Events around the world over the past couple of weeks have brought back memories to many of us.  Some very good memories about how we treasure our heritage, our sense of belonging to a community that values taking care of each other and standing up for each other.  However, it has also brought back some very difficult and painful ones.

For the past 36 years, I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked where I am from – the latest one being just before the lockdown due to COVID-19.  The question is no doubt because I have a “yellow” skin and thus, I am automatically someone not belonging here even though I have an Australian Passport and has been here for more than I have ever been in any other country.

Unfortunately, I have also not been immune from that question in Churches as well.  How about the situation where we started to attend a Church and for several months, no one was interested in us until we invited one of the Church leaders for lunch at our place and he saw my Theological books on my bookshelves.  He was interested in why I had those books and when I told him that I was studying at a Bible College, I was shortly afterwards placed on the preaching roster.

Sad to say, but often we are judged not according to what we can offer in our service to Christ, not according to the gifts, skills and talents that God has given to us.  It is simply assumed that we are inferior because of the colour of our skin.  Just look around the congregation in your Church.  Most will have a sizeable proportion of members who are from a non-Anglo background – yet, how many are part of the leadership team?  Does it mean we are not capable of leading God’s people or performing other leadership role within the Church?

For more than 20 years now, I have been involved in the role of supporting LOTE (Language Other Than English) Churches.  Over the years, the most common comment that has come across is along the line of: “why is it that LOTE Churches have more problems?”  Is that really the case?  Or, is it the assumption that because it is a LOTE Church and thus, it must have more problems.

I really feel for my brothers and sisters coming here to settle as refugees.  I have had more opportunities than them, I have been more privileged than them and I have had more possibilities to prove my worth than them.  What chance do they have to escape such constant bombarding of unnecessary comments?  How do they feel when they are asked questions indicating that they do not belong here? 

Yet, the word refuge has the meaning of shelter or protection from danger or distress.  That’s not just what the word refuge means in the Bible but is also how it is defined in secular dictionaries. Yet, as believers, we struggle to provide that shelter or protection to those in such great need after enduring so much hardship. 

Has it ever crossed our minds that many refugees in our LOTE Churches have come here through refugee camps where the most basic of necessities are inexistent – no certainty of fresh water or even food on the table every day, no means of getting a decent education, no possibility of having a job to provide for the needs of the family and definitely no possible dreams of a future.

How about the daily harassment of government soldiers heavily armed to intimidate you to provide information so that they can capture someone close to you?  How about them burning all sources of food around your village so that you either starve to death or give them what they want – even information that can cost lives – so that they will leave you alone for a couple of days?

How about when they finally see some light at the end of the tunnel – when they are given a visa to settle in this country – only to find that they are made to feel that they do not belong here?  They are constantly asked where they are from when their only wish is to be able to forget what happened in those refugee camps, the hardship and suffering they went through from where they came from.  How about being unable to get a job because they have not had the opportunity to learn English and thus, cannot express themselves properly in interviews? 

Perhaps, this plea from Paul writing to Philemon, the owner of Onesimus the slave, may help us to change our attitude and see each other not through the colour of our skin but as brothers and sisters in Christ:

¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon 15-16, NIV)

The words of Martin Luther King still inspire hope: “I have a dream”- that one day, we will be able to say what Paul is saying here – You are very dear to me both as a fellow human and as a brother or sister in the Lord. I have a dream.

Rev Marc Chan

Multicultural Consultant

The beginning of 2020 was filled with excitement for the leaders and members of the Westgate Karen Baptist Community Church (WKBCC).  The church’s 20^th anniversary was coming up along with two weddings. The church anniversary was planned to be a large event held at a conference centre with over 500 expected to attend and speakers invited from overseas.

Sadly, COVID-19 restrictions meant cancellation of these plans. One of the weddings was conducted with just a few guests and the other was postponed. Expectations of how the year had been planned for the church were suddenly very different.

Howevery, the church did not lose hope! As the Apostle Paul describes, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8, NRSV). I thank God for the way our leaders have been able to adapt to the changes during this challenging time.

When the first government meeting restrictions were announced, our Sunday service on 22^nd March was held in the church building just with our worship team and camera crew who broadcast live through Facebook. When Stage 3 restrictions were announced, our leaders had to adapt again, this time to using Zoom for church services. Initially, this was difficult for our church community as many were not familiar with digital technology. Before the first Zoom Sunday service, my wife, our Church secretary and pianist contacted families to help them download and log into Zoom. On 29^th March, at our first Zoom Sunday service, over 250 including children joined online!

