‘It’s our mission’: Inner-city church driven to help refugees

From its start in 2008, City Church set out to be intercultural. So, it was only natural the Maryland Street congregation would become involved in sponsoring refugees to come to Canada.

“It’s our mission,” said Tim Nielson, minister at the church that serves about 350 people from around the world and conducts services in the Chin, Karen, Punjab and Dari languages.

“Right from the beginning, we have been interested in helping refugees.”

The church started Naomi House in 2017 to help refugees immigrate. Along with providing various services when they arrive, the ministry provides housing while newcomers get settled.

The church was approved in 2020 as a sponsorship agreement holder with the Canadian government to help bring refugees here. Since then, Naomi House has sponsored 489 newcomers from 24 countries.

One, a 35-year-old man, had to leave Iran after converting from Islam to Christianity.

“It’s very dangerous to change your religion in Iran,” said the man, who requested anonymity, adding some of his friends who became Christians were jailed. “Nobody knows what happened to them.”

To avoid the same fate, he fled to Turkey, where he lived for 10 years before finding refuge in Canada through Naomi House in 2022. He lived there for a year before he was able to get his own apartment.

He expressed gratitude for the help Naomi House provided in learning about living in Canada, including the language and culture and assistance finding a job.

“I really appreciate the kindness and love they have shown to me,” he said. “They gave me an opportunity to live a new life. I’m really happy to be in Winnipeg. Every day, I thank God for that.”

A 34-year-old man arrived in Winnipeg a year ago with help from Naomi House after fleeing Eritrea to avoid forced conscription into the military.

“Everything is better here,” said the man, who also did not want to be identified, noting he was detained, beaten and imprisoned for trying to flee.

“I am grateful for everything Naomi House has done for me.”

“It’s heavy work, hearing those stories, but also joyful when we can help someone find a new life here.”

Stories such as those are why City Church is involved in refugee sponsorship, said Candace Loewen, who directs the sponsorship program at Naomi House.

“It’s heavy work, hearing those stories, but also joyful when we can help someone find a new life here,” she said.

Staff members help newcomers learn English, apply for a social insurance number and a Manitoba Health card, open a bank account, learn how to use public transit, find work and, generally, become acclimated to life in Winnipeg.

“We walk with them for a while until they can go out on their own,” Loewen said.

Noting there is growing public sentiment against immigration, Loewen is concerned some Canadians may want to blame newcomers for various issues, including the shortage of affordable housing.

“These are people who have nowhere to go. They can’t stay in their home countries,” she said, adding the housing challenges aren’t their fault. “We shouldn’t be blaming the most needy. They are not the problem.”

Helping Canadians understand the plight of refugees has led Naomi House to hold interactive refugee experiences, the most recent of which was in Kildonan Park Sept. 20.

Spread over 45 tables, visitors could decide whether to flee a country or move to a safer town within that country. The goal was to help Winnipeggers understand the challenges people face on what the organization called the “refugee highway.”

Events such as that enable people to “hear their stories and learn about the realities refugees face,” Loewen said.

Loewen said she is also concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the future of Canada’s refugee program. The number of people Naomi House can sponsor was reduced from 119 in 2024 to 90 this year.

“We are called as Christians to care for the poor, the vulnerable and the stranger.”

“There are rumblings it might be reduced again next year,” she said, noting Naomi House has more than 300 people in a queue waiting to come to Canada.

Despite the challenges, she remains committed to helping refugees.

“It’s written all through the Bible to love our neighbours,” she said. “These are our neighbours.”

Nielsen agreed.

“We are called as Christians to care for the poor, the vulnerable and the stranger,” he said.

“Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. Loving and caring for them is what it means to be a follower of Christ.”

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