An Update from the Border – and an Invitation to Pray & Act as We Approach the Presidential Election

Dear friends,

I’m writing from San Diego, California, where, along with a group of local pastors from my home state of Wisconsin, we will be learning about the current dynamics here along the U.S.-Mexico border, interacting with pastors and church leaders both in the U.S. and Mexico, with migrants themselves and with governmental authorities.

Border dynamics have of course become front and center in the U.S. presidential campaigns, with both major candidates insisting that they have a plan to secure the border and accusing their opponent of stymying efforts to do so. And immigration dynamics have reached well beyond the border as well, with immigrants of particular nationalities in Springfield, Ohio and elsewhere being accused (in many cases, without evidence) of menacing behaviors.

In the midst of the campaign season, I’m concerned that many outside the church hear dehumanizing rhetoric about immigrants – ostensibly designed to motivate evangelical voters – and conclude that evangelical Christians are anti-immigrant. This reputation, which I do not believe is borne out by either survey data or my personal experience with many local churches serving immigrants, presents a serious challenge to our public witness. It can lead our immigrant brothers and sisters within the church to feel abandoned by the larger U.S. church, and it can create a barrier to those outside of the church from ever engaging the hope of the gospel.

In other circles, evangelical leaders who have spoken about immigrants in a compassionate way are sometimes accused of advocating for open borders. Almost every evangelical leader whom I’ve ever interacted with would unreservedly affirm that they believe the government has an obligation to ensure secure borders – and that the government should do so in ways that still treat people humanely and ensure due process for those fleeing from persecution. But, as I wrote recently for Religion News Service, in the internet era, falsehoods move at light speed.

That’s why I’m pleased that one of the organizations that leads the Evangelical Immigration Table, World Relief, has coordinated an open letter to both presidential campaigns, correcting these false caricatures of what evangelicals believe about immigration. Citing a Lifeway Research study conducted earlier this year, the letter notes that 91% of evangelical Christians believe that immigration policies should reflect the dignity of each person, 91% believe that our policies should ensure secure national borders and 91% believe that our policies should prioritize family unity.

I’d invite you to consider adding your name to this letter, which has already been affirmed by a broad range of national Christian leaders and local pastors. While evangelical Christians are diverse in terms of ethnicity, denominational background, geography and whom they plan to vote for, the vast majority can agree on these basic, biblically-informed principles – and the more people who make that statement publicly, the more we can rebut false characterizations of who we are.

Even as we act, however, I also want to encourage you to pray, particularly as we enter the final month before the U.S. presidential elections. Please join me in praying that:

• Each candidate and campaign would speak of immigrants in ways that affirm their human dignity as individuals made in God’s Image
• Christians – whether everyday church members, pastors and church leaders or elected officials and candidates for office – would look to the Scriptures as their primary guide as they form and articulate their views about immigrants and immigration
• God would be with immigrant brothers and sisters feeling distraught by the rhetoric of the campaign, assuring them first and foremost that He is their refuge and strength, and also that they are a part of global body of Christ that recognizes and affirms their dignity and value
• Immigrants who do not yet know Christ would know that God loves them and wants to be in relationship with them through faith in Christ
• Governmental authorities responsible for ensuring secure and orderly borders would be equipped and sustained to do their important task
• Lawmakers would have wisdom and courage to forge consensus toward policy solutions consistent with biblical values
• Regardless of the outcome of the election, the Church would live into its call to love our neighbors and make disciples of all nations

Please also pray for me and our group of pastors at the border this week, that we’d see God at work here through his people.

In Christ,

Matthew Soerens
National Coordinator, Evangelical Immigration Table