Soul Survivor Watford’s Response to the Refugee Crisis


As a church family want to respond to and support the many thousands of refugees who have been impacted by the troubles in the Middle East. 

We have been in touch with the Mayor of Watford to find out what is happening locally. At the moment none of the Syrian refugees have entered the UK, we will however keep in touch with the local council to see how this progresses over the coming weeks. We want to support in other ways now and in the coming weeks.


What are we doing?
 

1. Give Financially

On Sunday 13th September all offerings from our 3 services were split equally between Tearfund and Open Doors. Amazingly our church family gave almost £10,000 to support those in need.

Tearfund are partnering with church groups in Europe, enabling them to offer care, support and aid to those that have already fled and are in huge need. For more information please visit their website www.tearfund.org

Opendoors supports Christian families forced to run from their homes who are now trapped in Iraq and Syria. They can't return home, work or provide food for their children. Now 19,000 families depend on Open Doors for food. For more information visit their website: www.opendoorsuk.org

We will continue to consider how we give and support refugees over the coming months.
 

2. Give Food

We have re-started the food bin! The Watford Food Bank provide food for Refugees in Watford as well as others in need and work closely with the Watford & Three Rivers Refugee Partnership
 
The following items are needed the most, please bring donations on Sunday to any of the services. 

The Food Bank require:

 

Non perishable food items with long use-by dates

  • Long life milk

  • Cereals

  • Tinned meat

  • Pasta sauce

  • Pasta

  • Rice (small packets preferred)

  • Instant Mashed potato

  • Sugar

  • Coffee

  • Shampoo

  • Clothes washing gel (preferred as it stores better)

  • Washing up liquid

  • Biscuits

  • Toiletries

  • Nappies

  • Baby food

 Tinned items

  • Soup

  • Vegetables

  • Spaghetti

  • Fish

  • Meat

  • Spaghetti

  • Fruit

  • Sponge puddings

  • Custard

 

We will maintain the weekly collection of items for the food bank and this will be part of our weekly offering.
 

3. Pray

Please continue to pray for the situation in the Middle East, that God would bring peace in this situation.

Over the coming weeks we will continue to pray about how we can help as a church family.
 
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25 ; 35 - 40