For the first time in history, the number of people fleeing persecution, conflict and violence has reached 80 million. Many of them are being excluded and refused a welcome in their new environments. Refugee Highway Partnership in cooperation with the World Evangelical Alliance call Christians around the globe to stand by all these people on the run by jointly commemorating World Refugee Sunday on 20 or 27 June 2021.

Under the theme “Embrace”, this year’s World Refugee Sunday focuses on the Christian calling to embrace those excluded, just as Jesus received the excluded. For thousands of years, the leper community has been avoided by society (Leviticus 13:45-46), but Jesus didn´t shy away from hugging and healing them. When John´s disciples approached him to find out whether he was the one they had been waiting for, he replied, “Go back to John. Tell him what you have seen and heard. Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are healed. Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor.” (Luke 7:20-23) This same calling is for his disciples today, also in relation to other people excluded from society, such as refugees.

The initiative to recognize World Refugee Sunday was launched more than 10 years ago by Refugee Highway Partnership in cooperation with the World Evangelical Alliance to raise awareness and pray for the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons around the world. Since June 20 has been declared World Refugee Day by the United Nations, the Sunday before or immediately after that event was chosen for this purpose.

World Refugee Sunday reaches out to individuals and congregations around the world who are invited to join the initiative on either day by organizing a Refugee Sunday in their own congregation, youth group, Sunday school or small group. For this purpose, Refugee Highway Partnership provides various resources each year, such as ideas for sermons and materials for Sunday schools. However, each congregation or group is invited to be creative and design their own program.

Another valuable resource is the film The Peace Between. This video documentary explores how unlikely friendships can begin and continue to grow. Viewers meet three Europeans who have had displaced people come into their country and their lives, and the people who have traveled thousands of kilometers to seek refuge in Europe. These are friendships that grew in spite of huge differences. Along with the film, resources are provided, which were co-created by the EEA and aim at creating opportunities for honest reflection and discussion about how we all feel about displaced people in our communities. Subtitles and a discussion guide are available in about 20 different languages.

World Refugee Sunday provides a unique opportunity to relate to the millions of refugees and reflect together on how to respond as society, as a church, or as an individual. Are you in?

Find more information and material on this years World Refugee Sunday with Refugee Highway Partnership.