Syrian and Iraqi Refugee Response
ADM AWARDS $50,000 TO SUPPORT REFUGEES
Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM) is delighted to announce the recipients of over $50,000 in small grants for programs to support refugees in their local communities.
Grants have been awarded to eight Anglican churches in the greater Sydney Diocese, with sums ranging from $1,300 to $16,000. The grants form part of the Syrian Iraqi Refugee Response, led by Anglicare in collaboration with four other Anglican agencies, including ADM. Churches receiving the grants will use the funding to run English classes and playgroups, provide accommodation and employment support, and even to help run an Arabic church service.
Margo Leach, Director of Mercy & Justice Ministries at ADM, said: “We are thrilled to provide funding to these churches, enabling them to help meet the needs of refugees in their communities. Through these grants, we hope these churches will lead the way in welcoming, supporting and demonstrating the love of Christ to refugees who have fled Syria, Iraq and other nations in conflict.”
Several of the grant recipients will share about their refugee ministries at the Mercy & Justice In Action workshop, run by ADM and Hope for Sydney on 18 May. As part of a Q&A panel, recipients will answer questions about the programs and discuss possibilities for others to get involved. “This will be a great opportunity for the Christian community to discover practical ways in which they can serve refugees,“ said Margo.
The following churches will receive ADM grants to support refugees through targeted programs:
St Barnabas Anglican Church, Ingleburn ($2,000)
English as a second language (ESL) class and playgroup
St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Ashbury ($4,550)
Ashbury Anglican Refugee Initiative and ESL program
Gymea Anglican Church ($4,100)
Property alterations to accommodate refugee family under Anglicare's SHIFT program
St Michael's Anglican Cathedral, Wollongong ($1,300)
ESL resources and equipment
St Andrew's Anglican Church, Lakemba ($16,000)
‘Joining the Community Initiative’ – including welcome BBQs and dinners, a playgroup, ESL classes and a food pantry
Bankstown Anglican Church ($4,000)
English conversation class and employment support
Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Greenacre ($2,500)
The 'Sadiq' group – a homework club and ‘Easy English Friendship Group’
Hoxton Park Anglican Church ($16,000)
Syrian and Iraqi refugee ministry, including an Arabic church service
SYRIAN REFUGEE RESPONSE
Five years of violent conflict in Syria has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Millions of Syrians fleeing from war in search of safety have lost their homes, loved ones, and any normality of life they once knew. In 2015 the Australian Government agreed to permanently resettle 12,000 additional Syrian refugees currently in refugee camps in the Middle East. Syrian refugees have started arriving in Australia and many are settling in Greater Sydney.
“I am calling on Sydney Anglicans in parishes all across our diocese, not only to pray for these victims of persecution, but to step up and be prepared to do whatever is within their power to provide a warm and generous welcome, coupled with practical assistance, to ensure that those who come to find safety in Australia are afforded the best possible chance to make a new start and benefit as fully as possible from the peace, freedom and opportunity that far too often we take for granted.”
OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
The involvement of church congregations within Sydney Diocese and beyond is a key component of the Syrian Refugee Response. You and your church can get involved in the Syrian Refugee Response through:
● prayer
● donating financially to the Response
● volunteering your time in ministries for refugees
● working with your church to ‘propose’ a Syrian or Iraqi family for migration to Australia
● establishing a ministry to care for refugees arriving in your area
● providing short or long term housing accommodation for arriving refugees
Please contact Anglicare directly to let them know of your interest.