The Malula family are living proof that the bold move to combine the gifts of Cabramatta Anglican Church and Anglicare has paid off.

The family were just four weeks off the plane from the Congo when they treated some of Sydney’s key players in migrant and refugee settlement to an extraordinary tribute to the care churches provide new migrants at the recent opening of the joint centre. Rocked by joyous African rhythms and Mr Malula’s indescribably powerful voice, the family presented the audience of nearly 300 a song of praise to Jesus in gratitude to the welcome they have received in Australia.

In his keynote address at the opening of the centre, Archbishop Peter Jensen argued that the challenge for Australians is “not to be hostile to these precious newcomers” but to be ‘genuinely welcoming’, adding that the local church was the best place for that to happen. “We are not talking about professionals; we are talking about volunteers and people trained to be outward looking carers of others,” Dr Jensen said.