Feedback Requested

Dear friends,
Two big events took place this past week and our leaders have requested our feedback.  First, President Obama mentioned the need for immigration reform again as he shared his State of the Union address.  He also showed a willingness to negotiate with Republican members of Congress.  Secondly, Republicans met for a retreat and the leadership mentioned the need to see immigration reform pass and their hope to pass legislation this spring, but in pieces and with some sort of earned residency.  Though we lack the specifics, this is great news! 
 
Over the past year, Senators and Representatives have told our team over and over that they want to hear from constituents who favor immigration reform.  Would you take a moment and call or write your Congressional representative and tell them you support immigration reform and desire a path to residency for those here illegally?  If we fail to express our voice, our leaders will be left to assume where we stand.

Dear Congressman Yoder,
I live in Overland Park, KS and recently hear that the House of Representatives will be considering immigration reform this spring.  I want to encourage you to vote in favor of these bills and want to make sure there is a path toward residency to those here without legal status.  Thank you for taking a moment to receive my comments. 

Missouri phone numbers:

Representative Samuel Graves: (202) 225-7041
Representative Vicky Hartzler: (202) 225-2876
Representative Emanuel Cleaver: (202) 225-4535
Representative William "Lacy" Clay Jr.: (202) 225-2406

Representative Ann Wagner: (202) 225-1621

Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer: (202) 225-2956  

Representative Billy Long: (202) 225-6536  

Kansas phone numbers:

Representative Kevin Yoder: (202) 225-2865

Representative Mike Pompeo: (202) 225-6216

Representative Lynn Jenkins: (202) 225-6601

Representative Tim Huelskamp: (202) 225-2715

 

 

Immediate Impact--Call to Action with our Representatives

During a recent visit with legislators in Washington, DC, we learned that they receive a majority of calls against immigration reform and we don't believe this represents your conviction and voice.  Join with Christians, business leaders, and mayors in Kansas and Missouri who are letting our Congressman know about our support of comprehensive immigration reform principles that help fix the current broken immigration system.  It is the House of Representatives opportunity to respond to a Senate reform bill that passed in June and a simple one minute call will give our leaders a sense of what you support.

When you call, share your name, where you are calling from (City, State) and a message. We ask that you share a short statement of support or leave a message of support if no one answers. Here are two examples to use, but please use your own words.

 “I urge the Congressman to support common sense immigration reform that solves all that is broken and upholds the Biblical  call to welcome the stranger and give them legal status. Please let the Congressman know I seek to see compassionate, family centered immigration reform become law.  Ask the Congressman to call on House Leadership to bring current proposals up for a vote.”

“I urge the Congressman(woman) to uphold comprehensive immigration reform and stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering under a broken immigration system. I believe the Bible calls for a compassionate response to the foreigner living in our midst and I ask the Congressman(woman) to vote in favor of compassionate immigration reform that maintains family unity by giving them citizenship or legal status.  Ask the Congressman(woman) to also urge House leadership to bring legislation up for a vote.”

Kansas phone numbers:

Representative Kevin Yoder: (202) 225-2865

Representative Mike Pompeo: (202) 225-6216

Representative Lynn Jenkins: (202) 225-6601

Representative Tim Huelskamp: (202) 225-2715

Senator Pat Roberts: (913) 451-9343 

Senator Jerry Moran: (202) 224-6521

Missouri phone numbers:

Representative Samuel Graves: (202) 225-7041
Representative Vicky Hartzler: (202) 225-2876
Representative Emanuel Cleaver: (202) 225-4535
Representative William "Lacy" Clay Jr.: (202) 225-2406

Representative Ann Wagner: (202) 225-1621

Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer: (202) 225-2956 

Representative Billy Long: (202) 225-6536 

Senator Roy Blunt: (202) 224-5721

Senator Claire McCaskill: (202) 224-6154

Call to Action

Make a difference in the lives of immigrants by joining with others in Kansas and Missouri's Christian community in letting your Senators know about your support of comprehensive immigration reform principles that help fix our broken immigration system.  Now is crucial time to let Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Roy Blunt know there are many in favor of reform.  They will likely be voting before the end of June, so your call is needed today.  

When you call, make sure you say your name, that you are a Christian and where you are calling from (City, State). We ask that you share a short statement of support or leave a message of support if no one answers. It is easy to do and takes little time.  Here are two examples to use with numbers to call below.

 “I urge the Senator to support common sense immigration reform bill S744.  We need to uphold comprehensive immigration reform and the Biblical  call to welcome the stranger. Please let the Senator know I am in favor of S744 because it keeps families together.  

“I urge the Senator to uphold comprehensive immigration reform and stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering under a broken immigration system. I believe the Bible calls for a

compassionate response to the foreigner living in our midst and I ask the Senator to vote in favor of Senate bill S744.  Please let the Senator know I am concerned about immigrant families being separated.”

Kansas phone numbers:

Senator Jerry Moran: (913) 393-0711 or (202) 224-6521
(785) 628-6401-Hays office; 
email http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry
Senator Pat Roberts: (913) 451-9343 

Missouri phone numbers:

Senator Roy Blunt: (202) 224-5721

Senator Claire McCaskill: (202) 224-6154

I Was a Stranger Video

Evangelical leaders read from Matthew 25:31-46 in this video designed to help launch the "I Was a Stranger" Challenge, encouraging Christians to allow their thinking about immigration to be informed by biblical principle.

                    

I Was A Stranger from G92 on Vimeo.

Welcome!

As urban ministry leaders and pastors in Kansas City, we see the daily impact of a broken immigration system everyday as we live among our immigrant neighbors and friends.  We believe right now is the time for the church in our city to develop attitudes and opinions about immigration reform that are shaped not by our allegiances to political parties nor to economic policies, but by our allegiance to Jesus Christ.  We believe the Bible speaks clearly and repeatedly about God’s concern for the immigrant.  Too often, the church has been among the last to stand up for the dignity of the most vulnerable.  Today, we have an opportunity to change history, leading the way as advocates for our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Our goals are to:

•   Begin a conversation in KC churches to seek out what God has to say about our responsibilities towards immigrants in Scripture by taking the 40-day, “I Was a Stranger” challenge. 

•   Develop opinions about immigration reform that are formed first and foremost by the Bible rather than politics or questions of economics.  We act first as citizens of God’s Kingdom and secondarily as citizens of the United States.

•   Create awareness that it is primarily public policy that diminishes life to the full for undocumented immigrants and changing this demands political engagement.  As Moses and Nehemiah petitioned secular governments to act on behalf of the vulnerable, we invite Christians who are wary of political advocacy to do the same. 

•   Mobilize Christians to petition their congresspersons through personal meetings, phone calls, and e-mails to encourage them to vote in favor of legislation that reflects compassionate, Christian hospitality for the immigrant.