Colorado Evangelical Leaders Call for a Vote on Immigration Reform
Local Pastors to Fly to D.C., Meet with Members of Congress Next Week
DENVER, APRIL 23, 2014 — Top Colorado evangelical leaders joined a virtual press conference today to highlight the biblical call to welcome the stranger and urge Congress to move forward with a vote on immigration reform.
The press conference featured local pastors from Rep. Cory Gardner’s district (CO-04) who discussed the moral imperatives for immigration reform, their efforts during the April congressional recess and their April 29 #Pray4Reform trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with their members of Congress.
The following are quotes from today’s press conference:
Abraham Torres, Pastor, 23rd Avenue Church, Greeley:
“I am going to Washington, D.C., because I’m tired of seeing how my community suffers. I’m tired of seeing people live in the shadows because they are afraid for their families, their friends and neighbors. And I’m tired of seeing how the dreams of our youth are truncated because of a broken system designed to take advantage of the undocumented. I’m proud of the community in which I live, people with documents and without, hardworking people, people who speak different languages, people of different colors and cultures. We’re all created in the image of God; we’re all equal.”
Michelle Warren, Advocacy and Policy Engagement Coordinator, Christian Community Development Association:
“I have had the opportunity to take more than 60 pastors and ministry leaders to Washington, D.C., to meet with their legislators regarding the need for immigration reform. As evangelical Christians, we embrace the truth of the Bible and its call to welcome and love the foreigner. We believe that the current immigration system is unjust. It separates families and keeps people in a perpetually broken place without the ability to be restored. We desire to see compassionate immigration reform that values the dignity of people and protects the unity of the family alongside border security.”
Janie Wead-Mobley, Director, Hispanic Project, Assemblies of God U.S. Mission, Castle Rock:
“As a Castle Rock resident in Rep. Cory Gardner’s district, I’m going to Washington to be a part of an evangelical, conservative voice advocating for immigration reform. I have the joy of serving as a Spanish speaking missionary to U.S. Hispanics; I know their plight very personally and up close. Multitudes of my acquaintances were brought to this country as children and have absolutely no recourse to come in from the shadows. I am joining other conservative voices, expressing urgency to move on this vital issue. It is time to stop the vitriol and move to reform our antiquated and broken system.”
Join the conversation on Twitter using #Pray4Reform and #VoteOnReform.