ECSR National Conference 2007

Refugee Integration –‘reality check’ 
8-9th September 2007
University of Sheffield

                     

ECSR held its second national conference in September 2007. The conference planning team worked hard on the publicity, organisation and finances to make this conference a reality. The first day saw 120 delegates attend while 90 delegates attended on the second day. Delegates came from all over the UK and one of the main feedbacks was the unique opportunity to meet other Christians working with asylum seekers and refugees. It was an inspiring time of listening, sharing and encouraging one another.

The conference looked at three main aspects: Right Receiving, Relevant Reach Out, and Real Integration.

                                

Bishop John Packer opened the conference with prayer on Saturday and later went on to give an excellent key note speech on the Biblical basis of hospitality (right receiving). In the afternoon Steve Bell shared from his many years of experience on the cultural aspects of reaching out to others.

Marco Vermin from Netherlands closed the first day with a thought provoking talk on being Jesus to refugees amongst us and the importance to reach out.

 

 

                       

On Saturday evening there was wonderful celebration of cultures through an evening concert led by four Christian refugee communities from Liberia, Burma, Eritrea and Congo. This was a real highlight and was well received by everyone. One delegate remarked 'It was like looking forward to what heaven might be!'

The second day began with a short morning service led by Rev John Hartley who looked at the parable of the Good Samaritan. Later that morning, Rev Hugh Osgood shared what it means to works towards real integration within our churches and communities.

There were fifteen seminar topics through out the two days. The seminar sessions looking at Destitution, Detention, Refugee Children, Evangelism, Cross Cultural challenges, Befriending plus many other key topics were addressed.             

               

               

There was also time for people to network with others from their regions, pray for various language groups and to view 20 display stands.

                  

ECSR is very grateful to all the speakers at the conference who shared their time and resources. We also thank all the delegates who took time off to be with us.

All the speaker notes/ presentations can be downloaded: Conference Speaker Notes 

                       

                                           ECSR, October 2007

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