As UK Christians consider how they might help the sudden influx of refugees from Afghanistan, one church leader with extensive experience of mission to Muslims has warned that the overwhelming majority of evangelical churches will not see any asylum seekers placed anywhere near them by the government.
Stephen Kneale (photo left) of Oldham Bethel Church says: ‘Most of these asylum seekers are open to Christianity. We already welcome many Afghani refugees who are, typically, very receptive to a gospel that is demonstrably different to what they left behind. Dozens of those we have witnessed to have put their faith in Christ.
‘But sadly only 29% of local authorities have thus far even agreed to accept these new asylum seekers. And government policy is to place them in areas where there is a greater supply of cheaper accommodation. This is relevant insofar as most conservative evangelical churches are in wealthier, more affluent communities – meaning that it will be churches in the most deprived parts of the UK, typically with far fewer resources, that will shoulder this additional responsibility’.
Oldham Bethel currently has about 25 asylum seekers regularly attending church meetings and reaches out to many more through weekly English classes, community football and food distribution. It also deals with their frequent mental-health issues and shows them how they may feed themselves and their families on the meagre benefits they receive. Furthermore many church members – due to the various cracks in the system – have had asylum seekers living in their homes for months.
One very practical way wealthier churches could help Oldham Bethel and others is by giving. Pastors do much of the gospel work among asylum seekers. They have to, because judges only want to hear from the church leader in these cases. So all letters, contact with solicitors, preparing witness statements and attending asylum tribunals must be done by the church pastor. And it all costs a great deal of money.
Other clergy are taking a different approach. For example Steve Hanna (photo right), from Christ Church, Exeter, is seeking to lobby government via his local MP. He has written to Ben Bradshaw pointing out that at least two of the high-risk Afghani groups – Christian converts and the Hazara ethnic group – are not on the UK priority list for asylum status.
