These reflections about refugee assistance arise from my experiences as general coordinator and missionary for the United Methodist Church serving in eastern Zaire (Congo) from 1994-1996. My unique and often ambiguous role among volunteers, aid agencies, mission boards and the local church assisting refugees from Rwanda and Burundi led to these observations of Christian partnership occurring in a troubled land at a troubled time.

Missions is messy—especially in refugee situations. Inherently, the existing status quo of social power and relationships is jarred by the occurrence of new players, circumstances, and resources. As Christians, we would like to believe that all of our entire efforts are for the benefit of refugees/IDPs—those most vulnerable and needy. Reality speaks differently. It is only honest to acknowledge that Christian partners and organizations are often self-serving and opportunistic. The foreign volunteers nobly exert outward sacrifice, inward guilt, and a quick return home; the relief agencies fly banners from roving trucks in hopes of another aid contract; the local church members jockey for employment and a slice of the pie; the mission boards demand photo opportunities and touching narratives; the refugees are lucky to glean the crumbs from under the table.  But somehow, God smiles on us all.

Faith groups manifest unique and fundamental strengths for every community, even in refugee situations. In the chaos and disorder of the moment, eight enduring strengths of congregations prevail:

•The power to accompany, to be physically present.
•The power to convene in large groups, small groups & across interests.
•The power to connect, to form human networks across which resources flow.
•The power to frame, to story, to set events and data in a meaningful context.
•The power to give sanctuary to programs, people, ideas and dialogue.
•The power to bless, forgive, and nurture hope amid its opposite.
•The power to pray, to mark the boundary between holy and human.
•The power to endure, to maintain a different sense of time and development.

(Deeply Woven Roots, Gunderson)

Christians working to assist refugees/IDP should remember these inherent strengths. We will never be the most glossy, efficient, or quickest responders to a crisis situation. Our global congregations and church structures need to realize that our optimal time to move into a refugee situation with resources and attention is often the very time when the media, other NGOs, and fast money move out. Our Christian strengths lie in developing the long-term structures, processes, consensus building, and partnerships necessary to weave together a better society. Christian aid should be available and in action for immediate relief efforts without forgetting our much stronger roles in social/political advocacy, promotion, behavioral change, long-term support, education and local leadership development.  

Working within the refugee context, here are some points to consider:

•What structure worked before the crisis? Try to maintain that structure.
•What will happen when you leave? Make the work sustainable.
•Look locally for resources first; you will be surprised what is available.
•Carefully determine leadership, not to undermine existing programs.
•Partner with other NGOs realizing that partnership takes effort.

John Wesley (Methodist founder) advocated a profound role for individual prayer, piousness, and salvation. Yet he maintained that Christianity was essentially a social religion. “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness” (Jackson, XIV, 321). Despite the pressures of immediate impulse, our refugee assistance and intervention needs to be aligned with our best Christian assets and strengths.