Liverpool #6 - A People Crisis, Not a Numbers Crisis
A People Crisis, Not a Numbers Crisis
“It is a ridiculous notion that we have to humanize humans.” Ewan Roberts, manager of Asylum Link Centre, reminded all of us of the danger of speaking of immigration, refugees, or asylum-seeking solely in terms of numbers. The numbers themselves are astounding and rising. In the UK in December 2021, there were 100,564 asylum claims pending initial decisions. Yet, this is not a numbers crisis, it is a people crisis. These are not abstract claims – they are 100,000 people waiting to hear something regarding their future. More than 100,000 men, women, and children waiting and wondering whether anyone is hearing them and their stories. More than 100,000 people whom God so loved wondering whether or not anyone cares.
People like Ashkan, whose wife and twin children are still in Iran. Ashkan does not know whether or not he will ever get to see them again. He worries about them constantly because his conversion to Christianity is well known back in Iran. Ashkan has been waiting for months to hear something regarding his asylum status. Yet while he waits, Ashkan can be found almost every day volunteering at Asylum Link Centre serving others who like him are waiting to hear something. Through things such as English classes, warm meals, temporary housing, bicycles, and activities like choir and table tennis that are offered through Asylum Link, Ashkan helps others to know that they are not alone. We are hearing and holding their story.
Negin, her husband, and two kids (the youngest being only four months old) are not numbers. They welcomed us into the hostel in which the government had placed them and shared their story with us. Amid the difficulties of their own lives, Negin volunteered her time teaching English classes at the church. Little did we know that the next day Negin and her family would receive notification that the government was moving them to another town. Moving them away from their church family, their friends, and the daycare they had just found for their kids. Negin’s family is still waiting to hear something about their asylum claim, but now they are being told they have to continue that waiting while starting over in a new city.
Shahram is not a number. Shahram was part of an unplanned divine appointment that we experienced today. Shahram had attended an English class that Negan held at the church, but Pastor Shapoor had only seen him that one time. However, today after leaving the meeting at Asylum Link, Shapoor wanted to show us one more of the hostels used for refugees. When we arrived, the gate was open so we walked in so Shapoor could point out the different buildings. From across the way, Shahram was walking out of one of the buildings and recognized Pastor Shapoor. They began to speak to one another, and it turns out that Shahram had received news that his mother back in Iran had a stroke. We gathered around Shahram, and Tom prayed for his mother.
This week we’ve only heard a small portion of the stories that need to be heard. Stories of men, women, and children whom God loves dearly. People whom God wants to love through the church. They are not numbers. They are faces. They are those whom God knows by name and who God has made known to us. Shapoor, Ashkan, Negan, Ahmed, Shahram, and many others whom we have been blessed to meet this week, are not numbers. Some are our brothers and sisters in Christ already, and others by the grace and power of God at work through the Holy Spirit will be one day soon.
Gratefully submitted,
Rev. Shawn Hevener
Pastor, Presbyterian Fellowship of Fountain Inn, SC
