Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

immigration

Accompanying in Fear: A Reflection on Love and Action in a Time of Uncertainty

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by Sandra Montes-Martinez, Western District Associate Conference Minister

Editor’s Note: This reflection was first published on sister Conference Western District’s website and has been reprinted with permission.  

The day I accompanied a friend to an ICE check-in appointment, fear was thick in the air. There was silence where there is usually conversation. Tension replaced the joy that often fills gatherings. The family moved slowly, every step toward the building weighed down by questions no one could answer. What would happen today? Would they walk out together? 

I went to support my friend, but I carried my own fears too. Even with legal status, I did not feel safe. The unfamiliarity of the process, the guarded government building, and the sense that anything could change in an instant left me anxious. I knew I was there to offer strength, but I also knew that my presence was not immune to the heaviness of the moment. 

We stood together because that’s what love does. That’s what community means. We pray together, we wait together, and when fear tries to isolate us, we choose solidarity. There was no guarantee of the outcome—only the assurance that no one would walk alone. 

As we waited, I found myself returning to the teachings of Jesus, especially his words in Matthew 25: 

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me… I was in prison and you visited me.” 

Jesus does not call his disciples to comfort or convenience. He calls us to proximity, to courage, and to compassion that moves us beyond the boundaries of our safety and into the reality of others’ suffering. This moment at ICE was not a distant political issue—it was a lived, human experience of fear, dignity, and faith. 

Our faith has long emphasized radical discipleship. At its core is the belief that following Jesus is not merely about believing in him—it’s about embodying his love in the world. Those before us understood this as they resisted the establishment, rejected violence, and stood with the persecuted even when it cost them everything. 

In today’s world, we are again called to witness—especially in the face of immigration systems and the war that dehumanizes and traumatizes. We cannot be neutral in systems that oppress. Accompaniment is not only an act of friendship; it is an act of faith. It is how we say: You are not invisible. You are not alone. God sees you, and so do we. 

As Anabaptist churches and leaders, this is the moment to embody the Gospel in concrete ways. Not with grand gestures, but with presence. With hospitality. With advocacy. With courage. 

What Can the Church Do? 

  • Show Up: Accompany people to immigration appointments or court hearings. Your presence is powerful. 
  • Educate the Congregation: Offer forums or workshops on immigrant rights and how to support families navigating the system. 
  • Preach the Gospel of Hospitality: Remind your church regularly that Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger—not just in words, but in action. 
  • Support Local Immigrant Ministries: Collaborate with organizations and ministries that serve immigrant communities. Share resources and listen to what they need. 
  • Pray—and Act: Prayer is vital, but it must move us to action. Let your church’s prayers be the fuel that leads to tangible support and sustained presence.  

The story of Jesus is the story of God drawing near to humanity in our fear and vulnerability. To follow him is to do the same. When we accompany others in their most uncertain moments, we are not just helping them—we are being transformed ourselves. 

In a world that tries to separate, detain, and deport, we bear witness to a greater truth: that perfect love casts out fear. And that love, when lived faithfully, may just be the most powerful form of resistance. 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.         

Mosaic Congregations Come Together for Accompaniment in Worship

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by Jennifer Svetlik

As a community of congregations and nonprofit ministries committed to living like Jesus together, we have an opportunity during this time of increased targeting of our communities to come together to love each other, and bear witness that God’s perfect love casts out all fear.   
 
Over 40% of Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s member congregations are made up primarily of first and second-generation immigrants, from Latin America, Indonesia, and Haiti, among other countries. Beginning in late 2024, a number of these majority-immigrant congregations began to request that Mosaic Conference share information and resources and offer support to help reduce a sense of fear among their members about the possibility of increased arrests and deportations.  
 
The elimination of the “sensitive locations” policy by the Department of Homeland Security for churches as protected spaces in January 2025 further increased a sense of fear around gathering for communal worship by some pastors and their congregants.  
 
Mosaic has been responding to these needs by increasing staff accompaniment with vulnerable congregations, creating and disseminating relevant resources through partnerships with Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee, offering Know your Rights trainings, and empowering congregations and ministries to host their own trainings in their communities. 
 
In addition to these efforts, some immigrant-majority congregations began to request accompaniment by U.S. citizens in dominant-culture Mosaic Conference congregations during times of worship.  
 
