At the heart of who we are, we believe all people are made in the image of God and deserve love and care. As we filter through the many headlines and news stories surrounding the migrants being bused and flown from border states to sanctuary cities and beyond, we have to remind ourselves that these are real people walking through a traumatic season in their lives. 

We Have a Humanitarian Response

We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis, not a national security threat. Each migrant on those buses and planes is in the United States legally. Many were forced to flee their own county to escape violence, insecurity, and threats as well as lack of food, medicine, and essential services according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. Seeking asylum is legal under U.S. law and the process cannot begin until they are on U.S. soil. Once migrants are thoroughly vetted and processed by federal authorities, they are released from custody and allowed to move throughout the country while they go through immigration court proceedings.

We Honor Each Person’s Dignity

The migrants are extremely vulnerable and are in desperate situations. They have left behind everything they have ever known and made difficult and risky journeys to find safety. No one, especially the most vulnerable among us, deserves to be used as a prop in a political stunt causing further trauma. We can and should do better! We must remind ourselves, and others, that each migrant is a human being made in the image of God and deeply loved by Him. In fact, we are commanded to love them as neighbors.

We Pray

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” – Leviticus 19:33-34 NIV

Let’s commit to praying together as a community for migrants as they take their next steps in this journey.

• Pray for God to surround the migrants in peace as they walk through processing, interviews, and relocations around the country. May they experience His love and grace in unexpected places.

• Pray Provider God, Jehovah Jireh, will make a way for migrants to have what they need and a place to belong. Pray that He will shower them with welcome, and protect them from abuse. 

• Pray Healer God, Jehovah Rapha, will cover any wounds – physical or emotional – that migrants are experiencing. Offer them rest and restoration in a place that is safe and at peace.

• We trust God knows the needs of every migrant and the plans He has for their next steps. We pray He will guide them and light their path along the way. 

• Pray God will show us how to welcome with Christ-like love.

Learn More

What’s Happening with Migrant Busing? A Conversation with Matthew Soerens of World Relief

What Was it Like to Evacuate Afghanistan?

Back from the Border, Conversations with Women who went with us to the border