Gave - Church and Refugee

In recent years, the Netherlands received thousands of asylum seekers from countries like Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, Iran, Sudan, Angolesa, Armenia, Sierra Leone, and so on. They have often left behind a painful life of political repression, civil war and poverty, but still face an uncertain future. God wants us to love the strangers and it is Gave's desire to help the Church in The Netherlands and abroad to fulfil a threefold task:

Preaching the Gospel

Many asylum seekers come from predominantly Muslim countries. In most of these countries they are not free to hear the Gospel, but their move to a Western country offers unprecedented possibilities for the Christian Church. Here they have freedom to hear about the Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is wonderful when a Muslim meets Jesus and can witness of Him to his own people.

Welcoming refugees in the Church

The life of asylum seekers is full of uncertainty and loneliness. The Christian Church in particular can offer the warmth of a community that cares for the widow, orphan and stranger — a community that offers the comfort asylum seekers need.

Meeting practical needs of refugees

Many asylum seekers face practical problems in addition to psychological and pastoral needs. The Christian Church can help in various ways, ranging from the donation of second-hand clothes to the teaching of language skills. Sometimes one may offer shelter to asylum seekers in critical circumstances, e.g. when someone is refused accommodation by the government and ends up in the streets.

Vision, Mission and Strategy

Gave brings together Church and refugee, in order that they may follow Christ together. It is our aim that all refugees who come to the Netherlands will be introduced to the gospel in a language that they understand. To this end, Gave provides intensive assistance, advice and resources , enabling churches to start outreach to refugees and to develop good working structures.

Gave - The Netherlands

Volunteers co-ordinator

Gave employs volunteers co-ordinators who live in the vicinity of a reception centre and can network with the churches and other organisations in the area. He supports the Christian volunteers who visit asylum seekers in the reception centre or organise various activities. He also facilitates the training of the volunteers in co-operation with the local inter-church workgroup. 

Training and resources

Gave employs specialists who provide training and resources for children’s work, youth work, women’s work, Bible study and personal visits to refugees. When local churches near a reception centre want to start a new ministry, Gave can provide an appropriate training course and will coach the volunteers until the work has been consolidated. After that the volunteers co-coordinator or the local workgroup can invite a specialist for further training and advice.

Language teams

In addition to the specialists, Gave employs language teams that organise fellowships, Bible study groups, cell groups, or conferences for one specific language group. At present there are teams for Arabic speaking people, Kurds, and Somalis. One worker specializes in outreach to Afghan and Farsi people (from Iran). There are activities for other language groups also.

Service Desk

All Gave workers and volunteers can ‘phone and e-mail the service desk with their various questions. Just a small sample of the questions we receive:

  • An asylum seeker moves to another part of The Netherlands; do you know a church that can contact him?
  • An asylum seeker has to return to Cameroon; do you know Christians who can assist him when he goes back? 
  • How can I set up a children’s club at the reception centre? 
  •  A Farsi man who became a Christian in The Netherlands has to return to Iran, what can I do for him?
  • Where can I buy Arabic Bible study materials?
  • A refugee may not stay in the Netherlands but is refused entrance to his home country also. He is now homeless and has nowhere to go. How can I help him?

In all cases, the service desk has an answer or will find an answer!

Courses

  • Church and Refugee
  • Pastoral Care for Refugees
  • Bible studies with Refugees
  • Activities for young Refugees

Resourcers

A number of resources are available in an English translation in word or pdf, free of charge for those who live abroad. Please ask the servicedesk if you would like a copy.

  • Course syllabus Church and Refugee  (available in word)
  • Course syllabus Pastoral Care for Refugees  (available in word)
  • Training manual for youth work among Refugees 
  • Practical ideas for working with refugees  (available in word)
  • Multilingual songbook  (available in pdf)
  • Training manual for Bible studies with Refugees 
  • Lesson outlines for Christian primary education

Multicultural youth camps

Every summer Gave organises multicultural youth camps for all asylum seekers youngsters and Dutch Christian youngsters. There are small Bible studies groups, sport activities, and opportunities to experience the various cultures. The aim: young people from different parts of the world meet each other and get to know God.

Children camps

Gave is in cooperation with YOY and Wegwijzer (Dutch children camp organization) in placing asylum seekers children in YOY-children camps. During the camp weeks the children hear the Gospel in a creative way.

Electronic newsletter

Gave publishes an e-mail newsletter for people who are in touch with asylum seekers. The newsletter informs about activities where asylum seekers can be invited, such as Armenian praise evenings, conferences for Iranians, and Bible school for foreigners.

Annual conference

Gave organizes an annual day conference for the encouragement and support of Christians who are in touch with asylum seekers.

Gave - international

Gave offers support to Christians in other parts of the world, using our experiences in The Netherlands. In recent years, a former Gave employee started a similar work in Belgium that is now known as Gave Veste. Also, various resources were translated, e.g.:

  • Practical ideas for working with refugees (translated into English, German and Danish);
  • Course syllabus Church and Refugee (translated into English, French and German; the chapter about the legal procedure has been omitted, because that differs per country);
  • Course syllabus Pastoral care for Refugees (translated in English);

  • Multilingual songbook (translated into English).

Cooperative agreements

Gave participates in the opent in een nieuw venster Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) as co-ordinator of the European activities. The RHP was founded by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), where various organizations share their knowledge and experience.

History

The name Gave used to be a Dutch acronym meaning 'Gastvrijheid aan Asielzoekers door Vriendschap en Evangelisatie (Hospitality to Asylum seekers through Friendship and Evangelism).
In 1992, a small group of young Christians reflected on the Biblical commission of proclaiming the gospel and providing hospitality to strangers. Traditionally, missionaries take God's Word abroad, but in recent times many foreigners move to our country. These young Christians were convinced that God was opening a door for the proclamation of His Word to these people. There was a niche to be filled, because many refugees were not being reached by the gospel. In many places, Churches were in an apparent need of help and advice in this area.
This group of young people felt this as a burden from the Lord and they formed a working group. Thanks to their many contacts, this evolved into the interdenominational organisation Stichting Gave within a few years time. The work has grown ever since. Nowadays, Gave employs about ten full-time workers and twenty-five part-time workers.