“More than ninety percent of our congregants come from outside the U.S.,” shared a Mosaic congregation pastor, who requested anonymity to protect his congregation. “A lot of our members currently do not feel safe or comfortable during worship services, because of the changes in immigration policy that make them feel safe unsafe and unwelcome.” 
 
“The reason that we asked for accompaniment is that we need the support from our brothers and sisters from the dominant culture to comfort us and walk with us during this time,” this pastor shared. “Some of our members feel safer seeing Americans sitting in the back of the church. We recognize their presence, we share fellowship together, and we feel less alone.” 

The goal of the accompaniment partnerships is to strengthen relational connections between dominant-culture and immigrant-majority congregations in a geographic area, train both congregations with Know Your Rights and Be an Ally information, and for dominant-culture guests to offer a sense of calm and interface with enforcement agents should the need ever arise.  

One of the partnerships involves six congregations, including several that are not Mosaic Conference congregations. So far around 30 people in that partnership have visited a local immigrant-majority congregation over the past six weeks. 

One of the fruits of this accompaniment work has been a greater sense of fellowship and the creation of new relationships between various congregations. Some of these partnerships were based on prior relationships that congregations have had. 

“Our congregation has had a relationship for several years with an immigrant-majority congregation. When they asked for accompaniment, even though we are a small church, it was easy to say yes,” shares Jacob Curtis, Co-Pastor of Ambler (PA) Mennonite.  

“We have relationships with other Mennonite churches nearby, so we drew on those relationships and asked them this effort,” Curtis continues. “Everyone who has visited has been impressed by the warmth and energy of the congregation. And they’ve appreciated the chance to get to know each other too. Seeds are being planted. New relationships are being formed. We’re excited to see what God grows from all this goodness!” 

At least seven Mosaic Conference congregations are currently involved in congregational pairings, with other dominant-culture congregations still organizing teams for accompaniment. There are Mosaic Conference immigrant-majority congregations still seeking accompaniment relationships with dominant-culture congregations in their area. If your congregation is interested in learning more, email immigration@mosaicmennonites.org.  

There are a few other ways Mosaic Conference has been working at supporting our immigrant-majority congregations during this time.  

A Mosaic Conference congregation is part of the lawsuit Mennonite Church USA et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al. which asserts that DHS’s reversal of policy violates the first amendment freedom of religion protections. The Preliminary Injunction Hearing for this case has been set for April 4, 2025. 

Mosaic is also responding to identified needs for more bilingual communications and community engagement through seeking to hire several more staff members.  

The Shalom Fund, the Conference’s mutual aid fund, continues to accept contributions to support immigrant congregations with unexpected needs.  

We are grateful for the shows of support across the Conference for those who are most vulnerable among us. 

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Director of Community Engagement & Editor for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA).

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Jennifer Svetlik, please email jsvetlik@mosaicmennonites.org.

MCC immigration staff in U.S. field urgent calls, questions

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By Linda Espenshade, Mennonite Central Committee U.S. News Editor

Editor’s Note: This news release was reprinted with permission. Mosaic Conference constituents can receive legal consultations through the MCC West Coast (559) 638-6911 or westcoast@mcc.org) and East Coast (305) 249-3477 or FloridaOffice@mcc.org) offices. Contact immigration@mosaicmennonites.org with questions and see Mosaic’s resources here, to support your congregation or community in Know Your Rights trainings and more.

*Maria is a pseudonym, used to protect her identity.

Maria* has a difficult decision to make in September when her legal documents that allow her to live in the United States expire.  

She could stay in the U.S., risking deportation and living under the radar, so that her young teenage daughter, a U.S. citizen, can continue living in her country. Or she could move back to Venezuela, after 16 years of living in the U.S., to a country embroiled in humanitarian and political crises so severe that 7.7 million people have fled. 

Maria came to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) East Coast immigration attorney, Rachel Diaz, to see if she has any other options to remain legally after her Temporary Protected Status (TPS) expires.  

Like other immigrants, Maria’s fear and concerns about living in the U.S. without documentation have spiked since President Trump instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to apprehend 1,000 to 1,200 immigrants daily. 

