THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF REFUGEES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Tens of thousands of refugees from communist-oppressed lands in Southeast Asia are in critical need of help NOW. More than 50,000 have fled to Malaysia, 120,000 in Thailand. In the first nine months of 1978 40,000 people who had escaped from Vietnam in boats reached other lands. Multitudes of these refugees now confined to overcrowded camps, look for a further deliverance—one which will complete their exodus and take them to a land where they can move and work and live as free men.

These brave people hazarded everything and have faced death at every turn in order to seek refuge from the tyranny in their homelands. Many of their compatriots have perished in their flight. It has been estimated that from forty to sixty percent of those who have fled from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia by boat have drowned on their way to hoped–for freedom. It is quite likely that for every person who makes it safely to another land, at least two have died on the way from drowning or some other cause. While close to Vietnam, the refugees must seek to avoid gunfire from government vessels; on the sea some have been attacked by pirates and robbed, women have been raped, and men have been thrown overboard; at times meager supplies of food and drink have run out on the long and arduous voyage, and passengers have consequently died before reaching shore. When, after exposure to unimaginable hardship and peril, some have finally arrived in other lands, they have been repulsed and refused asylum. One ship with about 250 people aboard was pushed away by the natives and in the effort to make the difficult passage to the open sea it struck a sandbar, capsized and almost 200 of its passengers lost their lives.

The thousands of refugees who have made it to other lands and who presently are in teeming camps or who are still in unwelcome ships offshore, are in need of many things; but they especially need the warmth of Christian love and compassion; and they need to have that love translated into action NOW. If loving Christian hospitality is shown to them, and they are freed from t heir camps and their ships and brought to a land of liberty, not only will their own heroic flight from oppression be rewarded, but room will be made for others now denied refuge.

There are Christians among the refugees, and that means that Christ Himself is also among them. Stan Mooneyham puts it expressively in the title of a stirring article in World Vision (January, 1979, p. 23): “Jesus Slept on a Beach Last Night.” Our Lord did clearly identify Himself with His people in their needs and distresses: “. . . I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came unto me.” On being asked when He had been ministered to in these ways, He replied: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (see Matthew 25:31–46). If our storm–tossed, impoverished, unwanted brothers in Christ are calling to us for help, we must realize that it is not they alone who are calling, but our great God and Saviour is calling to us too. Pious words and good wishes for them are not enough –they need action and they need it NOW. Even as we read these words many may be dying, no longer capable of receiving help from us, no longer able to strive for earthly liberation. Truly the Scripture calls on us to act NOW in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord: “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15–16). And the words of the disciple whom Jesus loved likewise demand of us loving action: “. . . whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his heart against him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed. and in truth” (I John 3:17–18).

Yes, the Christian will be moved to help his fellow-Christians among the refugees. He does have a special responsibility for those of like precious faith; but his heart will go out also to the many nonChristians among them, and he will strive to help them too. He has been instructed by the apostle Paul (Gal. 6:10) that as he has opportunity, he should do good unto all men. Yes, the Christian is called upon to act, and the critical situation calls for action NOW.

WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW?

But what can be done? Much. Every church and every Christian can do something to help. Here are some of the things that can be done: I. CHURCHES, as well as other organizations, and even families can sponsor refugees. They can in effect extend Christian hospitality to them and help them to become self–supporting, productive members of a free society. With the obtaining of sponsorship, refugees are permitted to leave their boats and camps, and are flown to the sponsor’s country at no cost to him.

How does a church learn what sponsorship involves and how to go about sponsoring a family or individuals? Ordinarily the first thing to do is to get in touch with one of the eight or nine sponsoring agencies working with the United States Government. Among these agencies are the following:

World Relief Refugee Services (a division of the National Association of Evangelicals), P.O. Box WRC, Nyack, N.Y.10960 (914-353-0640). The director is T. Grady Mangham. This agency favors sponsorship by a local congregation. It finds that “the material, social, emotional and spiritual resources available through a group of sharing, caring Christians can provide an excellent climate in which the necessary adjustments can be made.” It will, however, work with families who wish to sponsor refugees, if the families have the endorsement of a local church. The services of this agency are not limited to affiliates of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Church World Service, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027 (212-870-2270). The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee works through this Service. For information about the Christian Reformed program, call 616-241-1691 and ask for Neil Molenaar.

