Refugee & Uprooted Peoples Issues

The Canadian Baptists of Western Canada encourage awareness and action concerning the broad social and spiritual issues related to any of the world's 8.4 million refugees or any who are uprooted and in need of our help. Through our Private Sponsorship Agreement with the Canadian government, any of our congregations can become sponsors for overseas individuals or families who are classed as refugees. To date, more than 28 CBWC congregations have taken on the financial and personal responsibility to help specific refugees establish themselves in Canada.  Other congregations can be involved in hosting government-sponsored refugee groups by welcoming them to their congregation and accompanying them as needed. The CBWC has part-time coordinators for this program giving support and guidance to churches or church groups that are interested in this ministry.

Larry & Lynn Pearce, Coordinators Refugees & Uprooted Peoples Issues

Phone: 403.816.8250
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Lynn and Larry are committed to supporting and connecting CBWC churches in their ministries and initiatives in this area. They represent CBWC in a number of sponsorship holder and refugee advocacy organizations and in specific groups dealing with homelessness and affordable housing. With this background, they are further committed to support congregations in learning about issues and to guide them in refugee sponsorship or hosting, as well as in exploring opportunities for housing and shelter ministries. As part time staff they can most easily be contacted Mondays and Tuesdays.

News & Stories

Keeping you up to date with news & stories concerning social justice from within the CBWC and around the world.

• Immigration in Canada: Reality Check Read more
• Khuu Family Returns to Clive Baptist: Read more
• Muslim Family from Iraq: Read more
• Refugees Welcome at First Baptist Vancouver: Read more

Resources

Here is our list of Social Justice resources and help to get you involved:

• Refugee Sponsorship Information: www.rstp.ca Contact Lynn and Larry Pearce for the password here
• UNHCR Report on Refugees: www.unhcr.org
• Refugee Highway maps, Biblical resources: www.refugeehighway.net
• Refugee Day Church Poster: Link
• Refugee Day Church Bulletin Insert Page 1: Link
• Refugee Day Church Bulletin Insert Page 2: Link
• Text of Bill C4: Link
• Information on Bill C4: Link
• Canadian Council for Refugees: Link

CBWC Involvement

Partnerships the CBWC is actively involved in:

Vancouver Airport Chaplaincy

The Vancouver Airport Chaplaincy offers 24/7 pastoral care to travellers, ministering to 8,000 people per year. The Chaplaincy is often the first contact refugees make in Canada, providing emergency aid to more than 3,000 refugees over the years, an effort recognized by the BC Lieutenant Governor with a Citation of Citizenship Award. The always-open chapel, located on the arrivals level of the international terminal near the food court, is staffed by volunteers and /or Chaplains from 7 am to 8 pm.

Layne Daggett, VAC Chaplain
604.303.3010
www.yvrchaplain.com

Kinbrace Community

Kinbrace House provides supportive transitional housing for refugee claimants in Vancouver, BC. Kinbrace House is actually two houses, side by side, comprised of a number of separate suites, including several single occupancy rooms and larger suites for families. Refugee claimants typically live at Kinbrace for three months to a year as they begin to settle and find their way into life in Canada. Two families live in the houses on a permanent basis and make up Kinbrace's Core Community of welcome and hospitality.

Loren Balisky, Executive Director
604.255.9691
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