Diaz explained that Maria had no legal options to stay, despite a clean criminal record, unless Trump extends TPS for Venezuelans. 

Instead, Diaz advised her to make sure she has a family preparedness plan so that her daughter would be taken care of in case Maria gets deported.   

The plan includes actions, such as:  

  • Finding a trusted person to care for her daughter; 
  • Signing state forms giving that trusted person permission to care for her daughter temporarily, including getting medical treatment; 
  • Having a valid passport for her daughter so she can fly to Venezuela. 

“I have girls too,” says Diaz. “And here I’m telling this mom that I know has been working to give her daughter a good life that there’s nothing, no legal recourse for them at this point. So, that was tough to say.” 

As immigrants witness enforcement happening on the news and in the streets, with and without a warrant, calls to MCC’s immigration staff have increased.  

Immigrants are asking MCC staff for ways to get documentation so they can stay in the country. They also want to know how to protect their children and their assets in case they get deported. Pastors are inquiring about what to do if ICE agents come to their churches.  

MCC’s immigration staff, especially in California and Florida, respond by meeting with clients and meeting with groups in churches and schools. And they listen. 

“Sometimes I spend a good 20 minutes with people on the phone trying to listen to their situation, trying to calm them down,” says Crystal Fernandez-Benites, an immigration legal case worker for West Coast MCC. Sometimes there is no legal option, she says, “but you know, the accompaniment, the having someone, an organization where they can trust and go for guidance, I think that’s very important.”

Crystal Fernandez-Benites, an immigration legal case worker for West Coast MCC, speaks with two community members affected by President Trump’s immigration directives.  MCC photo/ Dina González-Piña

Staff across the country are giving increasing numbers of Know Your Rights presentations in churches, schools and the community. In these presentations, participants learn practical steps to take if they are apprehended and how to exercise their constitutional rights. They include:  

  • Exercise your right to stay silent. 
  • Don’t sign anything except an agreement with your own attorney. 
  • Carry copies of your immigration documents with you. 
  • Don’t open the door unless the ICE agent shows you a warrant signed by a judge with the specific name and address of someone living in your house.
  • Memorize a phone number to call from detention. (Don’t rely on your cell phone.) 

One woman who attended a training in California says that she has been very distressed by the increased ICE activity.  

“I go out feeling afraid. I only go out for the essentials, and I ask God to protect me. For me, this (training) was good because we need to be prepared and know our rights.” She now has an appointment with MCC to start the immigration process.  

Fernandez-Benites says the primary concern she hears from those attending the training is about their children. “These are people who have been in the community for a very, very long time. They have lives made here, and they have kids who were born here, and they are minors.” 

One pastor, who hosted a West Coast MCC training for her congregation of immigrants, says she and her husband, also a pastor, have been asked by at least three families to be their children’s temporary guardians.  

“They are concerned, and as they say, ‘Who else can we trust? We don’t have any relatives here.’ And if they do, they are in another state, and most of them are undocumented too,” the pastor says. She and her husband agree to support them “because my thinking is that the church is here to help.”   

For more resources for immigrants and those who want to help them, go to mcc.org/support-immigrant-neighbors. To ask your legislators to speak up for immigrants affected by Trump’s orders, as well as refugees and asylum seekers, visit mcc.org/campaign/speak-those-seeking-refuge-and-asylum. 

Mosaic Mennonite Conference Support for the Indonesian Church Amid Immigration Uncertainty

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by Hendy Matahelemual

In critical moments of history, faith communities often become a refuge for those who feel threatened and marginalized. This was also the case the day after Donald Trump’s victory announcement as President of the United States, when tension and concern swept over the immigrant community, including the Indonesian church members in South Philadelphia. Trump’s statements during his campaign about mass deportations created real anxiety within this vulnerable community. 

Pastor Danilo Sanchez (center) delivers support and prayer to the Indonesian immigrant community at Indonesian Light Church, Philadelphia.

Amid this situation, Mosaic Mennonite Conference demonstrated its commitment to the principles of love, justice, and solidarity through Pastor Danilo Sanchez’s visit to three Indonesian churches in South Philadelphia: Indonesian Light, Philadelphia Praise Center, and Nations Worship Center. This presence was not just a formality but a tangible symbol of moral, spiritual, and emotional support for the community facing immense pressure. 

