Welsh Christians offer practical support for refugees
Source: anglicannews.org
[ACNS, by Gavin Drake] Christians in Wales have raised more than £20,000 GBP in their sponsored walk from Bethlehem to Egypt – the Welsh village and hamlet that share the names of their more famous counterparts. The funds will be used to support Christian Aid Cymru’s work with refugees and asylum seekers.
A representative from the British charity Embrace the Middle East explains the timeline of the Syrian conflict to Welsh Christians attending a #RefugeesWelcome conference last week in Llangollen.
As part of their 12-day 140-mile walk from Bethlehem in Carmarthenshire to Yr Aifft (Egypt) in Denbighshire, the walkers took part in a #RefugeesWelcome event in the north-Wales seaside-town of Llangollen where representatives from churches across Wales gathered to share experience and practical ideas for helping refugees.
Charities working to support refugees in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey joined British-based organisations distributing aid overseas and helping unaccompanied children settle in the UK to share experiences and ideas.
“So close to Christmas, I wondered how much interest there would be in this event,” the Revd Canon Carol Wardman, Bishops’ adviser for church and society in the Church in Wales, said. “I was pleased that 35 people came from all over Wales to learn more about the worldwide refugee crisis, and what is being done in Britain and especially in Wales to make people welcome. . .
“To see what is being done to help refugees all over the world was to see signs of the Kingdom of Heaven – as our closing worship encouraged us.”