Thriving Congregations IMMIGRATION MINISTRY

Any church looking to bring life to their congregational mission by serving the immigrant community is invited to apply for the program.

The church can be located anywhere. Proximity to the border is not required, however, we are looking to include border churches in each cohort.

A church may have an existing immigration ministry they want to expand or bring more into the life of the whole congregation. Or a church might not yet have an immigration ministry, but a longing to create one.

Cintia Aguilar, the Immigration Ministry Manager, will walk each church’s pastor or ministry leader through a process of discernment and planning to create or enhance a program suited for each church. The immigration ministry will look different in each context, but will generally fit into one of two categories: compassion or justice.

Participation in the program lasts two years.

No. Part of the beauty of Fellowship Southwest is our commitment to diversity. We like to partner with all kinds of churches, any denomination or non-denominational. We might not agree on every theological point, but if we can agree on the Christian calling to love our neighbor and welcome the immigrant, we are happy to work with you!

Yes!

Each new TCIM church will receive either a seed grant of $6,000 to launch their new ministry, or if they offer ongoing direct services to migrants, can be eligible for monthly support.

One of the first goals of the TCIM is to fill gaps in the current network of churches who serve migrants along the border. FSW partners with churches in San Diego, El Paso, Piedras Negras, and Brownsville. There are new potential partnerships that could be invited into this network. We hope to saturate the border with congregations full of people who understand God’s call to serve migrants. Usually these churches provide more direct services: shelters, transportation, feeding, or providing other kinds of care like entertainment for kids.

Non-border churches also have many opportunities to practice compassionate immigration ministry. Immigrants don’t stay along the border. Once they have begun their immigration process, they often travel to cities anywhere in the U.S. where they have a sponsor/family. Your church can provide support to migrants right where you are.

Many churches want to help change the narrative surrounding immigration. These churches can take vision trips to the border, meet people and learn about the issues and circumstances that have led to their immigration process. The representatives from the church who attend these trips will then go home and tell their stories. They can share testimonies in worship, they can write prayers and sermons, they can create worship liturgy that can be shared among other Justice Churches.

Yes!