The Power of Presence: Sanchez Brings a Message of Hope 

During his visit, Sanchez delivered a message full of hope and strength, reminding the congregation of the importance of leaning on God during difficult times. He quoted Psalm 46:1-2 NIV, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” This verse served as a foundation to remind the community that, despite the external threats, God remains faithful in protecting and safeguarding his people. 

This message was significant both spiritually and psychologically. As fear is real for many community members, having a faith leader present and voicing support brought much-needed reassurance. Sanchez also encouraged the community to stay united, rely on the power of prayer, and stand firm in the face of uncertainty. 

Mosaic Conference understands that faith is not just about a relationship with God, but also a relationship with one another. During Sanchez’s visit, the conference reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Indonesian congregations in South Philadelphia, which are an integral part of the immigrant community. With its Mennonite background, rich in the history of peace and social justice, this support reflects the core values of the Conference: loving one’s neighbor, protecting the vulnerable, and advocating for justice. 

In addition to the spiritual message, the Conference provided practical support, such as information about immigrant rights and access to legal assistance if needed. This approach demonstrated how faith can be translated into concrete actions that help individuals and communities persevere in difficult times. 

Pastor Danilo Sanchez (center back) with the youth group at Nations Worship Center

Relying on God and Standing Firm 

Faith communities play a crucial role in providing strength and hope, especially in the face of threats, as experienced by these Indonesian churches. In this situation, the congregation is encouraged to remember God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10 NIV, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” This message serves as a reminder that God will never abandon his people, even in their darkest moments. 

Through Sanchez’s visit and the support of the Conference, the church community in South Philadelphia is reminded that they are not alone. Solidarity, prayer, and love become the main sources of strength to move forward, remain firm, and courageously face whatever may come. In God’s love, they find the strength to continue hoping, staying united, and being a light to the world. 

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference. Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher.

Waiting for Heaven’s “Green Card”

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(Baca dalam bahasa Indonesia)

by Hendy Matahelemual, Conference Pastor of Formation & Communication

Judah, Hendy’s oldest son at Wall Street, NYC. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual.

One day I asked my 6-year-old son, “Are you Indonesian or American?” He answered, “Both, Daddy, I’m American and also Indonesian.” This is a reasonable response. However, in terms of citizenship, he is not an American citizen, but an Indonesian because we cannot have dual citizenship.

National and political identity cannot be separated in human life. Even when someone leaves the land of their birth or changes citizenship, that identity is still attached. As a newcomer to the USA and as a seminary student, I am interested in learning how we place national and political identities in line with God’s Word.

Hendy and his wife, Marina at tje Indonesian Fair in Little Indonesia, Somersworth, NH. Photo courtesy of icc.inc

I have no problem with national identity, but we must be careful not to go too far into ultra-nationalism, where someone puts the interests of a country and its people above all things. This certainly makes the country at the same level or higher than God. Therefore, as followers of Jesus, we believe that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).  We rely on God and do not deify the state, citizenship status, or even certain political parties or political figures.

Article 23 of the Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective, states:

We believe that the church is God’s “holy nation,” called to give full allegiance to Christ its head and to witness to all nations about God’s saving love. The church is the spiritual, social, and political body that gives its allegiance to God alone. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we trust in the power of God’s love for our defense. The church knows no geographical boundaries and needs no violence for its protection. The only Christian nation is the church of Jesus Christ, made up of people from every tribe and nation, called to witness to God’s glory.

It is common today for someone to rely on the state to give us prosperity, security, and comfort. In most countries, we are taught to sing the national anthem and other patriotic activities. Therefore it is very important that we return to Paul’s words in Romans 12, “Do not be conformed to this world but change with renewal of your mind, so that you understand my will, which is good, pleasing and perfect.”

Flags of nations at St.John Baptist Church Philadelphia where ILC worships every Sunday. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual

As someone who was not born and raised in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, I feel that I have experienced a new birth in Jesus because I used to misplace my national identity. But now, I am sure that my identity is as a citizen of heaven, and every believer is a co-worker without being limited by national and political identity. As a result, it should not be an exaggerated problem if someone kneels when the national song is sung. And, it should be a big concern for us if there is a problem happening in another country. Because as Christians, we are a holy nation that belongs to God.

