Check out these great resources from World Vision Australia for a Syria Sunday
March the 15th marked the five-year anniversary of the tragic crisis in Syria. In response, World Vision Australia is encouraging churches to hold a ‘Syria Sunday’ service and stand together for those in need.
“Jesus was born into poverty; into oppression; into the margins. And soon after his birth, his family was threatened by violence and he became a refugee. We believe Jesus is calling his Church to rise up on behalf of the millions of child refugees fleeing violence in Syria.” - Tim Costello
World Vision Australia's ‘Syria Sunday’ service is an easy way for churches to make a make stand for justice on behalf of the millions of refugees fleeing Syria.
What is a Syria Sunday?
Syria Sunday is a movement of churches across the country that are taking time to focus specifically on the Syrian refugee crisis during their service, on a date that suits their congregation. To equip churches to do this effectively, World Vision has made a range of resources available.
What resources are available?
World Vision’s Refugee Sunday kit includes service ideas, story cards, talking points, a small group discussion guide, videos and more, all designed to equip church leaders to:
Click here to partner with World Vision in a Syria Sunday service at your church.
But I'm an individual not a church, what can I do?
With such easily accessible resources, we think this is a great way for anyone to get involved. Perhaps you could use these resources to inform your prayers or your small group? Perhaps you could encourage your church leadership to raise awareness of the plight of people seeking asylum within your congregation? This may be a great first step for churches to begin to put action to their prayer.
As we move from Refugee Week to NAIDOC week, it’s fitting that we listen to Academics Mark Brett and Naomi Wolfe as they explore the roles of guest and host in the Australian context. This piece is an edited excerpt from a NAIITS Conference paper. The full paper will be published in the NAIITS Journal later in the year.
Ebony Birchall, lawyer and member of our Justice for People Seeking Asylum team, calls us to raise our voices for the humane treatment of people seeking safety this #RefugeeWeek.
Rev Katherine Rainger reflects on the powerful words she shared at the Palm Sunday rally in Canberra.
Salem, a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, and an advocate and activist, shares with Kate Leaney his thoughts on the Palm Sunday rallies happening this weekend across Australia.