As you look to shepherd your congregation through this moment in our nation, first read President Randy Remington’s letter from Feb. 2026.
We believe the Lord’s heart bends toward the vulnerable, the stranger, the oppressed. But how do we, as local leaders, care for those that the Lord has entrusted to us? The following will help guide as we lead those in our congregation, whether they are immigrants, local leaders or have deep differences in response to current events.
1) Lead in prayer and fasting. Invite your church to a focused time of prayer (and, as the Spirit leads, fasting) for protection, wisdom, justice, compassion and peace in our cities. This is a time for intercession, for spiritual warfare and consecration. This prayer (PDF) may help you get started.
2) Create space for listening and lament. Host a time of prayer and lament. Invite congregants to pursue the Lord as a community and to lay down their fears, their anger and their judgment. Read Scripture aloud (Ps. 146; Rom. 12; Mic. 6:8). This prayer may be used or distributed to your congregation as you see fit.
3) Speak with careful, dignifying language. Refuse rhetoric that dehumanizes. Model speech that reflects the image of God and the fruit of the Spirit (Col. 3:12–14; Gal. 5:22–23). Avoid dehumanizing labels (e.g., illegals, invaders, criminals, protestors, enforcers) and instead use people‑first language (e.g. immigrant families, neighbors, undocumented people, those in authority) while also speaking with compassion, gentleness and self‑control.
4) Care for the anxious without inflaming fear. Share calm, factual next steps for immigrant congregants (e.g., connecting with reputable legal resources; making family plans, such as developing an emergency contact list and organizing important documents) without becoming alarmist or offering legal advice (Isa. 41:10; John 14:27). For legal resources and support, contact Foursquare.
5) Shepherd law enforcement personnel. Pray with and for those tasked with enforcement. Affirm their calling to serve with integrity, restraint and respect for human dignity; offer pastoral care for the burdens they carry (Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Tim. 2:1–2).
6) Guard the unity of the Church. Teach and model how to hold deep differences in Christ-honoring love (Eph. 4:1–6; John 17:20–23). Avoid partisan posturing from the pulpit; call the whole church to Christlike character.
7) Equip your team. Brief your staff, elders and ministry leaders on how to respond to anxious congregants, how to de-escalate conversations and how to refer people to vetted help. (See numbers 4 and 8).
8) Reach out to Foursquare for additional support. Reach out by email for a curated list of legal resources for those affected in your local church. If there are resources you would like to see Foursquare create, let us know.
