World Relief’s heart beats for the vulnerable: for the marginalized and the silenced. There is a crisis of representation in the United States and the world over, and we see the need for advocates to rise up and speak on these marginalized people’s behalf. That is what we strive to do through our advocacy services for immigrants and refugees in the U.S.: we and our church partners visit our government representatives and speak on refugees’ and immigrants’ behalf. We do this to urge our lawmakers and leaders to ensure that our society’s structures and policies foster a safe and welcoming environment for the people we work with every day.
This is why World Relief Chicago is so excited about the work that Loop Church is doing to advocate for refugees. Loop Church is “an authentic, interactive, socially engaged, multicultural church rooted in the reformed tradition.” Located in Chicago’s Loop, the church’s mission is drawn from Jesus’ call for us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 16:19). The vision Loop Church has for the mobilization of this mission is centered around its missional communities focused on environmental, anti-racism, and refugee & immigration issues.
The missional community focused on refugees & immigration issues calls itself Welcoming the Stranger. Earlier this year, in anticipation of the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions, members of this community (along with World Relief Chicago’s own Director of Volunteer and Church Engagement, Sara Aardema) visited Senators Duckworth and Durbin’s offices. Loop Church’s Claire McWilliams said that advocacy is vital in the Church’s mission to stand for the vulnerable:
“I believe engaging with one’s Members of Congress is part of our Christian calling. For Christians, I believe there’s a place for lament but also there’s a place for action even in the political sphere – not based in partisanship but in our biblical values. If we don’t speak into legislation and government, then our voice is simply absent, not represented.
We are called to be stewards of creation and to pursue the flourishing of all. The political system plays a necessary role in allowing all citizens to truly flourish. Our relationships with refugees are what also drive us to respond to God’s call to do justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly with God. We believe our faith demands that we welcome the stranger.”
On October 1st, the Presidential Determination was released, stating the admissions cap would be set at 45,000. Unfortunately, the members of the Welcoming the Stranger community were not surprised. However, they acknowledged that their efforts were not in vain, and provided them with clarity on how to move forward. Peter Zigterman was present at the meeting with Senator Duckworth and found that storytelling is an often overlooked, but powerful tactic in moving legislators to take action:
“I think the best strategy…is to point to stories of refugees who have been successful and whose inclusion into the fabric of our country is a gain for everyone; such as the founder of the Rohingya Cultural Center or the Special Immigrant Visa* client I had the pleasure of helping with World Relief.”
It has been over a month since the Presidential Determination, and our work with the Loop Church has been nothing but a statement of hope for the Church’s ability to mobilize its surrounding community. This specific community’s dedication to immigrants and refugees is an important reflection of Christ’s heart for the vulnerable. Visit Loop Church’s website to learn more about the work they do!
If you, your church or your family are interested in getting involved in advocacy, visit www.worldreliefchicago.org/church-engagement or www.worldrelief.org/advocate today!
*A Special Immigrant Visa is given to Iraqi nationals who have worked on behalf of the U.S. government or military, most often as translators.
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