Ongoing persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, economic shocks and natural disasters, as well as other destabilizing events, all compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, have greatly increased the number of people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes. The ELCA AMMPARO strategy to accompany migrants with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunities was adopted […]
“In its simplest form, becoming a sanctuary denomination means that the ELCA is publicly declaring that walking alongside immigrants and refugees is a matter of faith. In baptism, we are brought into a covenantal relationship with Jesus Christ that commits us to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Following the example of […]
While Karina was shoulders deep in a river in the Darién Gap, crossing between Colombia and Panama, her main thought was whether she, her 6-year-old son and her 18-year-old daughter would make it safely to the other side. The idea of reaching the U.S. border or being allowed into the United States seemed increasingly unlikely. […]
A man in flip-flops, dirty jeans and a worn T-shirt sat on a rickety chair in a migrant safe house in southern Mexico. His two teenagers stood beside him. Holding his head in his hands, he said, “I’m just so thankful my daughter wasn’t raped in front of me.” The day before Mexican bandits assaulted […]
Building on a shared vision for gospel-centered hospitality and inclusion, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) and AMMPARO, the ELCA’s migrant ministry, have entered into a partnership to better train and support asylum-seeker sponsors. AMMPARO is the ELCA’s strategic commitment to accompany migrants with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunities. In this new collaboration AMMPARO will use the […]
The Conference of Bishops of the ELCA added its voice to concerns about international and domestic situations during its meeting Feb. 27-March 5 at Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, Ill. The conference is an advisory body of the ELCA that comprises 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary. In key business the conference: Issued […]
Executive committee members of the ELCA’s AMMPARO strategy met in Washington, D.C., last month to discuss opportunities for highlighting migrant voices on Capitol Hill. Meetings not only advanced AMMPARO’s ministry with its companions—accompanying migrants with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunities—but also portrayed “our broad and inclusive witness.” As one Raed AbuJries—ELCA director for AMMPARO U.S. […]
Compiled by Living Lutheran staff Special thanks to the ELCA Archives Living Lutheran and its predecessors have been telling the stories of God’s people living their faith for nearly two centuries. The formats, distribution frequency and even church bodies represented have changed for these publications—but the core mission, to share the good news through Lutherans’ […]
Every day, Living Lutheran offers a prayer from the ELCA resource Prayer ventures, which can be downloaded here. These daily petitions are offered as a guide for your own prayer life as together we pray for the needs of the world and give thanks for the ministries of our church. Wednesday, Oct. 25 We pray that […]
