With the spotlight on many humanitarian problems around the world, several Arctic communities are asking whether they can come to the help of refugees in need. Changes to Canadian legislation mean that any group of five citizens can sponsor a refugee, taking responsibility to find housing and a first job for the refugee to start working at upon arrival.

Any group of 5 Christians can now apply to do this, where it used to require the formal sponsorship of a registered charity.

One refugee family awaiting sponsorship are Isidore, Sandrine, Baho, and Bahati Gahiga, who were persecuted because of their language and fled their home in the Congo when attackers came, shooting guns and kidnapping women and children. Calling out to God in faith, a man in uniform offered to smuggle them out in exchange for money to buy cigarettes. They handed over their last $50 and, by grace, made it to a refugee camp across the border in Uganda.

While the Diocese itself cannot sponsor refugees, we will do what we can to support Arctic Anglicans who want to form a “Group of 5” and apply to rescue a family like Isidore and Sandrine. The Lord is good, and blesses us to be a blessing to others!