A sculpture by French artist Bruno Catalano, in Marseilles, France, is an enigmatic sculpture thought to evoke memories and parts of themselves that every traveler inevitably leaves behind when they leave home for a new shore.

Let’s continue to persevere in our faith, especially in these difficult times. I believe God’s grace is endless.  Love, joy, and peace from God will cure our longing for our hometown, which will also fill the emptiness of our heart. This will convince us of our true identity, as God’s children, heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I also hope that the topic of national and political identity is no longer a taboo topic to be discussed in churches. I believe that each of our voices needs to be able to build up one another, and strengthen the church of God, a holy nation that is spread throughout the world.  After all, we are all still waiting for heaven’s greencard.

(Credentialed leaders: join us May 6 or 7 as our quarterly Faith & Life gatherings focus on National & Political Identity )

Refleksi aktif / Reflection on Renewing Nations and Generations

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(scroll for English)

Cerita hidup kita lebih dari sekedar cerita, ada sesuatu yang lebih dalam dari cerita kita. Cerita hidup kita membentuk identitas kita dan identitas kita menentukan misi kita dalam hidup. Kalau kita tidak memiliki cerita, kita tidak memiliki identitas yang solid. Banyak gereja imigran kehilangan fokus dan misi karena mereka tidak mengetahui cerita dan latar belakang mereka. Hal ini diutarakan oleh Sue Park-Hur dalam sesi equipping Renewing Nations and Generations ke dua di Norristown New Life.

Selama pengalaman saya menjadi pastor gereja imigran di Amerika, budaya imigran terutama dari Asia memiliki kultur rasa malu (shaming culture). Ada banyak luka, kekecewaan, dan kepahitan yang dipendam dan tidak mengalami kesembuhan. Dan hal ini menyebabkan banyak gereja mengalami stagnasi baik dalam segi spiritual maupun pelayanannya. Saya pribadi percaya bahwa di dalam keterbukaan ada sebuah pemulihan, tetapi problem kultur rasa malu inilah yang membuat seseorang sulit untuk menjadi terbuka. Sue juga mengatakan, “Luka yang tidak sembuh akan ditransfer kepada generasi berikutnya.”

Sebagai imigran ada sebuah trauma dan luka tersendiri yang kita alami ketika kita berpindah dari sebuah budaya atau lingkungan di mana kita dibesarkan ke sebuah budaya atau lingkungan yang berbeda. Hal ini terjadi dalam migrasi yang sukarela maupun karena terpaksa. Dimulai dari orang kulit putih, hitam, coklat, Hispanic/Latinos sampai Asia kita semua adalah imigran di tanah Amerika ini. Dan setiap budaya memiliki trauma tersendiri yang sangat unik sejak pertama kali menginjakkan kaki di tanah ini. Dan trauma-trauma ini akan ditransfer kepada generasi berikutnya jika tidak pulih.

Pertama kali saya datang ke Amerika, saya heran ternyata tension antara orang kulit putih dan hitam masih ada, dalam benak saya hal tersebut sudah hilang dan selesai ketika Martin Luther King Jr melakukan civil rights movement, atau bahkan ketika Obama menjadi presiden, ternyata trauma tersebut belum hilang, dan dampaknya masih ada sampai dengan sekarang. Juga bagaimana imigran Asia dan Hispanic pun memiliki permasalahan  tersendiri, racial slur antara imigran Asia dan Hispanic pun masih sering saya dengar. Ketakutan orang Asia dengan orang kulit hitam, semua memiliki cerita konflik tersendiri. Stereotype demi stereotype kian bermunculan. Dan terjadilah ajang saling menyakiti satu sama lain, dan setiap budaya membangun temboknya masing-masing untuk melindungi diri. Hurt people, hurt people.

