R and M are Christian Syrian refugees who lived in Jordan from 2012 to 2016.
Faces of Damascus
We’ve called them “R and M” to protect their privacy and security. They grew up in Damascus.
In 2011 they left everything to flee the bombings in their city. They made their way to Jordan where they were interned in a refugee camp. Even in these “safe havens,” the lives of Christians are precarious.
Because of their Christian faith they had to leave the refugee camp. They were taken in by Jordanian Christians while they awaited the opportunity to start a new life.
Calling On God For Help
Syrian Christian refugees literally had nowhere to go.
They could not return home.
They could not stay in Jordan.
R and M called on God for help.
A group of Christians in Edmonton became the answer to their prayer and helped them start their new life in Canada.
Providing A Safe Place For R and M
R and M were both 31 years old in 2017. R had experience in gold and working with jewellery as well as carpentry, and M in business management and accounting. While in Jordan – R picked up odd jobs and M volunteered with a humanitarian organization.
Their immigration process took over twelve months.
Bringing R and M to Canada was not something a few people could accomplish – many at North Pointe Community Church pulled together to help them.
Teamwork Needed
We needed approximately $36,000 in cash and gift-in-kind donations for their first year budget.
Our team secured housing, transportation, ESL training, and as well as job training and employment.
Mostly we needed people who would love on R and M and be willing to support them emotionally. And people stepped up.
They became one more family that “came as they are” and experienced the grace of unconditional love at North Pointe.
We listened to their stories of close calls in escaping the devastation of war in Damascus and how God watched out for them in bringing them to Canada.
R & M in 2025
R & M had an apartment in St Albert, they found jobs, and wanted to start a family. Before long, M became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Not too long later they had the opportunity to move to Windsor, Ontario and be close to M’s mom who immigrated to an American city just across the Canadian border.
In 2025 they have two growing sons and have settled into all things Canadian. They stay in touch with the small group that took a big step of faith to support two strangers from Syria.
R & M are part of the refugee immigrant population that makes headlines every so often. Can we afford to bring more Syrian or Ukrainian or families from other parts of the world to Canada? I think so.
As long as refugees and immigrants remain faceless statistics it is easy to become fearful and deny their inclusion in Canada and Alberta. R and M were the faces we all needed to see. And need to be reminded of today.
Welcome to Canada!
There were countless good things we got to be a part of at North Pointe. Bringing R & M “home” is one of the best.
Jesus said to love our neighbour. The globe is smaller than ever making neighbours of distant strangers.
Canada and Alberta have room for more.
What do you think? Please join the conversation and post a comment below.
Hope grows here. We share stories that inspire people, build faith, and offer lasting purpose.
We’d love to have you Subscribe to REVwords. We’ll put helpful content into your inbox Mondays and Fridays.
What a wonderful inspiring story of R and M and their growing family. Thank you for sharing it with us. Sometimes what we do for others is small but when a whole community like North Pointe comes together, amazing things happen. We are all in this world together.
You’re right, Retha. Together, good can be accomplished. Canada and Alberta have so much to offer.
Just a comment on your introduction. Immigration is a subject close to my heart. I’m married to an immigrant and my daughter’s in-laws came to Canada as refugees. We have travelled to Europe many times and it is a “crowded’ place in comparison to Canada. To be honest I don’t understand the thinking of Canadians who say there’s no space for more. Canada was built by immigrants and I believe we have a moral obligation to not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.
Several immigrants and refugees I know personally:
Tariq – I got to know this neighbour sitting on the side of a soccer field. He is Jordanian and a Muslim. He has a PhD in a science that I didn’t quite grasp when he explained it. He worked in Saudi Arabia before coming to the U of A, training medical students.
Nabil – We met at work. Nabil is Palestinian and a Muslim. He and his family came to Canada as UN sponsored refugees. His family originally lived in Israel but were forced out by incoming Jewish settlers and as a consequence Nabil grew up in a refugee camp in Lebanon. His dad was well educated and said education was the answer to their problems not retribution. Nabil was also well educated. A PhD in computer engineering.
A lady from Rwanda – She came to our work unit from Norquest College for 6 months of work experience. I forget her name but not her story. She was Tutsi and a survivor of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. She witnessed the murder of both family members and neighbours and was able to escape and eventually came to Canada.
Dutch Delicious Bakery had a motto on their wall at one time. They’ve remodeled recently so not sure if it’s still there. It’s the verse from Matthew 10:42 which talks about giving little ones a cup of cold water. In a nutshell, any act kindness will be rewarded. Not that this should be our motivation, but God wants us to have empathy for others… to put ourselves in another person’s shoes.
Retha, thank you so much for kicking off this conversation. Naming your connections and sharing their stories is so helpful. I wonder how mnany Albertan immigrants feel a bit more fear today than last week. Everything we can do help people feel seen and heard is love.
What a lovely story. I hope and pray that the UK will also become home to more people like R and M.
Hello Naomi. Thank you for being a first time commentor and the first from the UK! I track with the UK. Our family’s roots are in the UK. Be Kind. Speak up for the marginalized. Love largely.
I hope you’ll connect again on subjects that matter to you, Naomi.