RESOURCES FOR ALLIES, CHURCHES, AND IMMIGRANTS
These resources are for allies, churches and immigrant communities to respond in this current environment.
For Immigrants
How to prepare for immigration, CBP, and ICE raids from USAHello.org
According to USAHello, preparing for immigration, CBP, and ICE raids involves understanding your rights, developing a safety plan, and making arrangements for potential detention. This guidance is intended to help protect immigrants, regardless of their legal status. For more details, visit USAHello.
For Churches
Use this checklist to ensure your faith community responds effectively, legally, and compassionately if ICE agents arrive.
For Allies
Church World Service works alongside their supporters to make sure Congress and the White House do what’s right. Without you, real change isn’t possible. Through your calls to action, we make a difference for those who need it most and ensure we live up to our promise as a nation. Sign up for their Action Alerts.
Email consultant
Not sure where to begin or how to proceed in advocacy for our immigrant Brothers and Sisters? Contact us for personalized guidance on how to move forward
Submit Inquiry To ConsultantsReturn to Courageous Community PageLEARN
Getting Started
One way to start a courageous community is to learn more about what the Bible says about immigrants. The General Board of Church and Society created a new Bible study named: Called to Journey, Called to Welcome: A Biblical Perspective on Immigration. This study is a great resource for churches that are looking to learn more about our Biblical mandate to love our neighbors.
If you are looking to do a Book study. You can start with the book: The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong Paperback – May 21, 2019 by Karen González. University United Methodist Church in East Lansing is using this book for a study and they are also doing a sermon series using this book as a resource.
On the Journery
These resources are for churches that are already on the journey of creating courageous communities. These two resources are from the United Methodist Church.
What churches need to know about immigration
By Heather Hahn (umnews.org, Article, 2025)
Solidarity With The Sojourner Webinar (resourceumc.org, video, 2025)
Going Further
These two resources are for churches that have already started a courageous community.
Immigration Update: A Webinar On Birthright Citizenship (gcorr.org, video, 2025)
GIVE
Support the Courageous Communities Project
With support from the UMCOR solidarity grant, we have designed the project and online toolbox, and offered initial trainings and consultations. Additional consultations and trainings will be available on a sliding scale basis. Donations to the project are welcome.
- Online via the Conference Store. Churches need an established account to use this method. To create a new account, please contact Katrena Stockley, and she can set up new accounts for churches.
- Via check – checks must be made payable to “Michigan Conference” and mailed to 1011 Northcrest Rd, Lansing, MI 48906. In the memo line, please note “P7003.9 – Courageous Communities”.
- Online via PayPal, Venmo, or Credit Card – go to PayPal and enter the required information.
- Via check – checks must be made payable to “Michigan Conference” and mailed to 1011 Northcrest Rd, Lansing, MI 48906. In the memo line, please note “P7003.9 – Courageous Communities”.
EngageMI Projects you can give to that support Immigrants.
Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
CCMM#3013
ILJ-MI welcomes and supports low-income immigrants with free immigration legal services and public advocacy.
French United Methodist Church
CCMM#3055
A Metro Detroit Area ministry with immigrants, French UMC embraces refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, irrespective of background, extending Christ’s love through tangible acts.
Vietnamese United Methodist Church Grand Rapids
CCMM#3053
Grand Rapids Vietnamese UMC is primarily composed of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants and their US-born children.
ACT
Getting Started
Local churches that are getting started can have vital conversations or host a immigration simulation game where individuals can learn more about what it means to go through the immigration process.
Vital Conversation on Immigration by Religion and Race: https://www.r2hub.org/library/vital-conversations-on-immigration
Love the Sojourner: First Steps in Refugee Outreach
by Matt McCullough (9marks.org, Article, 2014)
On the Journey
Local churches can visit immigrant faith communities or nonprofits that work with immigrants to see how they might be able to partner and collaborate. The resources listed below can help you in that process.
Engaging Your Faith Community on Immigration:
First Steps for Organizing and Action by Small Groups in Religious Settings (afsc.org, PDF)
Going Further
Local churches that want to become allies can support immigrants in various ways. They can provide workshops, vigils, and other direct actions to help support immigrants.