A release from the Deportation Defense Response Team
Nine months ago, during our report to the delegates at Annual Conference, we challenged the congregations of the church to raise $100,000 to create a new Legal and Mutual Aid Fund to meet the needs of Church of the Brethren immigrants due to harsh immigration enforcement. On Easter weekend, we give thanks that compassionate individuals and churches within the denomination have donated more than a quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) in the last nine months. Praise God!
Beth Sollenberger of the church’s Atlantic Southeast District, which has administered the grants, reports that more than 95 grants have been made via more than 30 congregations. “It is my privilege to be the middle person,” she states. “Day after day, the mailbox contains envelopes with a check enclosed. I am in awe of the generosity of people supporting the DDR Legal and Mutual Aid Fund. I am also inspired by congregations requesting grants to support individuals and families caught in the immigration system. In the Church of the Brethren we are blessed to be able to assist our sisters and brothers with your gifts.”
The Body of Christ comes alive when we see ourselves as “one heart and soul” in Christ, regardless of citizenship status. Mutual aid in a time of need reflects Acts 4:32-34, and, just as the early church, this faithfulness invites Christ to rise in our own time. May God be glorified for this testimony of faith! Christ the Lord is risen today!
“We received contributions not just from the congregation, but from people sharing what they have,” says Founa Badet, director of Intercultural Ministry for the Church of the Brethren and a member of the Deportation Defense Response Team. “People are writing checks from their pensions, from their retirement, just to support DDR. Seeing small churches, big churches, families, single people sharing what they have—it’s a blessing. We are being good stewards of what God gave us, and people are trusting the DDR team to be good stewards as well.”
The need continues, so we encourage congregations to continue to take up offerings for this fund to support our immigrant siblings in Christ. The team and steering committee have set a new goal of $400,000. Please help us meet this new goal so we can continue to provide funding for legal assistance and basic necessities for our impacted church members.
The Deportation Defense Response is a partnership of several districts of the Church of the Brethren–Atlantic Southeast, Atlantic Northeast, Pacific Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Virlina–along with the Intercultural Ministries and On Earth Peace. Find out more at www.brethren.org/intercultural/ddr
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