Immigration reform initiative focuses on Matthew 25

WASHINGTON—A broad-based group of evangelicals committed to immigration reform challenged Christians in more than 100,000 churches to participate in 40 days of prayer and Scripture reading related to justice for immigrants—and invite lawmakers to join them in viewing immigration issues in light of Jesus’ teaching.

The initiative “helps us focus on what the Bible says about how God’s people should relate to those who are from other lands,” said Ferrell Foster, director of ethics and justice with the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission. “As always, Scripture can challenge our personal ideas and cultural patterns, but it is an important process for those of us who desire to follow Christ.”

The Evangelical Immigration Table announced the “I Was a Stranger” initiative to the news media in a Jan. 14 teleconference. The challenge takes its name from Jesus’ teaching about Judgment Day in chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel, where he said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Dave Gibbons, pastor of Newsong Church in Irvine, Calif., noted the term “stranger” in the Bible could be interpreted as “immigrant” or “outsider”—people with whom Jesus identified.

The Matthew 25 passage challenges Christians to “ask whether our actions reflect the way we believe Jesus Christ himself should be treated,” Gibbons said.

“This is our moment to live out the words that Jesus spoke,” said Jo Anne Lyon, general superintendent of the Wesleyan Church.

Organizers hope to involve churches, student groups and individual Christians to read a daily verse of Scripture that focuses on God’s concern for immigrants, invite legislators to allow the Bible to inform their thinking on immigration policy and pray the initiative will bring about the political will to create a just immigration system that reflects biblical values.

Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, Fla., emphasized evangelicals believe “the word of God is active and living” and capable of changing hearts and minds.

In addition to the Texas CLC, representatives of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Willow Creek Community Church, World Relief, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and the Evangelical Free Church voiced support for the “I Was a Stranger” initiative.

The Evangelical Immigration Table has urged a bipartisan solution on immigration reform that respects both the God-given dignity of every person and the rule of law, protects the unity of families, guarantees secure national borders, ensures fairness to taxpayers and establishes a pathway to legal status or citizenship for people who qualify and want to become permanent residents.

Signers of the Evangelical Statement on Principles of Immigration Reform include Suzii Paynter, director of the Texas CLC, and Jesse Rincones, president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas.

In Texas, representatives from the private sector, law enforcement and faith communities—“business, badges and Bibles”—are creating a coalition to work on “common-sense reform” of the immigration system, Paynter said.

“We hold this truth to be self-evident—that comprehensive immigration reform is justice for all,” she said. “Comprehensive immigration reform returns us to the rule of law, and it reorders justice for 22 million people in our country.”

For more information about the “I Was a Stranger” initiative, visit www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com or text “immigration” to 877877.