ASYLUM SEEKER SUPPORT

“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

-- Leviticus 19:34

For six years, Kirkwood UCC has been seeking ways to minister to displaced persons suffering at our borders. Here is what we have been able to accomplish:

• At our annual meeting In November of 2017, members voted unanimously to “commit ourselves to becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation.”
• After a year plus of education and discernment, in May of 2018 the congregation voted to offer sanctuary to an individual or family in danger of deportation.
• In 2019, Kirkwood UCC refocused our immigrant support effort to people seeking asylum in the United States. We formed an Asylum-Seeker Support team.
• Over the past six years Kirkwood UCC has been able to help 2 immigrant men seeking short-term shelter and has offered support to 2 families seeking asylum in the US. One of those families chose to live in another state; the other family made it across the border only to be deported.
• In October 2021, Kirkwood UCC began supporting Newton, a 28-year-old asylum-seeker from Uganda. While waiting for his asylum hearing, Newton has been attending Community College, received his work authorization, and began working for a local non-profit organization.

We could not have done this work without the KUCC Congregation’s financial & personal support, as well as support from the United Church of Christ Global H.O.P.E. Team Empowerment grant, Christ Church UCC-Maplewood, and Eliot Chapel in Kirkwood.

"We are eager to offer comfort to someone who needs a home, remembering Christ’s words: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

-- Matthew 25:35