Tetapi pada minggu lalu dalam acara Renewing Nations and Generations banyak pemimpin mayoritas global/Kulit berwarna Franconia Conference, diingatkan bahwa kita semua adalah produk dari masa lalu, produk dari sistem dunia yang korup dan tidak adil. Pada acara ini kami belajar bahwa kami semua mempunyai pilihan untuk berubah, sembuh, bertransformasi menjadi kita yang baru. Dan berita baiknya adalah darah Yesus sudah tercurah dan kasih karunia sudah cukup bagi kita semua bagi kita yang percaya dan mau berubah menjadi lebih baik. Tetapi kita pun tahu bahwa hal ini hanya bisa terjadi ketika kita mau saling jujur, terbuka dan percaya satu sama lain, membangun hubungan yang meruntuhkan semua tembok stereotype dan membiarkan Yesus memulihkan kedua ujung jembatan.

Ini adalah sebuah awal dari proses pemulihan dan transformasi kita, kita menyadari bahwa jalan masih Panjang, tetapi kita percaya dengan komitmen, tekad dan kerjasama kita semua bisa menghilangkan rasisme, dan menjadikan perbedaan sebagai sebuah kekayaan yang bisa gunakan bersama-sama untuk saling bertransformasi menjadi ciptaan baru dan saya percaya hal inilah yang menjadikan Kerajaan Surga turun diatas muka bumi ini. Saatnya berbagi cerita hidup bersama sama yang meruntuhkan tembok dan membangun jembatan.

The story of our lives is more than just a story – there is something deeper. Our life stories shape our identity and our identity determines our mission in life. If we don’t have a story, we don’t have a solid identity. Many immigrant churches lose their focus and mission because they do not know their story and background. This was stated by Sue Park-Hur in the second equipping Renewing Nations and Generations session at Norristown New Life on Friday, November 1.

During my experience as a pastor of immigrant churches in America, immigrant culture, especially from Asia, has a shaming culture. There are many wounds, disappointments, and bitterness that are buried and are not healing, and this has caused many churches to experience stagnation both in terms of spirituality and ministry. I personally believe that in openness there is recovery, but it is this shame culture problem that makes it difficult for someone to be open. Sue also said, “Wounds that don’t heal will be transferred to the next generation.”

As immigrants there is a trauma and injury that we experience when we move to a different culture or environment from where were raised. This occurs in voluntary and forced migration. From white, black, brown, Hispanic/Latinos to Asian people, most of us are immigrants in this American land. Every culture has its own trauma that is very unique since it first set foot on this land. These traumas will be transferred to the next generation if they do not recover.

The first time I came to America, I was surprised that the tension between white and black people was still there; in my mind, it was gone and finished when Martin Luther King Jr. conducted a civil rights movement, or even when Obama became president.  It turned out the trauma has not yet disappeared, and its effects are still present today. Asian and Hispanic immigrants also have their own problems; racial slurs between Asian and Hispanic immigrants are still often heard. Asian and black people all have their own conflict stories. Stereotypes are increasingly appearing. People from different cultures hurt each other, and each culture built its own wall as a defense mechanism. Hurt people, hurt people.

But last week on the day of Renewing Nations and Generations, many Franconia global majority/people of color leaders were all reminded that we are all products of the past, products of a corrupt and unjust world system. In this program we learned that we all have the choice to change, recover, and transform into us. The good news is that the blood of Jesus was shed, and grace is enough for all of us who believe and want to change for the better. But we also know that this can only happen when we want to be honest, open and trusting with one another, building relationships that break down all stereotypical walls and allow Jesus to restore both ends of the bridge.

This is the beginning of our recovery and transformation process – we realize that the road is still long, but we believe that our commitment, determination and cooperation can eliminate racism, and make diversity a treasure that can be used to transform each other into new creations. I believe this will allow the Kingdom of Heaven to descend upon this earth. It’s time to share stories of living together with those who tear down walls and build bridges.

A Family Reunited

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by Nelson Shenk, Boyertown congregation

Gaby & Kyle with their daughters

In 2005, Maria Gabriella (Gaby) left a dangerous living situation in Mexico and came to the United States to make a better and safer life for herself and her two-year-old daughter Citlalli.  In doing so, she and her daughter came as undocumented persons.  She eventually met and married Kyle Rhoads, who grew up at Boyertown Mennonite Church.  They had 2 daughters, Isabel and Kylene, and settled in Bechtelsville as a happy family unit.

They were attending our church for several months when Gaby and Citlalli decided to apply for their green cards so they could be here legally. That involved returning to Mexico and having an immigration interview at the U. S. Embassy.

