by Bruce Ten Haken, Deacon
Each morning when I wake and each night before I sleep, I read a small piece of paper on the kitchen window shelf that says, “What does the Lord require of you?” The “Micah Mandate” gives a balanced answer to today’s spiritual and political questions. In response to this mandate, the Deacons have approved two immigration-related initiatives to be supported by the Hope Church Christmas Offering.
A few months past, Rev. Angel Lopez, a member of Holland Classis who serves on the staff of Third Reformed Church, spoke with us about a need and opportunity to answer the above “Micah Mandate.” Angel asked for support on behalf of his brother’s church in Mexico as they seek to offer necessary housing and care for refugees. Recently, the Holland Classis executive committee requested that the Classis of Holland endorse the raising of funds for Frontera de Gracia Ministry at the Mexican border.
Angel’s brother, Samuel, is a pastor in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, near the border of Texas. Samuel Lopez and the Frontera de Gracia Church, Ciudad Juarez (Presbyterian Church of Mexico), has become a safe place for refugees as they await an opportunity to seek asylum in the US. Many of these refugees are from Cuba, following the directive to seek asylum in the U.S. by coming over land rather than by sea. (further information can be found at
www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum/asylum/obtaining-asylum-united-states.
Angel and Samuel say that it is “not common to find an Evangelical church willing to step out in faith, sharing their resources, and receive refugees.” These refugees have no other place to go. They need housing, clothing, toiletries, and food. This is a unique opportunity, at a pivotal time, to offer life-saving hope and help, for refugees seeking asylum. This is not an ordinary programmatic request for funds; the usual agencies and structures are not in place for this refugee crisis. This is a grassroots initiative on the forefront of humanitarian aid. Endorsing this request is a step of faith that Angel, Samuel, and others are responding as best they can to a need they have seen. The ministry they are undertaking has been witnessed and supported by Melissa Stek of the CRCNA and J.J. TenClay, of RCA Global Mission’s Refugee Ministries, who affirm this unique opportunity for supporting these refugees.
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) is a nonprofit that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees in Central and South Texas. Founded in 1986 as the Refugee Aid Project by community activists in South Texas, RAICES has grown to be the largest immigration legal services provider in Texas. As an organization that combines expertise developed from the daily practice of immigration law with a deep commitment to advocacy, RAICES is unique among immigration organizations. A diverse staff of 240 attorneys, legal assistants, social workers, advocates, and support staff provide consultations, direct legal services, representation, assistance, and advocacy to communities in Texas and to clients after they leave the state. In 2017, RAICES staff assisted in 51,000 cases at no cost to the client. More detailed information can be found at www.raicestexas.org.
The Consistory of Hope Church seeks your generosity in the coming Christmas Offering to address immigration issues both in a particular community and systemically.