Presbyterian Mission Agency welcoming the stranger Archives

Welcoming the stranger

Posted August 18th, 2022

As part of his sabbatical from Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, a few years ago, the Rev. Brad Smith brought his wife, Nancy, and their three young adult children to Taiwan to experience the richness of both Taiwan’s culture and church life.

Minute for Mission: World Refugee Day

Posted May 26th, 2022

June 20 is World Refugee Day. Displaced from their homes amid unimaginable circumstances, refugees’ journeys are long and difficult.

A prison, by any other name …

Posted September 23rd, 2021

The Karnes City, Texas facility where people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are detained is called Karnes County Family Residential Center. In Berks County, Pennsylvania, ICE has the similarly named Berks Family Residential Center. Panelists on Wednesday’s edition of the “Welcoming the Stranger” webinar series from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Migration Roundtable had a different word for the facilities where many families crossing the U.S. border are kept. Prison.

Family detention is the focus of the next PC(USA) immigration webinar

Posted September 15th, 2021

“Welcoming the Stranger,” a webinar series from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Migration Roundtable, returns at noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, Sept. 22, with an episode focused on family detention.

PC(USA) webinar will focus on ‘citizenship for all’

Posted August 16th, 2021

After a short hiatus, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Welcoming the Stranger webinar series returns this week with an episode focused on the movement for citizenship for all undocumented immigrants.

Palestinian refugees call on Presbyterians to support them

Posted June 23rd, 2021

After two episodes focused on the United States Southern Border, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s immigration webinar series turned its attention this week to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader Middle East.

‘I was in prison …’ – immigration detention and Matthew 25

Posted June 10th, 2021

Speaking about his Atlanta-area church’s work with immigrants, the Rev. Tom Hagood turned to the words of Father Daniel Groody of the University of Notre Dame and Matthew 25.

Webinar series offers Presbyterian perspective on immigration

Posted May 21st, 2021

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Migration Roundtable will launch a new webinar series Tuesday afternoon with the first episode focusing on the root causes of Central American migration to the United States and U.S. policy.

A perilous journey: helping today’s asylum seekers

Posted January 3rd, 2019

Central American migrants start as early as 4 a.m. on their trek northward. Many begin with prayer, asking God to keep them safe and provide them peace and comfort in this frightening journey. Mothers and fathers carry sleeping children on their backs or in strollers, hoping to cover as much distance as they can in a day. If they are lucky, they may catch a ride in a passing truck or receive something to eat from good Samaritans in a local village.

Recognizing Christ in our midst

Posted March 26th, 2018

I was once in charge of logistics for an important meeting at an international airport. Since VIPs were flying in from all around the world, I wanted to make sure that everything was set up perfectly. I dutifully went to the conference room a couple of hours early and found, to my surprise, several strangers camped out.