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Bundamba Corps reaches out to asylum seekers

15 January 2014
Bundamba Corps reaches out to asylum seekers

Asylum seekers like Reuben, and little Deea, have experienced such trauma and yet are full of laughter and joy. (Photo by Shairon Paterson)

With a focus on local asylum seekers, the Bundamba Corps is part of a growing outreach ministry that is changing the lives of everyone involved.

“People are embracing the asylum seekers where they’re at, and it’s engaging the whole corps,” says Captain Emma Johnson, Bundamba Corps Officer with her husband, Captain Ben, describing the Growing Home community development program the corps is running at nearby Riverview Farm.

“The program is organic, it’s growing and everyone is involved and learning together,” she says.

Growing Home is focused on building community and supporting asylum seekers living in the local area spiritually, emotionally and socially as they find their way in Australian society while their visa applications are being processed.

To help fund this and other community programs, the Bundamba Corps has taken over the Watch them Grow social enterprise nursery, also based at Riverview, with a view to both engaging the asylum seekers and making the business profitable.

“This is mission and community outreach for the corps,” says Joe Rule, volunteer coordinator from Bundamba Corps. “Everyone is behind it and participates.”

The Growing Home program runs every Tuesday and Thursday and includes English classes, pastoral care, volunteer work and training in the nursery, a community lunch, access to computers, and a game of cricket. Up to 40 asylum seekers attend the program on any given day.

The asylum seekers come mainly from Sri Lanka, Iran, Burma and Bangladesh and include men, women, and children. They have made the treacherous journey to Australia by boat as they flee the horrors of war and persecution to find peace, safety and a new life on our shores.

“We are so blessed to work with the asylum seekers,” says Captain Emma Johnson. “They have been through such trauma and yet are so full of laughter and joy.

“There is so much diversity among us, but we have so much in common as human beings and can all operate in the love of Christ.”

As with all community development programs at Bundamba, the focus is on linking the community back to the corps.

Many of the asylum seekers have shown an interest in coming to church. Regi, from Sri Lanka, was recently accepted as an adherent; Marie, from Liberia, who has been in Australia for many years, was also accepted as an adherent, and shared her harrowing experiences and amazing testimony with the corps.

“At some meetings we will have asylum seekers from different countries, and different religions too,” says Captain Ben Johnson.

“Some are just finding us; others are being invited. We’ve had Muslims and Hindus coming to our corps and being part of our community.”

Some of the asylum seekers’ children come to kids programs at the corps. The children and youth at Bundamba Corps play a big role in involving these children and helping them feel accepted and loved. Growing Home also ran a ‘Christianity explained’ session for the asylum seekers, with the help of translators.

“We don’t have any control over their destiny but we can introduce them to the one who does and will go with them wherever they go,” says Captain Emma Johnson. “Through Jesus we can give them freedom despite the social constructs and the circumstances they live within.

“Our corporate faith is growing thanks to these guys and what God is doing.”

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