Asylum Seekers Ministry

St Paul’s Lutheran Church has been serving asylum seekers, refugees and migrants over the past five years by means of practical, relational and spiritual support.

St Paul’s currently supports approximately 23 households of families and individuals. Nationalities that we support include Iranians, Afghans, Tamils, Haitians and Kurds.

Support is shared among the Lutheran Geelong community through the churches, St Paul’s Kindergarten and Geelong Lutheran College.

Some of the ways in which we provide support is via donating and distributing non-perishable food, prayer support, helping with delivering large items as needed, advocating and making referrals for support, teaching in-home English lessons, resourcing community opportunities for volunteering and employment, providing general support to families eg transport to appointments, and connecting, supporting and creating friendships with people through visiting them in their homes.

The ministry works closely with community organisations in Geelong such as Diversitat Asylum Seeker Program, Barwon Health, 3216 Connect Charity group, Geelong Mums and the Baptist and Uniting churches.

An annual Christmas appeal is held, where food, gifts and vouchers are collected and distributed to all our families on behalf of the Geelong Lutheran community in the week before Christmas.

If you would like to get involved in serving in any of the above ways or donate to this ministry area, please contact Michelle Filipovic on 0488 553 387 or michellefilipovic1@outlook.com