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Royal City Evangelical Missionary Church in downtown Guelph became involved with refugees two years ago when Congolese refugee Jean Kayeye, looking for shelter from the cold, wandered into their Agape Café drop-in for a cup of coffee.
Jean had been travelling the infamous "refugee highway" from Congo to Tanzania, to Zambia to Lubumbashi (in southern Congo), to New York, Detroit, Tilbury and finally Guelph where his sister Valerie and two nephews have sought asylum. Jean left behind in South Africa his wife of 18 years and 6 children who live in seclusion because South Africans are hostile to Congolese refugees.
The church has welcomed Jean and his sister Valerie and has continued to approve support of them at Town Hall meetings.
"We love them. They're beautiful kids. The whole congregation has embraced them," said Pastor Mike Stanley.
Jean's family has captured the hearts of all who meet them. At Pitch and Praise 2007, Jean's nephew Ready gave his testimony in front of a crowd of 1900 youth. The crowd immediately responded by taking up a collection for him. They raised $1000 which they contributed to the church's Refugee Fund.
In June 2008 the Royal City Church Youth organized a Refugee Simulation Camp together with 3 other churches. Youth had the opportunity to live like a refugee for 2 days. Participants were processed and "tattooed". They joined line-ups for food and toilets. Five youth were assigned to a tent and given four sleeping bags. World Vision donated 2 boxes of powdered food for them to eat. Youth had to walk one kilometer with a bucket to get water. The youth listened to guest speakers and joined in on the African worship. Refugees have become an issue that the church, including the youth, has rallied behind.
Pastor Stanley's team of ten riders, the "Royal City Rollers", raised $9,712 in the RIDE for Refugees 2007. Then they received $4,700 back in RIDE Partner Grants. This money went into their Refugee Fund which has been used to purchase passports for Jean's wife and children, to help his sister Valerie with first and last month's rent on an apartment and for furniture.
"We see the RIDE Partner Grant as an amazing opportunity to help the refugees in our church pull their lives together," said Pastor Stanley.
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