“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. … When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” – Romans 12:9–13

Refugees Fatima*, her husband, and their two children arrived in their new country on October 25, 2021. Travel‑weary but hopeful, they were eager to begin rebuilding their lives after years shaped by conflict and uncertainty. As Fatima shared, “Our hope is that our children begin their life in a right way, and build their happy childhood memories far away from war and fear.”

When their plane landed, tears of joy filled Fatima’s eyes. After a long journey marked by waiting and delay, they were finally safe. She expressed deep gratitude for the faith community that had committed to walking alongside her family as they began again.

Starting Over Together

Public health precautions at the time meant their welcome was quiet. Only one member of the sponsoring group was able to meet them on arrival, and the family needed to spend their first days in quarantine. Still, Fatima said she thanked God for opening the door at last. Like many displaced families, they had spent months—sometimes years—on lists affected by travel restrictions and global disruptions.

Three weeks after their arrival, Fatima’s family joined a worship service at the church community that had sponsored them. They were greeted warmly and invited to share part of their story. The compassion they experienced helped sustain them as they faced the practical and emotional challenges of settling into an unfamiliar place.

“The hardest part was not knowing where to start,” Fatima said. She went on to explain that their sponsors’ care and compassion helped remove barriers they couldn’t have faced alone, saying it was their love that “[erased] every obstacle in our adaptation.”

One member of the refugee sponsoring committee reflected, “We have helped enrol them in classes, obtain necessary documents, connect them to other services, drive them to appointments, and so much more. We also make a point to spend time with them—after all, they are friends and near family.”

Responding to a Call to Hospitality

For this community, welcoming refugees was an intentional response to seeing human suffering up close. Several years earlier, they had been deeply affected by news of displaced families risking everything in search of safety. One committee member shared, “The pictures of Alan Kurdi who perished in the Mediterranean is what prompted the church. We have sponsored three Syrian refugee families since 2015.”

Another member added, “We are called to love the foreigner among us. To be able to witness transformation is amazing. To be trusted to assist people who are vulnerable is something we can’t take lightly. It is a huge responsibility, but it comes with many blessings.”

Around the world, churches and community groups continue to answer this same call—offering welcome, tangible support, and friendship to people displaced by conflict, persecution, or disaster. Supporting sponsors throughout the resettlement journey allows these relationships to grow and newcomers to find stability, dignity, and hope.

World Refugee Day, observed each year on June 20, is an opportunity to honour the resilience and courage of refugees globally, and to renew our commitment to hospitality wherever we live. We invite you to pray for families still waiting for safety, and for communities opening their doors to welcome them.

Through our refugee program in Canada, you can walk alongside churches and sponsoring groups as they respond to God’s call to welcome foreigners, supporting work that strengthens both newcomers and the communities that receive them. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing support.

*Names have been changed or withheld to protect identity