Immigrant members of Church of the Brethren congregations who have received grants from the Deportation Defense Response team’s Legal and Mutual Aid Fund have expressed to the team that they are thankful and they feel they are not alone. The funds they have received, thanks to the generosity of congregations across the denomination, have covered the high costs of legal and filing fees and have supported families whose loved ones have been affected by detention and deportation.
The Deportation Defense Response effort was initiated by four Church of the Brethren districts in partnership with the Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries and On Earth Peace.
“We have many others waiting for grants and we need your help,” said an announcement from the Deportation Defense Response team. “We encourage you to take up an offering in your congregation, host a fundraiser, and let your community know of this opportunity to directly support our immigrant siblings in Church of the Brethren congregations across the nation!”
You can now donate online to the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund:
The team is now offering a new process for online donations for the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund at www.onearthpeace.org/legal_mutual_aid_fund_donations
You can also mail checks to Atlantic Southeast District with “DDR” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to Atlantic Southeast District, 64954 Orchard Dr., Goshen, IN 46526. For questions contact atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com
The fund is described at www.onearthpeace.org/immigrant_legal_mutual_aid_fund
Congregations needing financial help to aid their immigrant church members may apply for grants from the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund by contacting ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com or 561-647-8981 to receive the application form.
The team continues to call on lawyers to help the effort: “If you are a lawyer or know a lawyer who would like to join us in supporting our immigrant siblings in Church of the Brethren churches who are in need of legal assistance, please contact migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org.”
New webpage and toolkit of resources
A new Deportation Defense Response webpage is now online at www.onearthpeace.org/deportation_defense_response_team. The page includes a link to a new online Resource Toolkit now available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/168SYb-D3cMBO8ORb4sDXMqMbA2yvSGCN.
“This toolkit will continue to be developed,” said an announcement. “For now, look at our ‘Welcome!’ document and browse through the folders. If you know of a great resource we should add, or if you find a resource within this toolkit particularly helpful for you, please reach out to us at migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org.”
Requests for prayer and praise
The team is sharing the following prayer requests this week:
• Pray for all who have been detained, deported, and those who suffered the trauma of detention and have thankfully been released. An updated list will be provided soon.
• Pray for people seeking asylum, green cards, and citizenship and for upcoming court dates
• Pray for those whose TPS has expired
• Pray for a unified resistance to all injustice against immigrants
• Pray for all government officials
• Pray for all legal professionals, faith leaders, and community leaders supporting immigrants
The following is shared for praise:
• The generosity of congregations that have allowed the team to provide for immigrants’ needs through the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund.
• A Service of Lament was put on by Brethren pastors and leaders in Dayton, Ohio, in September. Read a report from the Dayton Daily News at www.daytondailynews.com/local/area-churches-lament-immigrant-families-negatively-affected-by-new-policies/DN77NSZQYRHKLKDFTKB3FWHQNQ
Upcoming events
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. (Eastern time), team members are leading the second in a two-part series of online sessions from Ventures in Christian Discipleship, hosted by McPherson (Kan.) College, titled “Immigrant Solidarity in Jesus’ Name.” For more information and a link to register go to www.brethren.org/news/2025/ventures-program-announces-courses
Biweekly Prayer Gatherings for Immigrant Justice are every other Thursday from 12-1 p.m. (Eastern time) over Zoom. The next gathering is Oct. 30. Find more info and RSVP at www.onearthpeace.org/2025_10_prayer_gathering_for_immigrant_justice_20251002
Biweekly Pastoral Care Gatherings in Spanish and Haitian Creole are offered from 6-7 p.m. (Eastern time) every other Monday over Zoom. For more information and to receive the Zoom link, email ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com or text 561-647-8981.
Find out more about the work of the Deportation Defense Response at www.onearthpeace.org/deportation_defense_response_team
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Madalyn Metzger and Rhonda Pittman Gingrich to serve in new interim positions with the Church of the Brethren
- Global Church of the Brethren Communion meets in Spain
- Grant of $500,000 to the Church of the Brethren will support Brethren Disaster Ministries
- Discovering joys, challenges, and God at work with the churches in the Dominican Republic
- Global Mission executive visits Church of the Brethren in Burundi, meets with church leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo