South African Methodists offer hope to refugees
Children gather at the preschool and child care
ministry of Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa.
They include refugees whose families have fled Zimbabwe and are being
served by the church's "Ray of Hope" ministry.
A UMNS photo by Faye Richardson.
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A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*
July 26, 2007
Refugees store their belongings in a room in the six-story downtown church. A UMNS photo by Emily Fisher.
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South African Methodists are offering a "ray of hope" to homeless asylum
seekers, refugees and displaced people crowding into the capital city
of Johannesburg.
At Central Methodist Mission, the refugees find shelter, food,
clothing, child care, counseling and employment assistance. The mission
accommodated some 900 in just the first three months of 2007, and an
average of 20 new people arrive each day — the majority from Zimbabwe.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief has assisted by providing
$25,000 in grants in the first half of 2007, according to David Sadoo,
an UMCOR executive. The grants are "keeping the lights on," he said, and
covering other infrastructure costs, "as well as supporting some of the
actual programs they have with the refugees."
More than 3,000 people have received services at the mission in the
past 15 months. "Since the end of the apartheid government, refugees
from all over Africa have sought safety and economic opportunity in
South Africa," according to a funding application to UMCOR from the
staff at Central Methodist Mission, led by Bishop Paul Verryn. "The
worsening situation in Zimbabwe, however, has created a near crisis
situation."
The South African government does not recognize Zimbabweans as
official refugees. "Individual Zimbabweans who seek to apply for
political asylum are confronted by excessive levels of bureaucracy,
often waiting more than nine months for their status to be assessed, as
well as high levels of corruption in the South African Department of
Home Affairs," the application states.
"While applying for refugee status, Zimbabweans are regularly
harassed by South African police, detained and often beaten. Like other
foreigners in Johannesburg, they are vulnerable to the growing levels of
xenophobia and violence against foreigners which are increasingly
prevalent in South African society."
Ray of Hope
Through the "Ray of Hope" project, the mission has managed to provide
temporary and safe accommodations for homeless asylum seekers, refugees
and displaced people; offer one substantial meal each day for temporary
residents; and provide food and supplies for infants whose mothers have
no financial support.
The project also ensures clean facilities for temporary residents,
access to clean water for drinking and washing, and an adequate supply
of basic medicines and supplies.
The Rev. Carleen Gerber, pastor of First Congregational Church of Old
Lyme, Conn., a United Church of Christ congregation, has witnessed the
amazing but difficult work at the Johannesburg church. First
Congregational has partnered with the Methodist Church of Southern
Africa for 20 years and helped Central Methodist make the connection
with UMCOR.
"We really have been so grateful for the level of support and the continuity of support that UMCOR has given," she said.
First Congregational has raised about $8,000 for the project. "We
knew that the refugee crisis had been brewing, and there were refugees
living in the building," Gerber explained. But it was not until she led a
congregational trip to Johannesburg in October 2006 that they "realized
the scope of the need."
The sheer numbers can be overwhelming — both for the church staff and
the physical plant itself. Central Methodist, for example, has six
toilets available for approximately 700 people staying there at any one
time. "The conditions are exceedingly difficult," she said.
"The people of Central Methodist are living the Gospel in a courageous way that should inspire each and every one of us."
- The Rev. Carleen Gerber
Circumstances have transformed the six-story, inner-city church into a
village, according to Gerber. The offices, classrooms and social
service spaces where the church’s regular programs operate during the
day are given over to the refugees in the evening. Everyone has communal
responsibilities, and attendance is required at nightly worship
services. Music and "wonderful fellowship" often follow, she noted.
Several of the bigger rooms are allotted to women and children and to
married couples. "The biggest number (of refugees) would be single
men," she said. "They may have left family behind. They are literally
sleeping all over the floors and the stairways and outside the
elevators."
Many of the refugees from Zimbabwe are teachers or other
professionals and some teach classes at the church. "They’re bright,
often highly educated people," Gerber said.
Living the Gospel
Specific programs at Central Methodist include:
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A pre-school and extended child care for 120 of the poorest
inner-city children, including many refugee children, along with an
infant care program for 20 children under age 2;
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A small legal aid clinic run by two college-educated refugees
from Zimbabwe who have been trained through Witwatersrand University’s
legal aid program. The clinic helps refugees who are trying to establish
legal status, have been arrested or are threatened with deportation;
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Basic literacy, numeracy and English language programs designed
to help refugees and displaced South Africans survive in a demanding
environment. The classes are organized and taught by three
college-educated refugees from Zimbabwe;
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A free clinic that operates two afternoons a week to provide
basic health care, counseling and referrals for patients who need more
advanced care. The clinic is run by two volunteer physicians, one South
African and one American.
Other Methodist churches in South Africa have provided financial
support to Central Methodist, which is working with various governmental
and international agencies "to obtain a building which can provide
temporary accommodation on a formal and permanent basis."
The efforts of Verryn and other staff at the mission made the front page of The New York Times in a June 23 article citing Central Methodist Mission’s refugee work. The Zimbabwean reported in 2006 that an "endless queue" of at least five people from Zimbabwe wait each day outside Verryn’s office.
Gerber said her congregation’s relationship with Central Methodist
has provided a teaching opportunity. "The people of Central Methodist
are living the Gospel in a courageous way that should inspire each and
every one of us," she said.
Donations to the Ray of Hope project can be made through UMCOR
Advance No. 982540, Global Refugee Response, and dropped in local church
collection plates or mailed directly to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New
York, NY 10087-9068. Credit card donations can be made online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982540&id=3019059 or by calling (800) 554-8583.
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
UMCOR
WCC statement on Zimbabwe
Methodist Church of Southern Africa |