Ministry Highlight: New Hope Community Services
“I would never wish the Mexican border crossing to anyone, but we had no choice. We crossed a river with my baby on my husband’s shoulders – the current was so strong that I thought we would be swept away. One week later, six people died in that same river crossing.”
Can you imagine living years of your life in hiding, afraid to go outside for fear of being hurt or threatened by soldiers? For Gabriela, one of our recent New Hope graduates, this was a daily reality. Gabriela and her family were hunted, threatened, and persecuted for years. With no options left, they were forced to leave the country. After a long journey, they finally arrived safely at New Hope, where they were welcomed to a home with clean beds and cabinets full of food. They were surrounded by a brand new community of people ready to support and encourage them as they began the next step of their journey in Canada. “I cried tears of joy for the blessing I found here.”
At New Hope, we hear incredible stories of resiliency and perseverance, and bear witness to the strength of the human spirit. During the 18 months our families live in our apartment building in Surrey, they undergo massive transitions, such as finding employment, starting school, and gaining new social connections, all while learning a brand new language and way of life.
In 2020, we had 81 residents from 11 different countries living together in community at New Hope. Even with increased restrictions, our community life thrived with regular activities like outdoor kids clubs and Zoom pizza parties. The fact that every one of our residents talks about New Hope as their “family” is proof that they have felt the love of the New Hope community this year. We are thankful to our church partners and volunteers for your support this year - through your support we could safely provide amazing events like pumpkin carving, outdoor movie nights, Christmas hampers, an Easter Egg Hunt, and craft activities on Zoom.
On Sunday, June 20th, we celebrate World Refugee Day and commemorate the strength and bravery of families, like Gabriela, who left everything behind in search of a better life. We invite your church or small group to use our World Refugee Day Prayer Guide as a prompt to learn more about the global refugee crisis and pray for refugees globally and locally.