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Greetings!
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 The IAFR Report is the e-newsletter of the International Association for Refugees, a non-profit ministry serving refugees with the aim of affirming dignity, inspiring hope, encouraging faith and improving the quality of their lives. IAFR celebrates its first anniversary in June! Thanks to everyone who has encouraged and supported IAFR in prayer and partnership this past year! -Tom Albinson, President |
The Highway to Rome
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Refugees in Rome  | Rome remains one of the world's most significant crossroads along the Refugee Highway.
Refugees from North, East and Central Africa reach Italy by crossing the Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea. Refugees from Central and East Asia, and the Middle East, converge on Rome via Turkey and Greece.
Ministry in such a context can be overwhelming. It's easy to lose heart.
In May, Tom Albinson visited one of the few ministries serving refugees in Rome. It was a good opportunity to offer encouragement and consultation - and to seek God's direction and provision together.
Tom was also able to reconnect with a Somali friend, Hasan. They first met when Tom was researching Italy in 2004. They have remained friends ever since.
Hasan is well connected when it comes to the refugee scene in the city and is eager to open strategic doors for the ministry. We thank God for him.
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A Lonely Crossroad - Calais, France
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Refugees in Calais  | A year ago, In Calais, France, the French government forced out hundreds of refugees who had been living in a wooded area near the city known as "the jungle".
Paul Sydnor, IAFR EU Regional Leader, recently spoke with a local pastor in Dunkirk (France) about the refugee situation in the region.
He told Paul that after the "jungle" was closed down, many of the refugees broke up into smaller groups and began living near rest stops along the highway between Calais and Dunkirk.
The refugees did not go away when the police forced them out. They simply formed smaller groups and are now more spread out in the area.
Most are hoping for a chance to smuggle themselves across the English Channel in the back of a truck. They'll do anything in their pursuit of a better life.
It's a hopeless dead end for most of these refugees. The small church in Dunkirk would like to reach out in some way. It's not easy to know where to begin.
IAFR is there to help them explore how they can respond to the refugees on Calais' lonely crossroad of the Refugee Highway.
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International Refugee Round Table - Ephesus, Turkey |
Ancient Ephesus today  | IAFR President, Tom Albinson, facilitated two strategic refugee round table discussions in Turkey on behalf of the Refugee Highway Partnership in May.
The first brought together Christian leaders from the Middle East to explore the possibilities of partnering together in ministry among refugees in the region.
The second round table included Christian leaders from Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Two significant commitments came out of the gathering.
- A commitment to establish an international refugee prayer network.
- A commitment to create a global refugee referral database to help us better serve displaced people as they trek the Highway in search of refuge.
IAFR considers it a privilege to have a role in bringing leaders together from around the world to consider what we can do together that we could not do on our own. |
