I'm not trying to demean what your church has done. It is a noble undertaking and I can see that you are personally invested in it. Let me ask you though, What was/is the cost involved? The cost to bring them to Canada? the cost to clothe and house them there?
I believe our church had to raise CAD17,000 to get the ball rolling, with a total commitment of $25,000. We also had many household items donated. I don't know what costs, if any, were borne by the Canadian government. My personal involvement, like I said earlier, is minimal; I am rather heavily invested in other areas of the ministry of my church. If you are truly interested in the process and costs, we worked with MCC Canada to make this happen. MCC's involvement in the Syria/Iraq crisis is much more than refugee settlement in Canada, with many projects providing relief on location over there. See their web site:
https://mcccanada.ca/learn/what/relief/syriaHow, many more people could that money have helped and continue to help in the hands of an organization that specializes in feeding the hungry around the world?
I am not saying that you and your church members will or even should be called a wicked and lazy servant. Your church's intentions and motives are righteous. I do believe that the underlying message of the parable is applicable though. As Christians we are commanded by God to manage to the best of our ability the resources that He gives us.
There is nothing wrong with saving a family of 5 or so. But if those same resources could be used to save 500 people instead, would that not be a better use of them?
Your question immediately brought to mind a very similar question in a slightly different context:
John 12:3-8 (ESV) - Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “
Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
My thought process is that our goal should be to feed and shelter the masses (including those who may be our enemies). Then, we need to work to resolve the problems that have caused the crisis. Once we have accomplished that, then we can begin to bring the people here that want to be here. And if the crisis is resolved that will most likely not be as many of them as you would think. It also takes away from the urgency of the situation and allows time for vetting those that do want to immigrate.
Refugee sponsorship is certainly not the only international relief effort members of our congregation are personally involved in, and we also support MCC, which has a stellar reputation from their work in crisis relief, beginning in 1920.
What is the mission of the church?
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Many believe that the mission of the church is to provide relief for the suffering people of the world. That cannot be supported by scripture. The mission of the church is to "make disciples" of Jesus Christ, which involves evangelism and training of the converted in righteousness (a.k.a. obedience to the Word of God). Love and concern for others is the individual Christian's response to God's love for him. When it comes to material aid, the Church's and the individual Christian's first responsibility is to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Next is showing love for our neighbors, whether friends or enemies, those we come in contact with during the regular activities of our lives, as illustrated by the parable of the good Samaritan. Beyond that, our resources are to be used as effectively as we can to further the Kingdom of God. Often this involves strategically providing relief of suffering to strangers as a way of building relationships with them, making the soil of their hearts receptive to the Gospel seed. This concept is illustrated in the parable of the unjust steward, in Luke 16, the point being as said by Christ in verse 9 (ESV), "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings."
Relief of suffering in the cause of Christ is only effective when the boots on the ground are filled with the feet of Christians who are building relationships with the people they are serving. That may or may not be more financially effective than donating to a well-organized secular NGO. I'm okay with that.