On 5^th April, 2020, our Church 20^th anniversary was held via Zoom, with 80 devices in use and over 300 people joining in the celebration which included church members from Hamilton Victoria, Perth and the US. While we missed the opportunity to gather in person and feast together, it was nonetheless a significant event in the history of our church, one we will remember for a long time to come!

Since then, we have increased our church services from three on a Sunday and a mid-week prayer service to online services every evening. Numbers have increased during this time, from children right up to our older members. In fact, more of our older people are attending on Zoom than they were able to in person due to their age. Church members are enjoying the opportunity to chat to one another by Zoom before and after the services, helping them feel connected and less isolated. The church is also having 24 hours of prayer each weekend from Saturday evening to Sunday evening and this time is spent in prayer for all those affected by COVID-19.

In every circumstance, I thank God for guiding us throughout our church’s journey over these past months. May His name be glorified.

Pastor Ner Dah
Westgate Karen Baptist Community Church

Did you know? The BUV family comprises of over 100 LOTE (Languages other than English) faith communities and many of them are from refugee and migrant churches. As a Union, we’ve been inspired and challenged by many of their stories of struggle and overcoming to create a new life here in Australia.

Despite having experienced a great deal of hardship, when the Bushfires hit our state (and beyond) just a few months ago, many of these churches gave generously to the BUV Bushfire Appeal.  We asked a couple of them to share with us why they were inspired to give so sacrificially.

Here’s what they told us:

“We are so grateful to the people and Government of Australia, we feel safe and at home here. It was sad for us to see this tragedy and we wanted to give something back.” said Rev Si Kiah of Lutuv Baptist Church. Many of his congregation members were refugees from Myanmar.

Compassion Christian Church members visited Lakes Entrace to show their support after the bushfires earlier this year.

“Australia has been good to us, so we wanted to give something tangible in return” Pastor Denzil Vethamanikam of Compassion Christian Church (with mainly migrants from Sri Lanka) told us. Just prior to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Pastor Denzil also mobilised a two-night trip,  for about 20 people to East Gippsland to visit churches as well as visiting the local cafes, restaurants and accommodation sites to assist them financially. Their story was featured here.

The sentiment of a grateful heart was echoed by many other LOTE churches. Pastor Christopher from Melbourne Karenni Baptist Community Church Inc went above and beyond to collect donations not only from his church but also from Karenni churches in Australia. He and his family personally visited the BUV hub twice to deliver these donations.

Because of these sacrificial acts of giving from our Baptist family, many people around Victoria have been helped and are extremely grateful  – grateful for the giving and also grateful for the work that the BUV are doing in response to the Bushfires. This is made possible by the many; the many who were capable to give and the many who wanted to give sacrificially as an expression of gratitude for the lives they are able to live here in this country and state.

Some of the hardships that are rare to us here in Australia are not uncommon to our refugee communities.  In the midst of upheavals such as the Bushfires, COVID-19, and even most recently,  BLM, their voices and actions are inspiring to all and we are grateful to be able to be ‘better together’.

During Refugee Week (Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June) we will share with you some inspiring stories from our refugee communities. Some of these families started their journeys supported by the BUV Refugee Airfare/ Car Assistance Loan Scheme (RAALS) and today, they are growing and flourishing as people of God with stories to tell.

Story of Pa Ling T

"My name is Pa Ling T of Chin Baptist Church. I am married and have one child. We were Chin refugees in India fleeing the Myanmar army's persecution and were resettled in Australia under the Community Pilot Program in 2017. I got a job four days after my arrival in Australia but I did not have a car or a driving license. I depended on friends to drive me to and from work. I also relied on friends to take us for my daughter's ongoing medical appointments.

My wife and I always felt guilty about being a burden to our friends. When these friends moved to their new home, they could no longer drive us around and I felt really helpless.

Around that time, I received good news that my application for the BUV’s RAALS Car Loan was approved. I felt that my burden was lifted.

My wife and I now feel confident as a happy independent family. We no longer feel guilty being a burden to our friends.

Our family express our heartfelt thanks to God and the provision of RAALS. We feel welcomed and feel like Australia is home and we are part of the Australian community."

Story of Sui Cung S

Sui Cung S and his family arrived one and a half years ago from Burma. They are active members of Melbourne Chin Church and Sui Cung is a Sunday school teacher. One day, his social worker informed him that he had not been successful in being employed because he didn’t have a car. Through the church, BUV provided a RAALS car loan to Sui Cung and he now has a job and can support his young family and also others within their community who are going through a tough time.

