I’m excited that The Above Ground Railroad is about to be released by Tall Pine Press. In May and June, 2011, my wife and I traveled to Canada to record and experience the story of the Matthew House movement there. It is truly a powerful and inspirational story of God’s people faithfully fulfilling Jesus’ call in Matthew 25 to “welcome the stranger.” In this case, the “stranger” are the thousands of unsponsored refugees that find their way to Canada each year. They flee persecution, imprisonment, and brutality in their home country only to find themselves alone and homeless in Canada.
Anne Woolger, a seminary graduate in Toronto, saw the need and worked tirelessly to start the first Matthew House to give short-term housing and support for these refugees. During the days the refugees live in the Matthew House the staff help them with paper work, point them toward employment, connect them with immigration lawyers, and find them permanent housing. Anne’s efforts soon spread to other places like Windsor, Ft. Erie, Montreal, and Ottawa where many more faithful Christians reached out to the refugees in their city.
Still a few days from publication, the book has already pre-sold almost 1000 copies. Here is what some of our reviewers have said about the book.
“The Matthew House Story” is a beautiful account of how God works through ordinary people to perform extraordinary ministry. It is a compelling book that tells how communities of individuals, churches and organizations have worked together to create holistic, sustainable ministries to refugees. I was inspired and challenged.
Dr. Daniel Vestal
Executive Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Atlanta, Georgia USA
“Reading through the vision of the Matthew House movement, you will be drawn into the story of God’s people; women, men and communities and feel compelled to join. Since its beginnings, the relationship between Baptist Women and the Matthew Houses has been a two-way street of blessing, encouragement and opportunity. Give thanks as you read the names of Anne, Kim, Nancy, Shirley, Joanne, Heather, Jan, Christina and many more. Maybe your name will be in the next telling.”
Rev. Brenda Man
Executive Director
Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“Anyone interested in the mission of God and the renewal of the North American church should read this book. Matthew House Christians have discovered an imminently practical, culturally relevant way to live out the Biblical injunctions to “welcome the stranger” and serve “the least of these.” I pray the Matthew House ministry becomes a movement that spreads across Canada, throughout the United States, and wherever refugees seek safety and need the presence of Christ. Our churches just might need Matthew House even more than refugees do.”
Larry Hovis
Executive Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
“The story of Anne Woolger’s vision for Matthew House, and its subsequent birth and development into a movement is a touching and compelling one. But that story is quickly enveloped by the myriad of individual stories of refugees that have been warmly welcomed and lovingly cared for, many of them nothing short of miraculous in the way that God guided them to the safe and loving environment of a Matthew House. It is also a story of the rewards of giving, as the lives of so many volunteers and staff are deeply impacted and enriched through their friendships with the refugees that they serve. Matthew House is one of the best examples that I know of Christians “showing their faith by what they do” (James 2:18)”
L. Blair Clark
Associate General Secretary
Canadian Baptist Ministries
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
“A remarkable story of how the vision of one woman, to establish Matthew House changed the lives of thousands of people on the refugee highway. In return, their stories of hope & courage, in spite of very difficult circumstances, reveal the goodness of God’s love and grace. And the story goes on….”
Nancy Webb
Former Executive Director 1997 – 2005
Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Matthew House takes Jesus at his word — when you welcome strangers; you welcome God into your midst. Canada is the richer for the excellent settlement assistance refugee claimants’ access through Matthew House ministries. Thousands of ‘established’ Canadians have also been challenged and blessed through friendship with newcomers who, overcoming such adversity and hardship, work to make Canada their home.
Hugh Brewster
National Manager
Canadian Programs
World Vision Canada
“The Matthew House Story is much more than an account of ministry to refugees in Canada. It is a story of ministry in the twenty-first century, an account of what can happen when followers of Jesus Christ have a dream and motivate others to join them in that dream. It is a story of partnership and mutual collaboration. It demonstrates that global missions today has as much to do with people who live among us as it has to do with people who live on the other side of the world. This is a story that can create passion within followers of Jesus Christ to minister to the most neglected in their midst. Read it and make it a model for ministry in your context.”
This is a great read!
Rob Nash
Coordinator of Global Missions
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
