Charley Warner
“Refugees in Europe―a Fence or a Bridge?” was the subject of the European Evangelical Mission Association (EEMA) conference (www.europeanema. org) held in Bucharest, Romania, 21-24 June 2016. Conference topics included the source, transit, and final destination of refugees to Europe, as well as the ways in which Christian ministries assist them. Presenters came not only from Europe but also from Syria, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and South Sudan. While the program focused on Western Europe’s reception of refugees from Africa and the Middle East, some sessions also addressed ministry to refugees in Central and Eastern Europe. Martin Lee, Executive Director of Global Connections in the United Kingdom, helped participants better understand the historical and legal definitions of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to current international law, IDPs are not officially designated as refugees. This fact plays an important role in the international community’s lack of understanding of IDPs in Ukraine and Russia as a result of the war in eastern Ukraine. It is estimated that over 1.5 million people are IDPs in Ukraine, with possibly another 200,000 in Russia. Fortunately, Ukrainian evangelical and other churches are playing a major role in caring for these IDPs.
Hungary historically has been hostile to refugees within its borders. However, this is beginning to change. Matthew Paschall helps to coordinate the City Network for Refugee Ministries in Budapest, Hungary, a network of 20 ministries and local churches working together with the Hungarian Evangelical Alliance to minister to refugees. This network, which Paschall describes as “comparable to a medical triage,” not only ministers to those in refugee camps and detention centers, but also trains Hungarian pastors and other Christians to minister to refugees.
Kari Tassia’s presentation on the Refugee Highway Network (RHN) described this NGO’s work in linking various refugee ministries along the journey from refugees’ home countries to their new places of residence. The next RHN Roundtable will be 6-10 February 2017, in Budapest, Hungary. The Roundtable’s goal is to aid churches in Central Europe in building bridges of hope instead of fences of exclusion.
Charley Warner is a missionary serving with Barnabas International in Central Europe and Eurasia. He was a member of the board of EEMA from 2009 to 2013.