“The state must assume its responsibility”, CDU leader Volker Kauder said in a guest article for the German newspaper “Welt am sonntag”. He praises Open Doors and encourages local churches to get more involved.

What basic ideas do members of churches in Europe need to know when relating to refugees who have gone through traumatic experiences? Marion Knell (Global Member Care Network) gives some insights.

“Christians should affect destinies, not just modify current circumstances”, says Jenn Brown, member of OneHope. The organisation develops programs and tools to contextualise the Bible for children in different cultures.

A Spanish evangelical church brought 3,500 pairs of shoes to a Croatian refugee camp. “People are relieved but also disappointed, they have not found the open arms they expected from Europe.”

How are traumatic experiences affecting refugees years after arriving to their destination? What can churches do? Marion Knell (Global Member Care and Redcliffe College) answers these and other questions.  

EEA encourages European evangelical community to pray for Turkish Christians reaching out to hungry refugees.

“The main challenge is that non-evangelical Europeans feel that the gospel has been tried and found insufficient, that it is too simplistic for a complex and sophisticated society”, says American missionary Steve Mann after working in Europe for 30 years.

“An agreement that would be tantamount to a blanket return of any foreigners to a third country is not consistent with European law”, representative says.

“Refugees need to learn the language, and how to survive in the society to which they arrived”, says Vimal Vimalasekaran, a former Tamil refugee. He now works among asylum seekers in Germany.

How should we integrate asylum seekers coming to Europe? Vimal Vimalasekaran (European Christian Mission) shares his story as a former refugee and gives answers.

‘Can we live up to the ideals we espouse?’ Doug Marshall  (working with refugees in Malta) commentates on five 2016 World Press Photo images.

Swiss Evangelical Alliance believes it is “a step in the wrong direction” to reduce public aid to developing countries to only 0.3% of GDP.

“Nobody is your friend, nobody can feel what you feel and what you have left behind you… you need ears that listen to you.” M. tells her story as a refugee.

The situation inside the ‘jungle’ of Calais is “chaotic”, admits Paul Sydnor (IAFR). Churches should understand the need to “offer a platform” for reconciliation between Christian and Muslim asylum seekers.

What has been happening in Calais in the last few months? What are the risks for the refugees living in these camps? What are churches doing to help? Paul Sydnor (International Association for Refugees) answers to some of the burning questions. 

The prestigious photography prize underlines the refugee crisis. See some of the best pictures.

After surviving her own journey, Zinash Witsel supports other people arriving to Europe. “I try and help them as best as I can, because I know how it feels to be a refugee.”

The 2016 Refugee Highway Partnership Europe roundtable in Catania (Italy) gathered more than 80 people from 17 countries. Participants shared experiences, ideas and resources to better serve refugees in their countries. 

Local church members “invite refugees to their homes, let their children get to know their children, show them where to get a discount on children’s clothes.” 

The Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) round tables gathered experts, Christian NGOs and church leaders in Catania to analyse the crisis Europe is facing and find ways to “offer integral help.”

Thousands of Syrians have left Aleppo, where 500 have died in Russian strikes, seeking refuge in Turkey. Meanwhile, EU has given Athens one month to improve conditions for asylum seekers

“In the camp I started a prayer meeting, and preached the gospel – a kind of refugee church with a lot of young people began.” Vimal Vimalasekaran now serves among asylum seekers in Germany. 

Around 26,000 unaccompanied children entered Europe last year. Most of them are targeted by criminal gangs. Some have been sexually exploited, Europol informed.

A 2012 UNHCR document by António Guterres already highlighted the central role faith-based organisations play in “making solutions sustainable by helping refugees integrate in their new communities.”

Roundtable meetings in Sicily will bring together experts, organisations serving refugees and churches. The Refugee Highway Partnership in Europe has been offering this platform to share resources and learn from each other for 13 consecutive years.