Former refugee takes on new role with her Stirling church family

A refugee from Sudan who has found a home with a church in Stirling is repaying her welcome by taking on the responsibility of eldership duties with the congregation.

Eman Musa and her children, daughter Shere and son David, have attended St Mark's Parish Church in the Raploch area of Stirling since arriving in Scotland in June 2019.

Last year, to mark the second anniversary as part of the church, Eman made a public profession of faith and Shere and David were baptised at the same ceremony.

Now, 18 months on from making that profession of faith, Eman is one of four new elders who were ordained at St Mark's last Sunday.

Eman, who previously spent 14 years in a refugee camp in Egypt after fleeing Sudan's civil war in 2004, has spoken about the welcome she received from the congregation at St Mark's since the family's arrival three years ago.

This included members of the congregation visiting the family and cooking their meals every night while they settled into life in Scotland.

"They welcomed us as part of the church which means a lot. I think it's important that the Holy Family were refugees at one point too," Eman said.

Eman was ordained alongside fellow new elders Gillian Hughes, Donnamarie Totten and Shug Stewart at a service which was made even more joyous by the presence of Clackmannanshire Silver Band.

Commenting afterwards, Eman said: "We have been very happy in Raploch since we arrived in Scotland in 2019 and St Mark's is our church family. I am pleased to answer God's call to serve here as an elder."

St Mark's minister, Rev Barry Hughes, shares Eman's joy in making the transition from refugee to elder.

"It's been a privilege to welcome Eman, Shere and David to Scotland, and especially to Raploch," Mr Hughes said.

"Eman is a great addition to our Kirk Session and this shows that the Church of Scotland is a place where all are welcome."