A Crazy, Faithful Way to Meet Angels

By the Rev. Lyda Pierce

Over the last few weeks I have cried and prayed with two mothers whose sons have just been deported; I’ve talked with young adult immigrants with DACA cards who, by executive order, will lose the right to live, work and study in the US; I’ve heard of some legal immigrants planning to leave the United States; and I’ve listened to those working to settle refugees tell of people who have been approved to come to the US being stuck where they are by the new ban on refugees announced on Tuesday.

This is the time to pay attention, to listen and to build relationships with people born in a different nation. The United Methodist Church has created a new special Sunday to help at just this time: Global Migration Sunday, December 3rd, 2017. I urge you to set aside this day, to begin Advent by paying attention to those who have crossed international borders as we start the season of remembering the birth of Jesus, whose parents had to flee to Egypt to keep him safe.

Visit umcmigration.org for more information and resources!

I find that I cannot get all the way through all the emails and news feeds I get daily on refugees and immigrants, and the news stories begin to run into each other and blur in my mind. What makes the the situation of immigrants important and unblurry to me are the relationships I’m privileged to have with people who were born in other countries and now live in the United States, especially those I know through life in our own churches.

Our churches and our communities are losing gifted, loving, faithful neighbors as members are deported, while other members live in hiding, and would-be-members never arrive. We need one another. Our understanding of God’s work is limited if we do not know some of God’s beloved children who bring pieces of God’s Kin-dom from other places around the globe. I have found truth in Hebrews 13:2:

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by doing that
some have entertained angels without knowing it.

With so much in question right now for immigrants and refugees, this is an important moment to reach out across lines of immigration status, and be hospitable, listening to one another for how God is working among us all: new immigrants, long-time residents and refugees. This moment will not be the only time the presence of immigrants in our communities is questioned as it has sadly happened throughout history and is happening now around the globe.

At the core of our work as the Church is the responsibility to love the people around us, especially anyone who is seen as a stranger. These relationships are the place to begin. There are additional resources for understanding and prayer on the Global Migration Sunday web page. We expect to have some additional local resources available soon.

Already, there are a wealth of resources and opportunities to help us all to grow in our understanding, build stronger communities and speak prophetically to our political leadership. Here are a few items to start.

Support a “Clean DREAM Act”

The DREAM Act is a bill before Congress that would supplant and improve upon the soon-to-end DACA, allowing young immigrants brought to the US as children without immigration documents to become permanent residents and move towards citizenship. There are many voices arguing about immigration law nationally and many are using the DREAM Act as a bargaining tool (i.e., a vote in favor of the DREAM Act in exchange for a vote for more immigration detention centers, more immigration agents, and a wall along the southern US border). Such an exchange offers Dreamers documentation and safety in exchange for more resources to lock up and deport their parents and neighbors. Thus the language is to work for a “clean” Dream act, that is not a bargaining chip, but the right thing to do. The United Methodist Council of Bishops has called for a Clean Dream Act. The General Board of Church and Society provides more information and a letter that can be signed.

Voice Opposition to the Current Refugee Ban – Click to Act Now

Jen Smyers, from Church World Service, shares this:

Let me tell you a story about Deborah, a Ugandan mom who was resettled in Ohio and is separated from her 3 daughters and 12-year-old son. Her petitions to reunify her family were approved by the U.S. government in January 2017 but have been delayed due to President Trump’s executive orders. Just yesterday, the administration announced another refugee ban that will significantly delay Deborah’s chance to see her children again, perhaps indefinitely.

The administration has announced a new three-month ban on refugees from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and stateless Palestinians. The new executive order also indefinitely suspends the family reunification process for certain refugees who have been separated from their spouse and children as they have fled for safety. These announcements grind refugee resettlement to a halt, layering on policy changes that will result in long delays, family separation, and vulnerable refugees with no option for safety.

Speak out today to ask for a change in this refugee ban.

Become a Welcoming Community

Background information and other resources are available on the Greater Northwest United Methodist Episcopal Area web page – greaternw.org/welcome. If you are on Facebook, you can also join other United Methodists in our Area who work toward welcoming immigrants by asking to join the Facebook group, We Welcome Immigrants.

The Rev. Lyda Pierce serves as director of Hispanic/Latino Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference Office of Connectional Ministries.