity with refugees and people seeking asylum here.
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Pray
Join in prayer for refugees and people seeking asylum around the world, led this Refugee Week by James Harris, Common Grace's Justice for People Seeking Asylum Coordinator, in a prayer for everyone seeking safety, welcome and a home here.
Explore further prayer resources for Justice for People Seeking Asylum here.
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Support
We invite you to be generous this Refugee Week by supporting the work of Common Grace. Your faithful generosity helps inspire and mobilise followers of Jesus to take collective actions that seek to make Australia more just. With your support the Common Grace movement can continue raising a loving, gracious voice in national conversations for justice for people seeking asylum. Your gift helps fuel this movement to pursue an Australia where those who come to our shores seeking safety and protection are welcomed with compassion. Please give today.