Responding to the Call:
Reaching Out to Immigrants Through Social Ministry

Following is the text of a brochure published by LIRS in 2001. Click on one of the anchor links below to read more about that topic or just scroll down to read the entire text.

• Educational activities such as English and literacy classes, tutoring programs for youth, computer training and courses to assist immigrants to prepare for their citizenship exams
  
  
• Employment-related projects such as interview preparation, assistance completing job applications, and skills training
  
  
• Human and health services such as food and clothing banks, health education, screening and immunizations, after-school programs for youth, and assistance navigating community services
  
  
• Immigration assistance and advocacy through partnerships with existing legal service organizations, visitation of immigrants detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and public policy advocacy
  
  
• Creating “sister” relationships with churches whose members are recent immigrants, sharing worship and music experiences, getting to know one another's stories, cultures and needs

• Build strong relationships before you begin. Get to know immigrants in the community. Learn about their culture and create relationships around people’s stories, not just issues.
  
  
• Cultivate a spirit of openness, respect and flexibility within your congregation. Crossing cultural and language barriers is difficult! If such an effort is to succeed, it can’t be about us ministering to them. There must be a spirit of mutual respect and a belief that you are co-creating the project with your immigrant partners.
  
  
• Develop partnerships and don’t try and do it alone! Look to other churches and community organizations to share ideas, resources, volunteers and energy.
  
  
• Have patience and don’t take on too much at the beginning or you run the risk of being overwhelmed. Preparation, training, volunteer recruitment and relationship-building take time. Move forward slowly but persistently.

• Language differences pose tremendous obstacles that can only be overcome by persistence, patience and a willingness to make mistakes. Cultivate a “bridge” person within your congregation who knows the culture and language of the immigrants and can begin to build relationships.
  
  
• Cultural differences can challenge even the most open and flexible individual. Everything from church kitchen rules to what it means when we say that a class starts at 7 o’clock can create confusion and conflict. Respect, flexibility and humor are essential!
  
  
• Fear of change often surfaces as the congregation reaches out to people of different races, languages, faiths and ethnicities. Expect that some people will want to “protect the fort” and avoid change at all costs.
  
  
• Lack of time is a challenge for everyone. Immigrants are often working two jobs just to survive and have little time to spare. Likewise, non-immigrants are often pressed for time and find volunteer involvement difficult.
  
  
• Limited financial resources often create an obstacle, especially in small congregations. Like all new projects and ministries, whatever you decide to do will usually require money…and raising money requires time and energy. Remember, though, that the hand of friendship is free.

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What Benefits Can We Expect from This Work?
There are many, many benefits that come from reaching out to immigrant communities—both to the congregations and to the immigrants! Those with experience highlight the following:

• Mutual transformation occurs. You can expect that everyone involved will be transformed in exciting and unforeseeable ways as they go about the holy work of crossing boundaries and chipping away at the walls that divide people.
  
  
• Vibrant signs of new life appear. Congregations reaching out to immigrants have experienced exciting signs of new life within their congregations, as these “strangers” in their midst bring new energy, vitality, faith and growth to the community.
  
  
• Immigrants create self-sustainable lives. With the help of caring congregations immigrants are gaining citizenship, learning English, moving to livable-wage jobs, sending their children to college and becoming full participants in the lives of their communities. They are finding new hope in a strange new land.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2