Wed. Feb 12th, 2025

Imagine being forced to leave your home. Not for a vacation. Not by choice. But because your life, or the lives of those you love, is at risk. War, persecution, violence—these are not distant headlines for millions of refugees and asylum seekers. They are daily realities. They leave behind familiar streets, special memories, and a sense of security, stepping into the unknown with little more than hope in their hearts. The Salvation Army is a movement born out of compassion for the marginalized, the forgotten, and the vulnerable. And today, as we face a global crisis of displacement, our calling to embody the love of Christ has never been clearer.

The Bible is rich with stories of those who sought refuge. Abraham wandered in obedience. Ruth sought shelter in a foreign land. And the infant Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, fled to Egypt to escape the hand of a tyrant. Scripture doesn’t shy away from the plight of the displaced. Instead, it calls us to action.

In Deuteronomy 10:18-19, we read:
“[God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

God’s heart beats for the refugee. His arms stretch wide to welcome the asylum seeker. And as His people, we are invited—no, commanded—to do the same.

The Call to Compassion

Compassion isn’t a feeling. It’s a response. It’s seeing a need and stepping in, just as the Good Samaritan did. Refugees and asylum seekers come to us not as problems to solve but as people to love. Behind every statistic is a face. Behind every headline is a story. And behind every story is someone made in the image of God.

The Salvation Army stands on this foundational truth: Every life is sacred, and every person has inherent dignity. It doesn’t matter where they come from, what language they speak, or the circumstances of their arrival. What matters is that they are here—and they need help.

Practical Love in Action

So, how do we respond? The Salvation Army has outlined several commitments to guide our actions. From providing food and shelter to advocating for compassionate policies, we seek to meet both immediate needs and long-term challenges.

We are committed to:

  1. Offering acceptance, assistance, and advocacy without discrimination.
  2. Opposing the stigmatisation of refugees and encouraging society to embrace them.
  3. Providing safe environments that meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
  4. Advocating for policies that uphold the dignity and rights of asylum seekers.

But this is more than organizational strategy. It’s personal. It’s about each of us choosing to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities. It’s about greeting the newcomer with a warm smile, volunteering to assist where we are, or praying fervently for those whose names we may never know.

A Picture of the Kingdom

In Matthew 25:35, Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” What an incredible image of the Kingdom of God—a place where the outsider is brought in, the hurting are healed, and the weary find rest. As Salvationists, we have an opportunity to live out this Kingdom vision. By standing with refugees and asylum seekers, we not only meet their needs but also reflect the heart of Christ to the world.

Let us remember: when we welcome the stranger, we welcome Jesus Himself. May our hearts, our hands, and our doors always be open. Together, we can be a place of refuge in a world that so desperately needs it.

The Salvation Army’s International Positional Statement on Refugees and Asylum Seekers can be found at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cache.salvationarmy.org/b098ace2-8430-4db0-b89f-87db8b8b5c58_English+Refugees+and+Asylum+Seekers+IPS.pdf

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