Are immigrants ruining the American church?
As the political parties wage a battle of immigration, in many under-resourced communities there remains a hidden phenomenon: immigrant churches are changing the American religious landscape. For example, East Palo Alto has a large 800 to 1000 member bi-lingual, immigrant Latino Pentecostal church led by the charismatic pastor, Bishop Joe Prado. The church has doubled in the past five years. They have an active youth ministry, a clear process for developing leaders, a 40% rate of members active in small groups, visible engagement in the community and a welcoming, open spirit. They seem to be unable to keep people away. Another immigrant church, St. Francis of Assisi, led by an understated but passionate pastor, Fr. Lawrence Goode, is actively engaged in social change. Also with a large and active congregation of well over 1500 members, St. Francis members can be seen engaging the community on a number of issues including housing, job creation and providing relief services. Arguably, these churches are some of the most dynamic in our region. But almost completely unrecognized by pastors from 'across the freeway'. Are we disregarding these churches at our own peril?
As a contrast, I recently went to a regional pastor's gathering at a large tech company. There were about 180 pastors and leaders in attendance, all discussing the idea of 'saving the Bay'. The group was overwhelmingly Anglo and male. There was a scattering of Asians, no Pacific Islanders (that I could see), a couple of Latinos and one or two African Americans. While the discussion was sincere, honest and likewise passionate, it felt more like a resourced and wealthy Church wringing it's hands over their dwindling impact in a post-modern and post-Christian society. I truly applaud the effort for unity in the Christian church in the region, but I have a nagging suspicion that this sincere effort is 'missing the boat'. Perhaps some of these leaders should be actively engaged in learning from pastors such as Bishop Prado and Fr. Goode, who's congregations are transforming their city with the catalytic nature of the Gospel of Christ. It struck me that the dominant culture church should be 'sitting at the feet' of these impoverished, immigrant churches. They are reaching the community and transforming the culture in ways that are reminiscent of the first century church in Jerusalem.
While recently reading for a class at Fuller, I was really encouraged by the article in Ryan Bolger's book "The Gospel After Christendom, New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions" (Baker Academic: 2012). On P. 119 Oscar Garcia-Johnson states,
"I argue that the Christian vitality of the Global South is bouncing back to the Global North in the vessels of immigrant communities. Perhaps the big surprise for many classical Christian structures, centered on the North, is that the immigrant communities are now the carriers of the leading energy for missions and religious transformation."
As a minister and community developer, this is exciting to me. It's what I encounter in my community and many others around the nation.
I contend that dominant culture churches, like the one I attend, should rethink our attitude toward immigrant and urban churches. One role we should embrace, as folks with access to tremendous resources, is to fan the flame of congregations such as the Apostolic Assembly of East Palo Alto or St. Francis. I suspect that that that can be found making a difference in every under-resouced community in the US. By serving them it might save our own communities.
Our role, however, is much deeper than providing finances and volunteers. It's more important than that. Simply providing resources is in many ways the easiest part and allows us to stay in the position of power. Maybe there is a better way. Perhaps it's, in humility, 'sitting at their feet,' of these effective and sometimes disregarded leaders, allowing them teach us about community transformation and passion for the extension of God's love to the world?
When I see the disconnect around the issue of immigration, and the dominant culture church's lack of engagement on the issue, I sometimes wonder if we are 'cutting off our nose to spite our face.' By standing against immigration reform, are we standing against the seeds of revival that just might redeem and save our nation?
Is the immigrant we deport the next Billy Graham or D.L. Moody?
