The Suitcase Project is officially launched
The Suitcase Project was officially launched on Tuesday 5 November with special guests joining volunteers and church leaders at its base in The Emmanuel Centre in East Belfast.
Aware of the difficulties faced by arriving asylum seekers and refugees, the diocese established the project to offer welcome and support and, through words and deeds, to help newcomers meet Jesus.
Tim Burns was appointed Outreach Leader in August 2023 and since then has networked with many organisations, churches and people who are working to support communities new to Northern Ireland. Tim is also being trained through the national Pioneer Ministry programme involving the Church Army and the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.
Archdeacon Jim Cheshire hosted the evening and began by welcoming Noah Bartlett from European Christian Mission. Noah gave us a biblical basis for why it’s so important to welcome the newcomer in our midst: we will know Jesus more deeply through encountering people whose lives bear more resemblance to Jesus’ life than do ours; and we will become the Church that Jesus died to create – a diverse church, loving, serving, and learning from one another.
Noah encouraged us to adopt the mindset that we need each other and to, “Be ready to be blessed, served and changed by those you encounter through The Suitcase Project.”
Noah’s contribution was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from three organisations who are working with newcomers in Northern Ireland: the founder of Acacia Path, Nathaniel Jennings (OMF UK & Ireland Intercultural Ministries Director)and Patrick Purdy (Northern Ireland Coordinator for Welcome Churches).
All have the resources, contacts and experience to help our parishes engage more effectively in this area and shared stories about their work.
Update
Tim Burns then shared how the Suitcase Project has begun to support people in a variety of ways.
On Monday Mornings a Conversation Café meets in the Emmanuel Centre, giving newcomers a chance to practice and develop their spoken English.
“Around 60 people representing 15 nationalities have come through the café and we have a brilliant group of volunteers who help us. We’ve also been able to support people to get furniture for homes, connect them with essential services, offer support with housing issues and pray for them when things are difficult. We have sat in people’s homes and eaten some incredible food and some slightly challenging food and in doing so we have felt the privilege not of our welcome but of those we are supporting. “
Tim also spoke about the summer riots and the privilege of being with people in their fear and being able to offer them reassurance and practical support.
Looking ahead, he outlined some of the opportunities open to the project in the Emmanuel Centre and some hopes for the future:
Working with a local school to develop homework clubs for students and English language classes for their parents.
Opening a drop-in support centre where people can come to receive support around housing, benefits, documents and more.
Hosting a drop-in evening for social opportunities.
Longer term, regularly serving food and having communal meals.
The possibility of a Globe Cafe event.
“We hope that through these connections we will have the opportunity to pray with people, to share the transformative power of the Gospel of Jesus with people and to walk a journey of faith with them. We hope also that through this process people would be connected with local churches and be welcomed into their family.”
All these opportunities bring the challenge of manpower and funds, not least because the Emmanuel Hall needs updating.
Beyond this, the Suitcase Project exists not only to do work on the ground in supporting people but to encourage and equip parishes across the diocese to serve newcomers with whatever resources they have.
Tim concluded: “I have been reflecting on and using the story of Ruth as I have been speaking in churches, and it is a beautiful story of redemption for Naomi, of generosity, of care of Ruth to Naomi and welcome of Boaz to Ruth. This care and welcome in the story of Ruth leads to her marrying Boaz, having a son named Obed, who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David - King David - who through his lineage Jesus is born. Our welcome can have eternal consequences.”
Bishop David closed the evening with thanks to Tim and everyone who is supporting the project, including Willowfield Church who have gifted the use of the Emmanuel Hall.
Get involved
If you would like to support the work of The Suitcase Project either by volunteering or giving:
Contact Tim Burns by email: tim@thesuitcaseproject.org.uk
Visit The Suitcase Project website HERE or download a leaflet HERE
Donate online
CLICK HERE to donate via CAF to The Suitcase Project (Asylum Seekers & Refugees)