HELP AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORS

The agencies mentioned above can offer much help to sponsors. Information about Government, Employment, and Educational services for refugees may be obtained by calling toll-free 800-424-0212 and 800-336-3040 (National Indo-Chinese Clearing House, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington, VA 22209).

II. WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO

There are very important things that every Christian can do to help the refugees. Among them are the following:

1. Prayer is essential. Even those who are impoverished themselves or institutionalized because of illness and infirmity can reach out with their prayers to the whole earth, including the crowded camps in Southeast Asia, and present their petitions to the Father of mercies and God of all comfort in the name of Him who has all power in heaven and in earth.

2. Members of churches that are sponsoring refugees can assume some of the responsibility. Gifts of money, food, clothing, furniture, bedding, and other needed items can be made, and professional and other services can be donated during the period of nearly total dependency.

3. Members of churches that are not now sponsoring refugees can inform the officers and members of their congregations about the critical need that exists and recommend appropriate action.

4. Contributions may be sent to churches that are sponsoring refugees.

5. Contributions can be sent, designated for refugee work, to denominational diaconal committees. The Committee on Diaconal Ministries of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church will be glad to transmit funds to churches and agencies which are helping refugees. Gifts for this purpose can be sent to that committee, in care of the Rev. Lester R. Bachman, 806 Dorsea Road, Lancaster, Pa. 17601.

6. Contributions can be sent to agencies that are helping refugees abroad as well as at home. For example, World Relief Refugee Services, P.O. Box WRC, Nyack, N.Y. 10960, is cooperating with evangelical missionaries in different countries in Southeast Asia in helping refugees. It is active in Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

7. Further information can be obtained through the Skilton House, 930 W. Olney Avenue, Phila., Pa. 19141 (215-WA4-2426). Arrangements can be made for talks and conferences about the work with refugees. If any questions remain as to what we all can do in this most urgent situation, please get in touch with us NOW.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES OF SPONSORS

Sponsors are not obligated to meet any of the needs of refugees until they arrive at a nearby airport. The sponsor will arrange to have the refugees met at the airport and will provide housing, furniture, bedding, clothing, food, and other necessities. Arrangements will have to be made for a physical examination, and assistance should be given in obtaining employment. At first the refugees, of course, will be very much dependent; but the aim should be to assist them to become self-sustaining at an early date. World Relief Refugee Services suggests that the needed help should be envisioned in three stages such as these:

1. Virtually complete support will be needed until the first paycheck comes.

2. After that, direct support can be reduced during the next few months while financial stability is being achieved.

3. Personal associations and emotional support should continue until the refugees have successfully adjusted to their new environment and have become capable of providing for their own needs.

Even when the refugees have become quite selfsustaining, a close bond should continue to unite them with those who have befriended them. Rewarding lifetime relationships may well be formed. Opportunities will of course arise for seeking to minister to their spiritual needs-for seeking to lead the non-Christians to the Lord and to assist the believers in their growth in the knowledge of the truth and in their Christian walk.

The financial obligations of sponsors vary, but it should be remarked that t hey are not always formidable. The Rev. Russell Stewart, pastor of the Church of the Redeemer in Philadelphia, who with Mrs. Stewart, is much experienced in helping refugees, reports that the total financial outlay for eight refugees has not exceeded fifteen hundred dollars; and that is not fifteen hundred apiece, but fifteen hundred dollars for all eight of them together. There is, however, no guarantee that some situations will not prove more demanding financially. But when we are trusting in Christ and are doing what He requires of us, we may expect Him to fulfil His exceeding great and precious promises. When our Lord is knocking at the door, we do not refuse Him admission because we are not sure exactly how much His stay with us will cost. Sometimes refugees can find employment in a few weeks. In the sponsorship arrangement it should be stipulated that the refugees should be willing to work at any suitable job that is found.

This article was sent us by John H. Skilton of Westminster Theological Seminary.