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Immigrant Hope is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), created to further the EFCA mission of “multiplying transformational churches among all people.” Our mission is to equip and resource churches to provide immigrants with the HOPE of the gospel, HELP finding a path to legal residency and a HOME in a church that cares for their needs.
We work with churches that have a heart for reaching immigrants in their community, helping them assess community needs and church resources, build strategic partnerships and walk through the process of becoming Department of Justice (DOJ) recognized immigration legal service providers. Our ultimate goal is not just to help immigrants find citizenship in this country; we want to help them find eternal citizenship in the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus.
Living in a new country comes with a unique set of struggles. One of the biggest is navigating the immigration system itself. U.S. immigration law is byzantine and the consequences for mistakes are severe: loss of status, imprisonment, deportation and long-term separation from family. Criminals are guaranteed legal representation in the United States, but immigration legal advice is only available to those who can find and afford it. The most vulnerable—those with the least education, means and connections—are usually left to face the system alone.
Just as the immigration system can be daunting for immigrants, the process of becoming a legal service provider can be daunting for churches. Immigrant Hope provides churches with a standardized set of resources and walks with them to set up their clinic and earn government certification. We then provide ongoing legal, program and ministry support—including access to experienced attorneys, a secure case management system and a national network of other Immigrant Hope centers.
While meeting with clients, Immigrant Hope workers are immersed in their stories, learning about their struggles, victories and hopes for the future. Clients may share things they’ve never told anyone else. The opportunity is huge to meet emotional and spiritual needs as well as legal. Workers often pray with clients, share the gospel and connect them to other church ministries, building long-term relationships based on trust and understanding. But Immigrant Hope is not just a ministry to our clients. As workers serve, they grow in their understanding of God’s love for all people and in their identity as sojourners and pilgrims. Unity in the gospel across cultural boundaries is a hallmark of Jesus’s message and ministry—and by serving immigrants and integrating them into our churches, we reflect the heart of our Lord.
