The messy reality of grace & truth: seeking justice in my community – by Nick Graves

I clearly remember that Friday. It was a typical Food Stop day at our church, a time when we open our doors to offer local people struggling financially the opportunity to choose £20-30 worth of food and interact with experts and support services.

But that day, amid the familiar sea of faces, a new group appeared—twelve refugees and asylum seekers, relocated by a local homelessness action group into a disused private school down the road.

Illegal squat

Initially, they were just another group in need, blending into the crowd. Yet, as we got to know them, their stories began to emerge. They were illegally squatting and at risk of homelessness through eviction, and in some cases, at risk of deportation due to their immigration status.

Jesus’ call to love our neighbour as ourselves stirred within us, and we knew we had to do more than just provide food and clothes.

Human predicament

First and foremost, this meant getting to know them personally. People in their situation are often ignored and marginalised, quick judgments made about their circumstances. As we spent time with them, we saw past the legalities and into the human heart of their predicament.

We shared with them how they were accepted by our community and deeply loved by God – but there was also work to do. Many needed their immigration statuses reviewed by experts but had been hiding in fear of the authorities.

Advocating

I recall one evening vividly, sitting with a young family in the disused school, listening to their stories of flight and fear. The father, a man of few words, spoke quietly about the desperation that led them to consider squatting their only option. His wife, holding their youngest child, looked at me with eyes full of worry.

That moment crystallised our mission—to help them move forward, addressing their immediate needs while advocating for a more compassionate solution to their predicament.

Hardened

Our first step was to contact the owners of the school, a large, well-known charity, to negotiate a more humane way of moving these people out of their illegal squat into something more appropriate and legal. Initial conversations with the charity seemed promising.

Yet, as the weeks passed, it became apparent that their stance had hardened. Despite our pleas and offers of collaboration, they initiated court proceedings to evict the group without any offer of help or support.

Court proceedings

I will never forget the tension as we accompanied the asylum seekers to court. We had submitted papers outlining our work with them, providing our perspective on aspects of the charity’s behaviour, and reiterating our request for extra time to move them on compassionately.

Our church prayed fervently for justice, aware that the courts had the right to evict them immediately.

Outcome

In the courtroom, we experienced a profound mix of grace and truth. The judge found in favour of the charity’s eviction request but granted a two-month prohibition on enforcement, allowing us time to rehouse them appropriately.

This was the very timeframe we had been seeking all along. When we left the court to share the news, our friends burst into tears of relief—a stark contrast to the disappointment on the faces of the charity’s large legal team.

Messy realities

Grace and truth often look messy. Our Moroccan friends experienced both at that moment, and so did we. Reflecting on this journey, I pray that the charity left with a deeper understanding of grace and truth, informing how they may handle similar situations in the future. I too encountered grace and truth, needing to check my own heart regarding the charity’s actions.

The temptation to criticise them publicly out of anger was strong, but God reminded me that grace and truth work both ways.

Valuable lessons

This journey taught us valuable lessons about standing in the gap for the vulnerable, balancing justice with mercy, and the importance of advocating for those in need.

We have committed ourselves to placing the gospel at the very centre of our social action work, especially in official domains where faith is often not talked about. This means not only addressing immediate physical needs but also boldly speaking and embodying the love, grace, and truth of Christ in all our interactions.

Nick Graves is the Pastor of Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church in Croydon