Faith
Faith groups across the country have been vocal in their belief that immigration strengthens our communities and adamant in their support for common sense immigration reforms. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Southern Baptist Convention, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and many other religious groups have endorsed comprehensive immigration reform, and surveys consistently show that majorities of Protestants, Evangelicals, Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Muslims, and Buddhists all overwhelmingly support reform. Mormons in particular have endorsed the Utah Compact, a statement of principles endorsing both strong border protections and the recognition that immigrants help fuel economic growth.
Campus Theologian Offers Comfort and Aid to Refugees in Pennsylvania
When it comes to immigration, Dr. Helen Wolf, executive director of the University of Scranton’s Office of Campus Ministries, a nationally recognized Catholic and Jesuit university, looks to the example of Pope Francis. In September 2015, shortly after she took on the position, “He called on Catholics and individuals… Read More
Pastor Shares the Gospel’s View on ‘Welcoming the Stranger’
Carson Rogers is a politically conservative Southern Baptist pastor—affiliations that firmly influence his feelings about immigrants and refugees. He believes equally in effective law enforcement and compassion toward human beings. “Jesus was an immigrant,” says Pastor Rogers. “Shortly after he was born, Herod put out a decree that all the… Read More
Pastor Serves the Immigrants Fueling Idaho’s Growth
Ray Duran had been a Calvary Chapel pastor for decades, before he found his true ministry calling at age 60: Working with Coeur D’Alene’s Spanish-speaking and immigrant population. “God’s great commandment is to love everyone, and immigrants need a lot of love and understanding,” says Duran, who runs an office-cleaning… Read More
Church Honors its Christian Commitment to Be Welcoming
In January 2017, when the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs, New York, introduced a proposal to provide safe haven to immigrants, some congregants were skeptical. “There was a reluctance among some members to get involved in a political issue,” says Terry Diggory, coordinator of the church’s Welcoming Immigrants… Read More
Innovative Pastor Helps Refugees Help the U.S. Economy
This year, former pastor Leah Lonsbury opened Just Bakery, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides job training, food service certification, and a living wage for resettled refugees. Lonsbury isn’t the first to turn to baking to make change. She used to live in Madison, Wisconsin, where a good friend runs… Read More
Country Needs ‘Frank Discussion’ on Immigration, Says Islamic Center Leader
In the early 20th century, Midwestern industrialists actively recruited for labor in the Middle East. One family to heed their call were the Dabagia brothers. Around 1908, the five siblings left their small Levantine town and moved to Michigan City, Indiana, to work at the Pullman Standard boxcar manufacturing plant. Read More
Most Christian Ministries Embrace Call to Love the Stranger
Rev. Moses Lin’s greatest joy is serving the congregants of his 100-member church, Christian Evangelical Mission International, in Queens, New York. “Serving God is what makes me most proud. Helping people to improve their quality of life is what I like best,” says Rev. Lin, whose given first name is… Read More
Alabama Pastor: Immigrants ‘Will Give All They Have’
Raul Dominguez, the associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cullman, Alabama, has moved his family from Mexico to the United States three times to comply with visa regulations. Throughout, he has remained deeply committed to serving the faith community in his small, north-central Alabama town. “The call that… Read More
Resettled Refugees Contribute Millions to Wisconsin Economy
Since it first opened its doors in 2012, the Christian nonprofit World Relief Fox Valley has resettled 700 refugees in Appleton and Oshkosh, in Wisconsin. “The communities have been supportive, and anyone who doesn’t support the mission doesn’t understand the program or who refugees are,” says the organization’s director, Tami… Read More
Minister Asks Christian Colleagues to Step Up on Behalf of Immigrants
During his commute to Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, religion professor Santiago Piñón passes about 20 churches, many of which have billboards advertising the next Sunday’s sermon. “I have never seen one that said ‘Welcome the Stranger’ or ‘Be Kind to Your Neighbor.’ I would have been there. I… Read More
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