CCOW Guide to Online Study and Preaching Resources
Refugees & Forced Migration
Bible readings and Bible studies …
Baptist Union of Great Britain
http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/448817/Welcoming_the_Stranger.aspx
As noted above. Bible studies focus on Mary and Joseph, and ‘Strangers and Aliens’
Bible Society
Series of 4 Bible studies (2016) ‘Refugees and the Bible – Welcoming the stranger’, with short (1-2 minute) video introductions
Commitment for Life
http://www.urc.org.uk/images/mission/at_home_strange/Journeying_-_Bible_Study_and_Worship.pdf
Journeying Bible Study, including one of Elizabeth’s reflections from the Pilgrimage to Paris.
Singing the Faith Plus (Methodist)
http://www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk/?p=14384
An annotated list, explaining why passages have been selected and giving links to the actual readings.
USPG
https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/uspg/content/pages/documents/1594212911.pdf
‘Migration and Movement’ a six-week study course with Bible studies, stories and prayers.
Poems and other readings …
Brian Bilston
https://brianbilston.com/2016/03/23/refugees/
‘Reversible’ poem “Refugees”, which offers two perspectives on refugees and our response – a bottom-to-top reading challenging the attitudes found in a top-to-bottom reading
Write to Life
Freedom from Torture shares six poems reflecting a variety of person experiences depicting what it’s like to be a refugee. Four are by members of their Write to Life group for former and current clients, and two are by other authors – including Warsan Shire’s poem including the lines “no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark” and “no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”
Videos …
CAFOD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_P9huLYmS0
3 minute animation about forced migration, suitable for children, aimed at Catholics and encouraging supporting CAFOD to help refugees
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
2 minute video of three participants (a Catholic, a Quaker and a Presbyterian) on the CTBI visit to Mediterranean Hope refugee projects in Lampedusa and Sicily (2017).
Home for Good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MX9b1ldWpo
6 minute video (Jan 2018) by Dr. Krish Kandiah calling on Christians in the UK to welcome refugee children and young people in response to the war in Syria.
Inscape Animations
https://inscapeanimations.com/roots-inscape-animation.html
9 minute beautifully drawn, reflective and thought-provoking animation, on migration from the earliest times, refugees’ experience, what makes us secure and our common roots
Jesuit Refugee Service/Mercy in Motion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziz9a-2Zhvs
‘Open Minds, Unlock Potential’ 12 minute video in which refugees speak in their own words about their experiences, interspersed with words of theological reflection from Pope Francis.
Refugee Highway Partnership
https://rhpeurope.net/world-refugee-sunday
Nine diverse videos on the theme of refugees, between 1 and 45 minutes long, produced between 2016 and 2021 by different organisations – documentary, interview, Biblical teaching, introductory facts
Welcome Churches
https://welcomechurches.org/refugeesunday/resources
4 minute film produced for Refugee Sunday 2023 encouraging UK churches to welcome refugees. Hear from some refugees who have been welcomed by a local church, a pastor of such a church, and Welcome Churches Joint CEO.
UNHCR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvzZGplGbL8
Who is a Refugee? 3 minute animation video sutiable for age 12+
Theological resources to give background for preaching …
World Council of Churches
http://www.urc.org.uk/images/mission/at_home_strange/The_Other_Is_My_Neighbour_WCC.pdf
‘The Other Is My Neighbour: Developing an Ecumenical Response to Migration’ – theological reflection paper.
World Evangelical Alliance
‘Justice and Compassion: Responding to the Refugee Crisis in Europe’ – sets out some basic context (as of 2015) and offers theological reflection.