2024 Border Summit: Global Migration at the U.S. & Mexico Border and Beyond
The 2024 Border Summit was a gathering at the United States and Mexico Border intended to equip and encourage believers from all walks of life to explore the role of the Church within global migration, and to more deeply understand how God is moving among the globally displaced. A richly diverse, multi-generational audience comprised of both local and national attendees gathered from October 17-20, 2024 to seek God’s heart together in unity.
In our increasingly divisive and politicized world, our goal as an organization is to offer another way forward in the immigration conversation. God equips His people in scripture to embrace and honor the foreigner among them, reminding them that they too were once foreigners in Egypt (Deuteronomy 10:19). Not only this, but God’s heart has always been for the nations, desiring that all would be reconciled to Him (1 Timothy 2:4). If our prayer is that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10), and the new heaven and earth describes a great multitude from every tribe, nation and tongue (Revelation 7:9), then it should not surprise us that God’s loving pursuit of the nations does not wait for eternity to begin.
Is it possible that God has a different definition for what we have defined as “global migration,” or “the immigration crisis?”
What if there is no crisis at all?
For many of us, the cultural values of production and accomplishment subconsciously define what we in the faith space know as “the great commission.” To go is to be sent elsewhere, often to the very nations whose citizens are arriving at the borders of the global West. What if the gospel was proclaimed through receiving? Seeds of faith planted through welcome? 117 million (per 2023 UNHCR data) globally displaced souls brought into the loving arms of their Creator because of the Church’s faithful cultivation of hospitality and refuge?
We began the weekend together in prayer & worship at Iglesia Misionera Cristo Vive, praying for the globally displaced, the persecuted church, leaders in government, and for peacemakers to be raised up.
On Friday, we were equipped through the prophetic expertise of seven keynote speakers.
Yonathan Moya (Founder & Executive Director of Border Perspective) set the tone for the weekend sharing about the broader theme of Global Migration, noting that immigration is not something exclusively taking place at the United States & Mexico Border.
Matthew Soerens (Vice President for Advocacy & Policy at World Relief) unpacked a scriptural approach to immigration policy in the United States.
Raymond Chang (President of the Asian American Christian Collaborative) called attention to the lack of diversity within the church in the United States.
Angel Jordan (Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association & Samaritan’s Purse) highlighted the way in which the Latino community is uniquely positioned to share the gospel in action, and how our diverse cultural identities deepen the church’s experience of the fullness of the image of God.
Kristel Acevedo (Director of Discipleship at Transformation Church) shared the encouraging message that a church with a wide variety of ethnicities and nationalities represented isn’t something we should view as a checklist item, but rather we should treat it as an act of obedience in response to God’s will for His creation.
Ryan Hurlburt (Assistant Director at CultureLink Inc.) guided us into scripture to define what healthy, multicultural partnerships can look like, and how to cultivate them.
Briana Stensrud (Director of Women of Welcome) concluded the day, sharing about the many intersections of immigration and pro-life beliefs, and calling the Church to a more consistent ethic & commitment to life.
VISIT THE LINK BELOW TO PURCHASE DIGITAL ACCESS TO KEYNOTE SESSIONS
On Saturday, attendees had the opportunity to take all they had learned the day before and put it into practice by participating in one of four Service Learning Breakouts.
Attendees served alongside organizations serving recently arrived asylum seekers, learned about the landscape of the Rio Grande Valley, the longstanding presence of the Church in the region, and the challenges faced by the various communities living in or passing through the borderlands, and listened to the voice of those serving on the front lines of the US and Mexico border & to stories of those who have made the choice to leave their home and journey to the border.
We concluded the day hearing from a panel of local ministry leaders who gave insight into what faithful ministry looks like along the border, encouraging those across the nation that while the means might be different, the calling remains the same.
HERE IS WHAT ATTENDEES ARE SAYING
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OUR PRAYER FOR ALL WHO JOINED US
Engage Boldly in Peacemaking: Peacemaking requires a willingness to enter into challenging spaces with humility and curiosity. We are called to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19), offering forth hope & truth, and seeking unity (or common ground) with our fellow image bearers. Peacemaking requires us to have a pure heart. When we step into peacemaking, we can expect to be persecuted because of righteousness, and yet we will be called children of God (Matthew 5:8-10).
Ask God to Reveal Next Steps, and Respond in Obedience Will we ask God how He is moving in and through global migration, and come alongside Him WHEN He shows us?
THANK YOU
Thank you again to everyone who came together to make the 2024 Border Summit possible. This fruitful time together would not have been possible without the Spirit led expertise of our keynote speakers, the faithful work of our local partners, the support & partnership of our volunteers, the hospitality of the local church, the generosity of our sponsors & so many others.
To all who attended, whether you traveled 20 minutes or flew in from states away to be with us, our sincere hope is for the Church to walk forward emboldened, equipped and encouraged — keeping in step with the Spirit of God as the nations are on the move, arriving at the US & Mexico Border and borders across the world.
A heartfelt thank you to all making this year’s summit possible.
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:10-11
