Christian counselling as participation in the Missio Deo amongst refugees in the Rhulani refugee settlement in Limpopo, RSA

Abstract

The current global escalation of refugees and involuntary migration, due to the effects of war and world disasters, necessitates revisiting to devise an effective approach to bring healing and providing care for refugees. The aim of the study proposes a paradigm for counselling refugees who suffered war trauma, from the perspective of the missio Dei. The case study particularly focused on a former Mozambican refugee community, which was forcibly uprooted from their country of origin as the result of the erstwhile civil war that devastated their home country between 1980 and 1992 and fled to South Africa in search of safety. A theoretical basis for the missio Dei to the refugees is traced from both the Old Testament and New Testament, by means of a revelation-historical exegesis. The research presents how God is actively involved in His creation in a particular way, providing protection to the vulnerable and people on the margins of society. Starting with individuals such as Adam, Lot, Naomi and Ruth, David and Elijah an investigation is made from the perspective of counselling and care for the refugees as part of God’s on-going involvement with His creation and mission to heal. An empirical study forms part of the research and it concludes by proposing a paradigm that is holistic and useful in addressing the psycho-social needs of the refugees.