About the BUV Refugee Airfare/ Car Assistance Loan Scheme (RAALS)

RAALS was first setup with a gift from Canterbury Baptist church by a committee of concerned Baptist members in 2003. Over the years, other churches and individuals (including many from our Languages Other Than English-speaking communities) provided loans and donations to the RAALS. These loans are interest-free and are repayable within a two year period. All repayments go back into a revolving pool of funds for future loans.

The first people assisted by RAALS were refugees from the Sudanese civil war. These South Sudanese Baptist families were separated from the rest of their family members who were still in refugee camps. Over the years, persecuted Chin and Karen people of Burma, who were granted refugee status by the United Nations, were supported with airfares loans to come to Australia.

Within a few years, RAALS expanded from providing just airfare loans to also providing car loans. Car loans are welcomed by many new refugees and offer great practical assistance to them settling in Australia.

Since 2003, RAALS has brought over 120 families from refugee camps to Australia. Last year, the scheme provided 12 car loans and four airfare loans to support BUV refugee church communities.

RAALS continues to provide assistance to refugees and the BUV is very grateful to many Baptist churches and individuals for ongoing donations. Each of these families supported by RAALS has an inspiring story to share. Many are giving back to their communities and helping others who are going through a tough time. It’s amazing how a small provision of loan can help new arrivals grow and flourish as people of God.

If you wish to support the BUV RAALS, please donate via direct debit:

BSB: 704-922
Account: 100007181
Name: BUV RAALS Gift

All donations to RAALS are tax deductible.
For further information on how to help, please contact Multicultural consultant, Meewon Yang

Yes I just used hyperbole to grab your attention – but it is true.  We know some people have really struggled being “stuck” at home, and our campers kept expressing their frustration at missing out on camp.  It’s crazy just how much camping is a highlight of the year for many people from school kids, to church families and youth.  People need and rely on those incredible times of connection, community and encouragement. 

So, as an organization, we began brainstorming how we could help our valued camping community in ISO to adjust to not camping by giving the people an online portion of what they are missing.  We came up with a plan to offer daily content that would bring joy-filled memories, as well as practical things to do at home. Here are some of our specifics:

On Sundays, we have started dropping video segments of “Cowboy Chapel”.  Shot in the historic 1888 chapel out at Milly Valley Ranch, we go through our famous kid’s songs that have been sung for generations.  The team run through the actions for those who are unfamiliar, then invite you to join them in the shenanigans.  We finish by explaining what the song really means and why we love to sing it. 

Cowboy Chapel has been a huge hit with our online community with many tagging each other in posts as they reminisce old times. A parent who used to come and camp as a kid commented
 “So great to be able to share this with my kids now… they loved it.” 

Another parent from a recent family camp said: “The kids and I are still singing the songs from the Family Camp in March – so glad we got to have a fun weekend before all this isolation business.  The kids talk about it all the time and can’t wait to come back…Oh and “I Just Wanna Be a Sheep” is the catchiest song ever – it stays in your head for weeks!”   and another said  “Miss these days, memories and songs at the Ranch.  So grateful to be able to hear them again and straight from the chapel… lovely to see familiar faces and hope there is more to come 😊.”  

“Testimony Tuesdays” are where we shine a spotlight on some of our incredible “Vollies”, staff and campers.  We hear their stories of connection and transformation through their involvement with Baptist Camping over the years.  Many, having come as campers themselves, continue to come back and serve or sponsor other campers because of the impact camping had on their lives.

On “Throwback Thursday” we take a pictorial trip down memory lane celebrating some of the best and most memorable moments of the organisation’s 70+ year history.  For most people, camping holds some of the most unique and rich experiences of our life.  By putting up these nostalgic and momentous occasions, we are seeking to help people reconnect with their own special camping moments and spiritual highlights.  People have gone crazy tagging each other in posts of old photos which has reconnected many people who were important in their past.

Finally, on Fridays we are putting up short videos for teachers, parents and kids of the fun, initiative camp games that you can do at home.  With the current health crisis forcing us to bunker down with just our immediate family, we have all become aware of the precious gift that family is – in whatever capacity you refer to your family.  Games done together create connection, fun and memories, so keep an eye out for Friday fun games you can do at home with your family too. 

It is a privilege to put up content that is triggering such happy memories and experiences for people during this time.

If the easing of restrictions keeps its trajectory, we are hoping to be back in operation and running camps by the July school holidays – maybe wishful thinking, but were as keen as mustard to be back. If the timeline changes, we’ll let you know –keep checking in on our social media for more updates, activities, songs and trips down memory lane.  

Thanks and stay having fun!

Steve and the team at Baptist Camping Victoria.

Want to hear the songs and see the posts for yourself – head to Facebook and Instagram and follow Baptist Camping Victoria to stay connected and informed. 

Video links 

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