In every season, it seems that there are issues that rise to the level of national dialogue and concern, requiring us to weigh once again how we steward our voices and shepherd our communities. As I stand with you in this season, I want to submit some words to encourage you as you seek Jesus and lead faithfully in your places of ministry.
What is unfolding in Minneapolis and in other cities across our nation is not theoretical. It is not a headline to scroll past. It is personal. It is reaching families in our churches, unsettling children in our ministries, and stirring anxiety in communities we shepherd.
Some are asking whether the Church sees what is happening. Others are wondering whether silence means indifference.
We must say plainly: the Church does not bless cruelty. We do not condone dehumanizing language or abusive tactics against any people. Every person—documented or undocumented—bears the image of God.
That conviction is not partisan; it is rooted in creation itself (Gen 1:27). If enforcement practices move into humiliation, unnecessary force, or the erosion of human dignity, they stand in tension with the heart of Christ.
We acknowledge that civil government carries authority under God to establish and enforce laws. Immigration policy is complex. Enforcement is not automatically an injustice. Our calling as pastors is not to react to every development with sweeping denunciations, but neither is it to retreat into safe ambiguity.
Scripture is consistent and weighty on this point and consistently directs God’s people to remember our own sojourning and to extend hospitality to the stranger (Deut. 10:18-19; Lev. 19:33-34; Heb. 11:13). The Lord’s heart bends toward the vulnerable, the stranger, the oppressed.
The prophets spoke when power was misused. Jesus drew near to those living in fear and on the margins. We cannot claim His name and ignore that pattern.
We are shepherds. And shepherding in this moment requires attentiveness. Many of our leaders are immigrants, and in many of our congregations there are immigrant families who are feeling afraid.
There are law enforcement officers and government officials who gather and worship among us trying to carry out difficult assignments. There are likely people in our congregations and communities who disagree deeply about policy. The temptation in times like these is to polarize or to perform. But our tasks are different. We are called to embody Christ.
That means we create space for listening and lament. We speak gently but honestly about human dignity. We refuse rhetoric that strips people of their humanity. We listen without the need to label. We care for those who are anxious without inflaming their fear. We prepare wisely and lawfully without becoming alarmists.
Some are looking for moral clarity. Moral clarity does not require outrage, but it does require courage. It means being able to say, “We stand against cruelty,” while also saying, “We will not turn the Church into a partisan instrument.”
It means remembering that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven and that love of neighbor is not optional (Phil 3:20; Matt. 22:37-39) as we are called to honor the image of God in all peoples and cultures. In this moment, our posture is to embody the just mercy and humble courage of Jesus while depending on the Holy Spirit to make us both compassionate and bold.
My prayer for you, as pastors, is that you lead with steadiness. I realize that we live in a moment in time where issues around us are seen primarily through a political or ideological lens, but we seek to be Spirit-led, scripturally formed, and “gentle as a dove and wise as serpents.” Seek righteousness over relevance so that your tone may reflect the peace of Christ.
Let your love of God and love of neighbor guide your language. Care deeply for those affected. Pray for wisdom for civic leaders. And above all, when people encounter Foursquare churches in this season, may they encounter the just mercy and humility of Jesus (Micah 6:8).
Additional immigrant resources for Foursquare churches
A prayer for
all of us
Use this prayer during corporate times of prayer or to distribute to your congregation.
Framework + resources
We’ve put together a framework + resources for shepherding with love and unity.
Statement on immigrants
Foursquare’s statement on immigrants was ratified by the convention voting body in 2012.
Conversation Starters
The Atlantic District wrote these questions to ponder on your own or in your congregation.
Contact Foursquare
What do you, as a local leader, need during this time? What resources would you like to see Foursquare create? How can we support you?
