In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25,
Jesus says to those on his right side, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Have you ever experienced what it’s like to be welcomed as a stranger? Early in our marriage my husband and I had
such an experience when we spent six months living and working in China as
Christian professionals. We couldn’t speak or even read the Chinese. We had no
idea how to get from place to place. In fact, when we first arrived we just
stayed in our apartment because we were afraid that if we left we might never
find our way back! A few kind Chinese
friends helped us get oriented and introduced us to others who made us feel
welcomed and gave us the confidence we needed to thrive in China. After that
experience we were resolute: when we got home we would be people who heeded
Jesus’ command to welcome the stranger.
Much has happened since that time, but our call to welcome
the stranger never waned. Three-and-a-half years ago the Holy Spirit led us to plant
a church in our multi-ethic neighborhood in South Bend, Indiana. For the last
20 years, our neighborhood was the refugee resettlement neighborhood in South
Bend. Our neighbors originate from dozens of countries from Africa, the Middle
East and East Asia, not to mention Latin America. Many of our neighbors come from
Muslim backgrounds. As we prayed about this reality, the Lord showed us that
our call was not simply to evangelize an American neighborhood, but to extend
the welcome of Christ to the immigrants and refugees among us.
We started by simply inviting all these different peoples
into our fellowship at Tree of Life. We had several Liberian refugees join our
church and were thrilled to have a few Muslim women attend an Alpha Course we
held in an apartment complex. As we walked with these dear people, we began to
learn about the many heartaches and obstacles they were facing in America and
as immigrants.
One young Liberian man in our church revealed that one of
his siblings had been left behind in Liberia and that no matter what they tried,
without citizenship his family was unable to successfully petition for her to
join them. It seemed obvious that we should help this good man gain his citizenship.
So began a long process of reading government documents and making phone calls
to a strange, but surprisingly friendly organization called USCIS. Finally, our brother became a US Citizen and
was able to petition for his sister to unite with her family in America.
About 18 months into our ministry, I received an email from
the ACNA saying that the Anglican Immigrant Initiative wanted to start a series
of Immigration Legal-Aid Clinics around the US and Canada as a way of showing
the welcome of Christ to the many strangers among us and building congregations
for the over 40 million immigrants living in our country. As I read those words
and considered both God’s call on my life and the neighborhood where God called
us, “I thought, wow, talk about a no brainer- of course I want to know more!”
So began our church’s journey to opening the first ever
church based immigration legal aid clinic in the ACNA (several more are underway!).
As it turns out the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of the US Government has
a program that authorizes equipped churches and non-profits to administer
immigration legal-aid to low-income clients. As anyone who watches the news is
fully aware, immigration ministry is in dire need throughout the world. In
Europe waves of Middle Eastern immigrants are seeking Welcome. Here in the USA
there are millions of legal immigrants who are under-resourced and don’t have
access to legal help in navigating a confusing legal system. As politicians
seek a solution, the main victims are often well-meaning immigrants and
refugees who wish to live, work and be united with their families legally, but cannot understand the
complexities of our immigration system or afford the legal representation they
need. It’s time for the church to respond. Opening a low-cost immigration
legal-aid center is an amazing way not only to give a cup of cold water to the
strangers among us, but also to build deep and lasting relationships with
immigrants.
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| Ronald Okaye, a naturalized citizen originally from Kenya is the director of the legal aid center at Tree of Life |
Since opening in March of this year, we have helped over 40
clients from more than a dozen countries. Each client comes with a unique story
and set of circumstances; but all of them share a common desire: to belong. When they encounter the
warmth and enthusiasm at our church, many are often quite taken aback. One
woman actually said to me, “Up until now, I thought most Americans just wished
I wasn't here, what makes you so different?” The answer: “When we were
strangers, Jesus welcomed us. Now we welcome you.” Several of our clients from
African Christian backgrounds have visited our church and a few clients from
other religions have come to ask for prayer and pastoral counseling. We are
thrilled to see how the Holy Spirit continues to use this practical ministry to
make a way for immigrants not only as American residents, but also members of
the Kingdom of God.
Our hope is that our Legal Aid clinic is the first of many
to begin around the country as part of the Anglican Immigrant Initiative of the
ACNA. If you or your church is
interested in learning more about starting an Immigration Legal Aid Clinic,
please feel free to contact me at Tree of Life Anglican Church in South Bend or
see the Anglican Immigrant Initiative’s website: www.anglicanimmigrantinitiative.com.
Tree of Life also covets your prayers as we continue this ministry. As with any
ministry, and because of our call to the poor and the immigrant, one of our
greatest needs is financing. Please pray with us that the Lord will provide for
the work He has called into being.
-Rev. Heather Ghormley