Beyond Borders Raises Refugee Awareness in Manitoba

“Nigel, you must come to Manitoba in the winter and we can visit the Hutterite colonies!” 

Serving alongside Francine Wiebe, the new Director of Beyond Borders is rather like standing under a warm waterfall; exciting, always taking my breath away and never stopping. 

I had never even heard the name Hutterite until a few months ago, so the learning curve was steep, but their story soon gripped my mind and my heart. The Hutterites are an Anabaptist group that hold all property communally. They were founded in 1528 by Jakob Hutter in Tyrol (now in Austria). Eventually persecution meant many left for North America starting in the 1870s. While they dress very conservatively, they have readily adopted modern farming machinery.   

As I began to read their history and follow on the map their pilgrimages from Austria to North America and Canada, I soon realised that I have either lived not far from some of the places they sojourned or passed by unknowingly by motorbike or car.  

Francine and I were invited to visit 4 colonies January 24-February 9, where she has made significant contributions to the life of their schools in recent years, sometimes rescuing them from difficulties, and they are grateful. We dressed appropriately (I even bought suspenders and a new plaid shirt!) and were very open in our approach: “We need your help!” Partnership at every level, including financial support. 

I was a little apprehensive at first, but soon to find myself wrapped in their warm hospitality, immersed in theological discussions with their elders and allowed to present the challenges now facing Beyond Borders in countries such as Ukraine. Showing the trailer to the award-winning documentary Life Jacket (filmed in 2018 while my wife Helen and I were on the island of Lesvos) proved an excellent opener. It was a hit with adults and children alike, and questions flowed freely after each presentation. We simply shared the vision of Beyond Borders in the power of the Holy Spirit and are leaving the results to God. May He alone receive the glory.