Immigration

Immigration: God's love has no borders

LEARN

Biblical basis for Christian welcome of Immigrants

The Bible offers us some valuable insights about welcoming strangers, and in our context immigrants 15 are viewed as strangers. "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do [the 16 stranger] wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and 17 you shall love [the stranger] as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt…" (Leviticus 18 19:33, 34). We affirm that God has called us to welcome immigrants, because all of us are sojourners 19 (Exodus 23:9, Deuteronomy 24:17-18). We believe that when we welcome strangers, we welcome 20 Jesus (Matthew 25:35). (Adopted by Mennonite Church USA Delegate Assembly, Atlanta, Georgia, July 2003)

 Mennonite Church USA Statement on Immigration (95k PDF)  

Also available in Spanish (109k PDF) and Indonesian

Use Missio Dei #19, Immigration and the Bible, as the basis for Sunday school class study and sermons. Download from www.MennoniteMission.net/Tools in either English or Spanish. Printed copies for group discussion (also in English or Spanish) can be ordered from store.thirdwaymedia.org.

Resources for pastors: 5 Ways To Engage Your Congregation from Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

 Are you my neighbor? Susan Mark Landis

 Christians at the Border: Danny Carroll

 Prophets arise! Brother James Dowd

 MCC: Faith reflection

 'For I was a stranger and you invited me in' Resident aliens and wandering strangers by Don Clymer, The Mennonite 2009-06-16 issue

Mennonite Church USA area conference resource lists:

 Central Plains Mennonite Conference peace and justice focus for 2009-2010 is immigration. See their recommended resources.

 Western District Conference (Mennonite Church USA) Resources on Immigration, October 2009

Video clips:

Audio Programs:

 My ancestors were illegal immigrants Nelson Kraybill as heard on NPR, Airdate: 01/31/2011 (.mp3)

Sermons/workshops:

 Tammy Alexander, MCC Washington office ( )
 MCC U.S. Director of Immigration Education, Saulo Padilla ( )

Articles/sermons:

Great interactive websites:

 What part of legal immigration don’t you understand? (What does legal immigration look like—in cartoon form)

 Highlander Research and Education Center
    Downloadable fact/myth sheets, quizzes: extraordinary educational resources

 Shop 'til you drop on a Mexican wage
    If you worked in Mexico, what could you afford to buy?

Third Way Café: Beyond the News

- Mennonites & Immigration
- Hispanic Mennonites
- Resources for Worship
- Scriptural Reflections
- and a vast number of educational materials.
- Beyond the News: Immigration video

Interviews with immigrants and those who work with them in Texas, Florida, New York, and Mexico. This VHS video asks questions such as: What is the Christian response to immigration and undocumented worker issues? What are the racial and economic implications in the immigration debate? Great discussion starter

MCC Resources:

- Immigration Education
- Educational Resources
- MCC Resources
- Other Mennonite Resources
- Church Statements on Immigration
- Worship Resources

"Vecina, Vecino = Neighbor"

This study series is designed for a group of 4-15 Anglo members of a congregation whose Christian faith motivates them to become better neighbors to Latino/Hispanic persons in their community, and to promote the church's welcome to the immigrant community.

Second Mile curriculum

"Pathway C; The Road the Emmaus"
"Communities of Refuge" includes these lessons: Jesus was a refugee, Our God loves the stranger, Entertaining Angels, Blessed are you Among Women and A Migrant God for Migrant Workers. Copies may be ordered from Faith & Life Resources at 1-800-245-7894 or www.mph.org. Free copies of the leaders’ guidebook can be found at www.gosecondmile.org. The ISBN is 661740-09279-6.

Sojourners Study Guide:

"Christians and Immigration"
A four-session study for groups
Using biblical and personal reflections, this 48-page study guide encourages readers to think about immigration in the context of Christian faith. How does scripture affect our perspectives on immigration, migrants, strangers, and hospitality? How do our local churches welcome “the stranger”? What would a compassionate immigration policy look like?