|  FAQ: The Deacon and Refugee Ministry

Who is a refugee?

All kinds of people are refugees. No one is a refugee by choice. Refugees are forced to flee out of fear for their lives and liberty. According to the United Nations Convention signed by Canada in 1969, a refugee is “a person who, because of well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable or afraid to ask for protection in that country, or not having a country of nationality, is outside the country where he/she usually lived, and is unable or afraid to return to that country.” 

(See www.crcna.org/pages/crwrc_refugee.cfm). 

What is refugee sponsorship?

Sponsorship is a three-way partnership between sponsors, the government of Canada and the refugees themselves. This partnership allows refugees with no other solutions to resettle here in Canada. Sponsorship requires groups of people to be committed to working alongside refugees in order to ensure that they have the necessary support to integrate into life in Canada.

Why should churches sponsor refugees?

Jesus clearly calls us to serve the least powerful and the poorest in our world. He also calls us to participate with God in bringing about new life. In doing so, we make full use of our abilities and resources, finding ourselves renewed and blessed by God’s presence.

According to statistics from the past two decades, church-sponsored refugees integrate into Canadian society the quickest and most successfully.

Is assistance available for the sponsorship of a refugee family?

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) staff and DMC staff collaborate so that the plight of refugees may be lessened as more churches become involved in their sponsorship and support. It is our vision that Canadian communities become blessed by diversity and refugees experience respect and dignity.

CRWRC staff is eager to assist deacons/congregations in every step leading up to the refugees' arrival. They will assist with the paper work and connect with government officials to make the enquiries as needed.