World Evangelical Alliance 175th Anniversary

175th Anniversary Uniting Evangelicals For Prayer Mission & Justice Since 1846

Special Interview II: Jude Simion from Refugee Highway Partnership on WEA’s Impact on Fostering Unity and Belonging

To commemorate WEA’s 175th anniversary, we have conducted special interviews with leaders working in various areas in the WEA, exploring the history of her diverse engagements. The second interview features Jude Similon, a member of the Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) Leadership Council, who answered questions on RHP’s roots and history with the WEA, highlighting how the WEA has helped address and approach issues of global concern. 

In what ways does Refugee Highway Partnership represent WEA? 

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and its member alliances have a longstanding commitment to welcoming and assisting refugees. In 2001, WEA sponsored a global consultation of Christians serving refugees that became the Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) – an international network of churches, agencies and individuals serving forcibly displaced people. The WEA commitment for forcibly displaced people has been further strengthened by the work of the Refugee Highway Partnership. 

The RHP is a Global Partner of WEA; together RHP advocates on behalf of forcibly displaced people by serving the church by helping to connect and equipping her to welcome and assist refugees.

Can you share a little bit about your personal background and history with WEA?

In 2001, I joined the National Christian Alliance of Sri Lanka, working with the persecuted churches and forcibly displaced communities in Sri Lanka; this was my initial introduction to WEA and RHP. The national alliance in Sri Lanka was instrumental in bringing the churches and Christian organisations as an umbrella to serve the displaced communities in the country. The NCEASL sponsored and facilitated the first RHP South Asia roundtable to deliberate the concerns of forcible displacements in South Asia, primarily focusing on internal displacements.   

In my personal journey and ministry, the WEA created the platform to highlight the concerns of the forcibly displaced communities to be highlighted in the global mission movements. 

It has been a privilege to connect and promote Refugee Sunday globally to foster and build awareness on forcible displacement in collaboration with WEA for the last two decades. The Refugee Sunday is held on two consecutive Sundays (June 19 or 26 in 2022) is commemorated by the RHP in cooperation with the WEA to raise awareness and pray for the situation of forcibly displaced peoples around the world.

Also, the collaboration with WEA enabled the RHP to address its critical concerns related to the protection of displaced communities through the WEA’s United Nations team in New York and Geneva.  

How would you describe WEA and its work?

As a global movement, WEA is serving more than 600 million evangelicals worldwide, representing diverse cultures, nations, language groups and spiritual expressions but bound together by common convictions to love and serve the Lord. 

The work and the mission of WEA are reflected by the national alliances, especially in the global south context where the majority of the national alliances are forced to respond to the displacement issues. Global South hosts more than 85% of the world’s displaced communities. It is remarkable to note the contribution of the National Alliances and their member bodies continuing to care and speak for the vulnerable communities.

How has WEA’s work impacted you personally and professionally?

I would summarise the impact of the work in a single word, “belonging”, serving among refugees and displaced communities in high risk and isolated places. The impact of WEA reflects, and it should continue to be a platform of encouragement and belonging.

How has WEA shaped your thinking?

Reflecting on my early days/ younger days with a WEA national alliance – persecution, legislative pressure, and the context of being a minority religious group is the everyday reality for many of the evangelicals. Belonging to WEA shaped the identity that you are not alone or a minority, and it helped me constantly evaluate how to be salt and light in the secular world.

How has WEA’s work impacted Refugee Highway Partnership’s approach on evangelicalism and refugee engagement as a justice-focused faith-based organization?

This could be different for other practitioners involved in the refugee ministry as a personal reflection. The WEA was one of the pioneering movements that brought global concerns to an understanding of spiritual formation. Micah Global and RHP are some of the WEA initiatives or collaborations that helped the church look at global concerns as a missional opportunity and Christian responsibility.