In October 2017, she and her daughter returned to Mexico with trepidation.  Her daughter was approved and returned home to Bechtelsville in November, but Gaby was denied.  After the denial of her visa in the interview, she had to re-apply for a waiver.   In February 2018, her husband and 2 younger daughters visited her, and two-year-old Kylene stayed in Mexico with her mother.

Many phone calls were made to lawyers and politicians on her behalf.  Many people at Boyertown church wrote letters requesting her return so the family could be together.

Gaby reapplied and, after spending many months waiting, she went through the interview process again, including another medical exam and paying more money.  After 15 months away from her husband and daughter, her visa was finally approved in October 2018.  She and Kylene arrived home on January 24. 

On January 30th, a big celebration was held at church for her safe return.  Christopher Friesen, a member of the Germantown congregation, works for the law firm that processed Gaby’s paperwork.  He and Gaby finally met as we celebrated that day, which was another joyous occasion.

Gaby’s family is once again living as a family unit in Bechtelsville.  There are still some on-going complications with paper work, so please keep the family in prayer as life goes on and there are adjustments to be made. Our church family at Boyertown praises God for a good outcome for Gaby’s family.

 

 

The One Who Knocks

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by Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister

This is the great seriousness of the Advent message and its great blessing. Christ stands at the door. He lives in the form of people around us. Will you therefore leave the door locked for your protection, or will you open the door?
— from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s sermon for the first Sunday in Advent of 1928 in Barcelona

As I write this, thousands of migrants are stranded at Tijuana, one of Mexico’s most dangerous cities. At times they are within shouting distance of peaceful and prosperous San Diego County, CA. There are jobs across the frontera, generated by a booming economy with low taxes and high expectations. And relative safety. They’re fleeing violence and grinding poverty. God only knows what will happen to them by the time you read this.

I’ve seen refugees before.

In Rome, at St. Paul’s in the Walls, straggling in from small boats that made it across the Mediterranean with hopes of prosperity and work.

At Calais, young men who trudged across Central Asia and some fleeing East African violence waiting to hitch a ride on a lorry to jobs at restaurants and with family and friends in the United Kingdom.

One time in a cadre, clutching what seemed like all that they had through Barajas airport at Madrid with bags marked “UNCHR” (UN Refugee Agency), the kind I’d use to carry my groceries.

“The Flight into Egypt” by Henry Ossawa Tanner (c. 1907). Public Domain.

In Mary and Joseph, running away from a violent king, crossing borders and languages and customs to save their son from certain death.

And in Mennonite churches —where the presence of refugees from Myanmar has boosted the futures of dwindling churches, where new congregations have been birthed by Indonesians fleeing violence and seeking asylum, where pews are filled by Nepalis suddenly dislodged from Bhutan, by Vietnamese and Cambodians who arrived a generation ago.

Those who knock at the door and come inside change us, deepening our gratitude and generosity, enriching the possibilities of our future.

We, as Mennonites, have been these folks as well, fleeing the Ukraine and adrift in the Atlantic until someone unlocked the door to Paraguay. Or streaming to new possibilities in North America by homesteading land to lay foundations for colonizing empires by pushing back indigenous people. It’s not always a pretty entrance.

We have at times found the doors locked ourselves. We have been fearful and hopeful, at the end of our rope, the one seeking loving kindness and mercy. We have been running from slaveholders and the legacy of white supremacy, running from abusers, persecution and poverty. We have been outsiders, too.

We have sometimes forgotten ourselves and our wandering stories.  Fear has grown in the space of our forgetting. That fear overshadows our ability to see the stranger as ourselves.

This same kind of fear drove shooters to a black church in Charleston and a synagogue in Pittsburgh.  The fear is a cycle so that we are afraid that the one at door might seek to destroy our very existence.  We become comfortable and culpable by normalizing, “it would have been better if they’d had an armed guard.”  With an armed guard, the stranger never even makes it to the door. 

We are safe.  We survive but become a shell of ourselves, shrouded in fear.  Safe and secure, we strain to hear the knock of the One who seeks shelter to be born again, even in our own hearts, homes, and communities, in this season when love and light broke in.  And we move in faith to unlock the door.