Welcoming Families from Afghanistan

On Friday 7 August, quite out of the blue, we received notification that the first families had arrived from Afghanistan into our community.

With security of the families a priority, there is only certain information we can share. However, we’re keen for you to see how we, and the wider community have been able to live out God's love in our welcome.

How we've responded
As the families first arrived, Peter, our Associate Minister, was able to pull together a small team of people to begin sourcing clothing, hygiene products, toys, books and other essential items for the families who have arrived with almost nothing but the clothes they're wearing. As this has progressed, and donations have quite literally flooded in, we've been able to provide the 20+ families based in our community with a wide selection of all those items.

Over the week beginning 23rd August, volunteers sorted, filtered, folded and bagged up the incredible volume of clothing and toys. Some were at the church everyday and worked long hours. Whatever time or support you were able to give, thank you. We simply couldn't have done it without your help.

As we've journeyed over this period, and learnt so much along the way, perhaps the greatest privilege has been getting to know the families, building relationships with them as we listen to their experiences and needs. It's also fair to say that these have encounters have also been heartbreaking at times as we hear what the families have gone through and, in particular, as they wait to hear from family and friends who are still in Afghanistan.

What's next
The situation is rapidly changing and continues to escalate with families now in at least 5 hotels across Milton Keynes, some quarantining and others waiting for resettlement.

Throughout, we have worked closely with local councillors and charities, as well as with other churches and faith groups. We are also being supported by the Welcome Churches charity, a network that we will formally join in this coming days - you can read more about them here.

As we move into this week, and especially after such a challenging and tiring last few days, I'll be working with these groups to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the ongoing and future needs. I'm excited that we have this God-given opportunity to be part of creating a legacy that can be put in place across not only Newport Pagnell but the whole of Milton Keynes. We'll update you on this as soon as we know more.

For those families based in this community, we'll continue to provide them with immediate needs and will increasingly be facilitating both social and educational activities.

How you can get involved
There are 2 key ways that you can support all that's going on:

1. Pray - for wisdom as we seek to follow God on the road ahead; for the families, that they'll know and experience God's love for them; for our community, that we'll remain united in our desire to help and support the families; for those still in Afghanistan, that peace will come.

2. Look out for any emails, facebook posts and website updates that request specific support. In the next few days, we'll likely be looking for more people to support the logistical effort, as well as a small number to join a family liaison team.

IMPORTANT: Please don't bring any additional donations at this time. We'll let you know if there's anything specific we need.

Living out God's love
These last 3 weeks have provided us all to live out Jesus' ask that we - his church - should be salt and light, a city on a hill ensuring that all those we come into contact with experience something of God's love. In doing so, we don't only get to share the Good News through our words; we quite literally become the Good News.

Already, you may have seen the news features where Peter was able to talk about our response. Steve also spent time looking after some Sunday Times journalists this week and we're anticipating an article to be included this Sunday.

Of course that's exciting but, in the midst of all the turmoil and busyness, what a privilege that we have been given this opportunity to bring God's blessing to these families from Afghanistan that have been through is much.

Look out for more updates in the coming days.

28 August 2021