Engage theologically with refugee crisis
A new Baptist resource aimed at helping individuals and groups to reflect theologically about the refugee and migration crisis has been released
Moving Stories is a collection of studies that blend Bible passages with a historical perspective and a contemporary legacy around the issues of migration.
The aim is to enable readers ‘to hear beyond the headlines to the voices of those who face the harsh realities of being a refugee’, writes General Secretary Lynn Green in the foreword.
‘As you listen to the different voices of these studies, and as you see the world through different cultural lenses, my prayer is that you would be hearing, seeing and following Jesus with them.’
There are nine contributors, and the resource has been edited by Israel Olofinjana, the Director for Centre for Missionaries from the Majority World, and Stephen Finamore, Principal of Bristol Baptist College.
Of the nine studies they said:
In every case we are hoping that people in our churches will want to relate the chosen Bible passages to stories of migration and their contemporary legacies. All of the stories demand a response from us.
Some invite us to become involved in practical action and evangelism, others ask us to campaign for justice. They all demand that we reflect and that we pray.
It is our hope that these studies will enable both individuals and groups of people within our churches to think about migration, a major issue in the contemporary world, in the light of the Word of God in the Bible.
Joe Kapolyo, Lead Minister of Edmonton Baptist Church, London, hopes Baptists will engage with Moving Stories. He said:
These studies will compel every one of us to think deeply about our attitudes to immigrants and especially those that cross the thresholds into our church buildings or live on our streets in our neighbourhoods.
I commend these studies to every believer and Bible study group in our family of churches with the hope that many refugees in this country will experience the warmth of the love of Christ through our costly and maybe sacrificial actions.
Baptist Times, 05/05/2017