Refugee Week Stories: When Did I See You Drowning?

‘But Lord, when did I see you desperate, scared and drowning?’

The disciples bore witness to the death of Jesus. Some hid in the shadows, afraid of how the authorities and crowds might respond, because to them his death was justified. He was a law-breaker. He was causing trouble. He was making people question the status quo.

Writing from the UK, I am deeply disturbed by the voices that celebrate the deaths of people dying in the English Channel as they seek safety from conflict and persecution and choose to cross this dangerous route between France and England. Reports of deaths on social media stoke laughter and celebratory emojis in the comments. Those who disagree and show compassion for refugees and asylum seekers are berated and receive abuse.

My husband recently qualified as a volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The RNLI is an organisation of trained volunteers who have rescued people from danger at sea for more than 200 years. Bizarrely, many groups are calling for people to stop donating to the RNLI because people are upset with them rescuing people crossing the English Channel in small boats. This is deeply prejudiced and extraordinarily ignorant of the fact that a less resourced RNLI may not be able to rescue them if they need it too. Fortunately, reverse-campaigning has often seen donations exceed expectations.

At least 130 people have died crossing the English Channel since 2021. In the Mediterranean IOM reported nearly 1000 deaths in the first quarter of 2026 alone and 35000 people are missing, including my friend. In 2025 almost 3500 people drowned trying to reach Spain via the Canary Islands. In 2024 it was more than 10,000 people. In reality the number is unknown. If your boat misses the islands, you continue into the vast Atlantic.

There are so many voices influencing politics across the EBF regions. So much propaganda justifying violence, invasion, imprisonment, detention, blockades, strikes. Yet Baptists continue to serve all who are in need. Providing mattresses and shelter, emergency aid, space to worship, support for widows, food for stranded visitors, safe spaces for children, help with asylum applications, campaigning for safe routes. In this online world we can easily choose our own media bubble and stay in it without any discussion or alternative perspective. But no matter which media bubble we sit in, the words of Jesus remain the same:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25: 31-40

Rev Juliet Kilpin

Chair of EBF Commission on Migration

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📁 Resources for World Refugee Day (21 June 2026) As the EBF region continues to face many conflicts we encourage churches to remember the people who lost their lives at the different borders. We encourage churches to hold dedicated services, prayers and vigils on 21 June 2026 or during Refugee Week (15-21 June)

CCME offers prayers, reflections and information that can be used as worship materials or intercessions during a service or an information event. The 142 pages resource booklet is in English but also includes some material in 4 additional languages.

🔜 Migration Conference

The EBF Commission on Migration invites you to join them in Albania 21-23 September 2026, prior to EBF Council. Find out more here.