Stories

The Transforming Impact of Welcome: The Unexpected Journey

What happens when two families, from different worlds, take a leap of faith? This is a story of courage, compassion, and the unexpected blessings that come when we say “yes” to love. Lisa Fernelius, a member of the Women of Welcome community, never imagined how one trip to Honduras would transform her life forever. What started as a mission trip turned into a life-changing act of love when an asylum-seeking family reached out in their time of need. A Step of Faith It was kind of accidental. It is what I

Prayers for 2025

As women who believe God calls us to a deep love for the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the forgotten, we know part of that call to love is to pray. As we enter 2025, we are holding many concerns in our hearts. But as we align our hearts to God’s heart for the immigrant and refugee, we want to hold our brothers and sisters in our prayers. Let us pray for those on the move around the world, at our borders, and in our communities. The World God, our hearts break for the reasons people

Faith, Facts & Fear: A Conversation with Kaitlyn Schiess

We’re excited to launch a new video series diving into Faith, Fear & Facts this election season! It can be difficult to know how to respond to the rhetoric of fear and the misinformation around issues that impact our immigrant brothers and sisters. Following your compassion into this space can feel lonely. You may not know what to think about the issues you hear in the news. Perhaps you are looking for a way to look at the policies through a lens of faith. That’s why we’re looking to people of faith this season to help us answer hard questions,

Leveraging Immigration to Fulfill the Great Commission

Seeing the People Behind Policies It is a good thing to care about politics. In particular, it is a good thing to care about immigration policies. Christians should be well informed about the issue and go to the polls with conviction based on thorough research. Immigration is a complex issue and faithful Christians may come to different conclusions for how to fix our undeniably broken system. But regardless of where we may fall on the political spectrum, we must be careful not to let policies keep us from seeing the people behind them. I have worked for the

A Challenge to the American Church — Will You Respond with Compassion?

Immigration is not just a political issue but a deeply personal and human experience. Beyond the staggering statistics associated with the current influx at our southern border, there are people made in the image of God and deserving of love and care. Each person has a unique story that led them there, and when we listen, we offer dignity and kindness. Is it possible for us as Christians to lead the way in responding with compassion and empathy? Joel and Jamie’s Story Their journey toward adjusting

Catch Up on 2023: Proximity Matters!

As we seek to learn, engage, and grow to be more like Christ in our welcome, we know proximity matters. Getting to know people is the best way to see the value and dignity of each person. And, hearing people’s stories and experiences is a powerful catalyst for fostering understanding, empathy, and compassion. Throughout 2023, we introduced you to women from our community who are making a difference in the lives of immigrants and refugees either because their hearts were moved to compassion or because of their own immigration experience. If you haven’t met these incredible