Refugee & Asylum Seeker Outreach
Through our Partner Church Scheme, we aim to equip and empower churches to be as effective as possible at changing the lives of those trapped in poverty in their communities. Our partner churches inform and inspire us, and we hope their stories will inspire you too. Over the coming weeks we’ll be spotlighting some of the social action projects and ministries run by Freedom Church Liverpool.
In 2021 the leaders of Freedom Church Liverpool were praying for increased diversity. Eighteen months later, it’s a joy to see many nationalities represented on a Sunday morning, with Iranian, Yemeni, Kuwaiti and Pakistani believers joining the family. In response the church has recently started live-translating their Sunday meetings into both Arabic and Farsi.
One of the ministries contributing to this huge increase in diversity is an outreach to a local hostel for asylum seekers – a ministry long prayed for, but which seemed almost impossible to initiate, until church leaders were introduced to a local doctor. She provided a GP service at the hostel once a week and was concerned about the lack of spiritual care. Her discussion with Serco, who run the hostel, revealed that they were open to the idea of a chaplaincy service, but having approached various local churches and other faith groups, she was unable find anyone willing to take it on, until she spoke to Freedom Church.
Chris from Freedom Church Liverpool says:
“Serco told us the service had to be multifaith and we had to wear hi-viz vests saying we’re Christians. That works well for us because it’s a conversation starter and it instantly creates trust. There’s no false pretences, they know who we are and where we’re from. It makes us more approachable.
It works because it’s incarnational, we’re spending time with people. There are other ministries where we donate food and clothes, but asylum seekers don’t meet a lot of people who just want to spend time with them and hear their stories. We make a point of telling people they’re welcome here in the UK and we’re glad to meet them. They don’t often hear that.
We’ve learnt so much about people, about the qualifications, skills and talents they have that are going to waste while they’re stuck, waiting for life to begin again. It’s an honour to spend time with them in the waiting and to help those in crisis and advocate for them.
Serco have seen the value in what we’re doing and they’re grateful for it. We asked quite early on if we could expand on it and they were happy. When we approached Jubilee Church they were really happy to be asked and they’re now going in to one of the other hostels.”
Graham from Jubilee Church Liverpool agrees:
“We were delighted when Chris got in touch. We’d always wanted to go into our local hostel, just down the road from the school we were meeting in on Sundays. The management had let us leave leaflets at the hostel, but we weren’t allowed to go in. Once Freedom Church got approved to visit the other hostel, it opened the door for us too. The first time we went in we saw that our leaflets were still there from years ago!
It's the highlight of our week, for those of us that go in to visit. We have a kick around with the kids. It’s so friendly and such a privilege to say, ‘Welcome to Liverpool!’ – to welcome people who others don’t welcome.
Now we’ve got people from other nations coming to the church in good numbers. I’d say we’ve got at least 10 nations represented on a Sunday morning. We’re translating into French for an Algerian family. It’s great to be part of such a multicultural church with a leadership team that reflects that too.”
St James in the City, a third church in the area, have now given the team the use of their building once a week for a Bible study group for asylum seekers. Volunteers from St James in the City join in by hosting, making drinks and contributing to the conversation.
Chris says he’s been surprised and humbled by the hospitality he’s received from the asylum seekers the team are seeking to serve:
“One guy from Iraq was telling me his traumatic story of a journey so dangerous he hadn’t even been able to contact his family to tell them he’d arrived safely in the UK. He also asked me about my own family. A while later he appeared with three chocolates for me to give my three children. He couldn’t even tell his mum he’s alive, but he was asking about my family!
And people have cooked us meals in the hostel. We want to show them kindness, but then they disappear and come back with a huge plate of food.”
As the government’s Illegal Migration Bill progresses through Parliament and we regularly hear stories of the shocking treatment of those seeking safety on our shores, we remember that every human life bears the image of God and therefore has inherent value and dignity.
Spending time with these precious people reveals how much we have in common and how easily it could be us in their shoes, seeking a new life of safety, security and freedom. We remember Jesus’ exhortation to “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) How would we want to be loved in those circumstances?
This ministry has been a huge blessing to the churches involved and to the city of Liverpool. The team hope more churches in the UK will get involved in welcoming, serving and demonstrating God’s love for asylum seekers in their local area.
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Written by Claudine Roberts for the Jubilee+ Blog.
For more articles outlining opposition to the Illegal Migration Bill from churches and charities across the UK, please click here.
