I'm an Undocumented Immigrant and an Evangelical Christian

While some evangelical voices may have been linked with anti-immigrant sentiments this political season, I do not believe this is a true representation of the Church nor an accurate reflection of Christ's teachings (Matthew 25:31-46, among others). It was in my darkest days wrestling with my status that I experienced God's love through His people most profoundly. My own youth pastor, upon finding out my immigration status, became actively involved in learning about the issue and advocating on my behalf in the church and in the public sphere. My own denomination, the Christian & Missionary Alliance, was founded when A.B. Simpson ministered to immigrants in New York City in the late 1800s, which was thought improper at the time. The Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of national Christian organizations and leaders and with which I'm working in the Midwest, consistently has advocated for immigrants and refugees. Immigration is not a political issue; it is a human issue, a biblical issue.