Sometimes the headlines can feel overwhelming, leaving us wondering whether there’s anything that we can really do to make a difference.
We may hear stories of vibrant churches welcoming people seeking asylum and wish our own church could do the same, yet feel unsure where to begin. In some communities, there may even be suspicion or hostility towards those in the asylum system, and perhaps we carry our own questions and concerns as well. One couple who run a community centre in an area where opinions are deeply divided have discovered that getting to know families seeking asylum has been a real blessing. Their experience has also helped others in their community see that the lives of refugees are often very different from the stories portrayed in the media.
One evening, Lucy and Will were sitting on their sofa together when Will received a work email asking the baby bank for 64 prams for Afghan families arriving at a hotel in Leeds. Lucy’s immediate response was to offer welcome parcels for the families alongside the prams, and this offer was gratefully received. Together, they mobilised their church to gather donations and were able to put together 40 parcels which were delivered to the hotel. Although they didn’t meet the families at that point, they prayed over the parcels and trusted that God would use them to show how welcome these families were.
When more families arrived at the same hotel, Lucy and Will were asked to provide more parcels. As they did so, they asked whether there were any other needs they could meet and were told that many people were bored and spending long periods stuck in their rooms with nothing to do. Lucy offered to run a playgroup for the families, which was warmly welcomed. From this simple beginning, several churches across Leeds have since partnered together to provide holiday clubs for the children and families, alongside ongoing support as people move from hotel accommodation into the local community.
“The lives of refugees are often very different from the stories portrayed in the media”
Today, the council asks Will and Lucy to help bridge gaps between the hotel and the wider community by welcoming people into the community centre that they run in an area of high deprivation. Recently, 25 teenagers and young adults who had newly arrived in the UK were welcomed there with food from their culture, music and singing. Volunteers from the community centre had the chance to listen to their stories and hear about their journeys to the UK.
The good news for us is that this story started simply, with God’s people asking what they can do to help without expecting anything in return. Do you have a heart to welcome and support refugees as they seek safety? Why not ask around your church family to see who else shares that calling, then gather to pray and ask God to show you what you can do.
I asked Laura from Mosaic Church in Leeds, who works as a refugee support worker with Horsforth chaplaincy project and Helen, a member of St John’s church in Bradford, to share their top tips for churches working with people seeking asylum and refugees.
Laura emphasised the importance of working in partnership with other organisations. Churches don’t need to be involved in every detail of someone’s case. While it’s helpful to be knowledgeable, it’s vital to know when and where to signpost people for specialist support. One particularly critical moment is when someone is granted leave to remain, as they often need significant help with housing and financial matters. Knowing the right organisations to refer people to at this stage can make a huge difference.
“Churches can help people feel more at home by offering genuine community and a sense of belonging.”
She also highlighted the cultural differences many people experience. Those seeking sanctuary often come from collective cultures, whereas life in the UK can feel very individualistic. Churches can help people feel more at home by offering genuine community and a sense of belonging. While practical support is important, building relationships is even more so.
Both Laura and Helen spoke about the power of hospitality as a way to build those relationships. Hospitality should be as reciprocal as possible, helping relationships grow rather than creating dependency. Many people want to share their culture and offer hospitality themselves. Where this is difficult because people are living in hotels, churches can be creative by offering kitchens, homes or spaces where people can cook and welcome others.
Laura’s final thoughts focused on the importance of sharing the gospel in both word and deed. If the church becomes only a service provider, it misses sharing the greatest gift it has and if it only preaches the gospel, it fails to embody it. As God’s people, we are called to pray for others and to offer the hope that we have in culturally sensitive ways, remaining humble and willing to learn.
Helen emphasised the vital role the church can play in inviting people seeking asylum to volunteer or get involved in church life and social outreach. Many have skills, experience and energy to offer, and volunteering can help them develop confidence and feel more connected to their new communities.
She also encourages churches to make the effort to understand one another, making use of the translation tools readily available on our phones whenever needed.
“His insights remind us of the importance of having diverse leadership and a willingness to listen and learn from one another.”
Soleiman came to the UK to seek asylum and is now a leader in his local church, where he spends much of his time supporting others navigating the asylum process. His insights remind us of the importance of having diverse leadership and a willingness to listen and learn from one another.
“The main issue of people seeking asylum being accepted into the church family is helping them to realise that they have a family. Of course, most of them cannot speak English. They gather in a corner to feel comfortable. This may upset the church members because they think that they do not want to communicate with others, but this is not the case. They are under pressure because of the unfamiliar language, which may cause them to use the wrong words and create problems.”
As a Persian speaking leader it can be easier for Soleiman to solve problems that have arisen from cultural differences. Soleiman has lived in the UK for 7 years and has a deeper understanding of the culture of the UK than people who have just arrived. He suggests raising issues with a leader to avoid causing pain:
“When a church member has concerns, they need to talk to their leaders, not the refugees, to solve problems with the refugees. The result of living like this is that people from all cultures are accepted into the body of Christ, have leaders of their own and we gain respect and patience for one another because of God’s work in us.”
When the need can feel too great, these examples remind us that lasting change often originates from small acts of faithfulness. When churches choose to notice, listen and respond with compassion, they become places of belonging and hope. As we open our lives, homes and communities to one another, we discover that welcome is not just something that we offer but something that transforms us all.
Link to Welcome churches: welcomechurches.org Welcome churches is the largest organisation in the UK supporting churches to engage with people seeking asylum. It began with a church in Derby offering simple Welcome Boxes to people dispersed there by the Home Office and has since grown into a national organisation that resources, trains and connects churches, helping them to support, pray for and bless people seeking asylum in their areas.
Photos from Lucy (Leeds)