PLEASE PRAY with us for Etienne, Adolphe, Martinse and Papy, and consider how you might stand in solidarity with them!

“If anyone has this world’s resources (time, money, education, voting power, lobbying power, access to media, safety, security, a home, a country, a community to belong to) and sees their brother or sister in need, but takes no action to respond to their need, how can the love of God be in them?” 1 John 3:17, paraphrased

I will let you know after a meeting next Tuesday of any collective action being taken that you could participate in.

In love and solidarity,

Lindy Croucher (and the Urban Neighbours of Hope community)

Dear family, friends and colleagues,

About 8 months ago Keith Briant (Asylum Seeker Assistance Program) and myself launched an appeal through their lawyer, for 3 asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Etienne, Adolphie and Martinse. The appeal was to the Minister for Immigration, Amanda Vanstone, to use her discretion to influence a more favourable decision to grant them protection and refugee status in Australia. Some months later we launched another appeal for the forth member of this group of men Papy. Most of us have come to know the four of them as the African Christian Gospel band – Vox Congo.

I am sending this email to everyone on my list because I can’t remember all those months ago who was involved in the original appeal. For the benefit of

3 years ago the ‘Congo Boys’ fled their country from fear for their lives. It is a long story and if you want to know more please contact me, but here’s some recent reflections found in last weeks paper, ‘The Australian – December 9th’. During the 5 year war or Rwanda’s invasion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 3.8 million civilians have been killed, that’s around 31,000 a week. The article claims the Congo is currently the most dangerous country in Africa to live in.

The men arrived in Australia legally with valid passports on special short term visas. During this time they applied for protection. That application failed so they appealed to the courts. For the first year they lived with workers from Urban Neighbours of Hope (Churches of Christ missionary order). For the past 2 years they have been living with us in our church manse at Knoxfield Church of Christ. In April of this year their appeal to the courts was denied. That’s when we launched our final appeal to the minister.

It is with a very heavy heart that I break this sad news to you all who have been praying and eagerly anticipating a response. Etienne and Adolphie went into the immigration centre on Tuesday Dec 14th to renew their short term visas when they were handed an answer. A rejection was handed down from the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Peter McGauran. Etienne and Adolphie have been asked to begin making preparations to leave our country.

They have been given until Tuesday next week to proven to immigration they are beginning to make steps toward their departure. They need to apply for new passports and raise their own money for airfares. Etienne and Adolphie have requested work visas so they can raise some money, hopefully they will be granted. No time frame for their depature has been set yet. Immigration have the power to put them into detention. Given their past traumatic experience of being detained in their own country it would be very unhelpful for them to have to experience detention again. Our aim is to keep them out of detention and help facilitate, in conversation with their lawyer, a less disruptive departure.

I appeal to you and your church, workplace, families and community groups to please pray for them. I invite any ideas you have for support, or any other avenues you may be aware of that have not been followed up regarding their appeal to stay. I also invite questions of clarification. You can contact me at this address or Keith on skbriant[at]yahoo.com.au.

As for Martinse and Papy, they still hang in the balance until next year. Papy may find out in January and Martinse in February.

Please let me leave you with this brief Christmas message of hope:

“Into this world, this demented inn,

in which there is absolutely no room for him at all.

Christ comes uninvited.

But because he cannot be at home in it,

because he is out of place in it,

and yet he must be in it,

His place is with others for whom there is no room.

His place is with those who do not belong,

who are rejected by power, because they are regarded as weak,

those who are discredited,

who are denied status of persons,

who are tortured, bombed and exterminated.

With those for whom there is no room,

Christ is present in this world.”

– Thomas Merton

There is always hope.

Peace

Mark Riessen

Minister, Knoxfield Church of Christ

Shalom! Rowland Croucher