About This Ministry

The St. John’s Vancouver Refugee Committee works within the vision of the church as a community of contrast gripped by the gospel of God’s grace. We believe that God is moving the congregation forward to build long-term relationships with refugees. We expect the work of the Refugee Committee to be guided by prayer and to work within the direction and leadership of church clergy, staff and the trustees. We are guided by God’s commandment to love one another, and will wherever possible seek to invite and include refugees within the family of our Church, providing ‘open doors and clear paths’ as noted in St. John’s core goals.

The three streams of refugees that the Refugee Committee intends to support and walk beside include:

  • Refugees outside of Canada whom the Church will apply to sponsor and bring to Vancouver through the community sponsorship option

  • Refugee claimants within Canada and Greater Vancouver

  • Government sponsored refugees (GSRs) and other refugees already in Greater Vancouver.

The work of the Refugee Committee will also include partnering with outside organizations that support refugees and are compatible with the work of the church.

Ways To Help

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FINANCIAL

FINANCIAL

HEALTH

HEALTH

HOUSING

HOUSING

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

The St. John’s Vancouver Refugee Welcome Team

The Refugee Welcome Team’s purpose is to actively “walk alongside” displaced people who are here in Vancouver. It is this group, which currently numbers about eighty, that aims to befriend refugee claimant families on an ongoing basis.

People on the team are involved in many ways:

  • Spending time with displaced people

  • Organizing and attending social events

  • Visiting refugee families regularly

  • Helping find housing, schools, doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants

  • Donating their time and professional expertise

  • Assisting with job search and networking

  • Renting their suites out at below-market rates to refugees

  • Taking refugees on outings around the city and beyond

  • Inviting them to meals in their homes

  • Providing childcare

  • Helping with banking, credit cards budgeting, bill payment and smart shopping

  • Explaining and assisting with medical service cards, drivers’ licences, Compass cards, and other government and community services

  • Raising funds and awareness by participating in the Ride for Refuge

  • Donating to the Refugee Committee fund

  • Praying for refugees on their way to Vancouver and those already with us

Anyone is welcome to join the team! There is no specific commitment involved in joining. If interested, please email Jonathan Baylis, jonathan@baylis.ca, and give your name, location, email address, and phone number. He sends out regular email updates with invitations to events and meetings.

Refugee Outreach FAQ’S

Click the ‘+’ symbol to reveal the answer.

  • In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus redefines ‘neighbour’ as anyone that we see is in need. We are people of the word; the Bible calls God’s people to care for the displaced, sometimes called “sojourners.” Scripture assumes that sojourners are enfolded into our families and communities. Displacement has a long place in the history of God’s people, from Abraham to Joseph to Jesus himself. As followers of Jesus and a displaced people, this is our responsibility.

  • Yes! You can donate furniture or useful household items to the Homestart Foundation or the Helping Families in Need Society. These Vancouver-based organizations receive items and store them until they are needed. Occasionally, families that we know are setting up their homes or need particular items. When this occurs, we spread the word asking people to send photos of their available items so we can show them to the families.

  • You can donate online or mail in a cheque marked “Refugee Committee” to the church office. You can find the church office location here.

  • Yes. Our partner, the Journey Home Community, offers training periodically. From time to time, St. John’s sponsors a training day for parishioners and others. If you would like to attend a training workshop, please contact Owen Underhill or Jonathan Baylis.

  • 82.4 million people were displaced, 26.4 million are refugees, half of whom are under 18 - June 2021 (UNHCR)

  • A refugee is “a person who is outside of their home country or country where they normally live and fears returning to that country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.”

    - The UN Convention

  • In Canada, there are:

    • privately sponsored refugees

    • government assisted refugees

    • refugee claimants who flee their home country and declare their status when they arrive in Canada.

    St. John’s Vancouver is currently assisting refugee claimants and those whom we have sponsored privately.

  • Yes! We have partnerships with Kinbrace Refugee Housing and Support, Journey Home Community, Mennonite Central Committee and City of Refuge.