In a sad coincidence, Father’s Day and World Refugee Day fell on the same date this year, June 20. As we honored fathers and their role in building homes and structures to nurture their families, we also remembered those families who bravely struggle through the unimaginable forces that rip fathers from their loved ones.
Mennonite Mission Network works to heal the harm that is unleashed when global powers create situations that cause people to flee their homes. Here, we present a glimpse of some of Mission Network’s ministries — past and present — that help alleviate suffering and bring hope in refugee situations on five continents.
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A project at Quito Mennonite Church, in Ecuador, helps support refugee families, with spiritual support, food, bedding, income generation opportunities and diapers! People who were once enemies have also found reconciliation through worshipping together.
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Mennonite Voluntary Service plants seeds that lead some to consider career options that they previously hadn’t considered, such as a legal assistant and as an immigration lawyer.
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A ministry that began with meals for thousands of children from refugee families continues through Mennonite churches in Hong Kong and Macau.
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The Anabaptist Association of Australia and New Zealand (AAANZ) continues the non-violent direct-action protests begun by Mark and Mary Hurst, who formerly served through Mission Network.
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Juliet Kilpin’s compassion for people living in refugee camps in Calais, France, led her to work with Simon Jones establish Peaceful Borders, a program operating in partnership with Mission Network.
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David and Sophie Lapp Jost, Mission Network mission workers, were on the Greek island of Lesbos when fire burned the Moria camp that housed 13,000 refugees. They were able to respond with emergency and long-term relief.
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Mission Network personnel have served at the Mother Theresa Centre for Children and Families in the past. Today, some of those who fled their countries are Mission Network partners.
