DEPORTATION DEFENSE RESPONSE

This denominational effort, organized by five districts with large numbers of undocumented members in partnership with On Earth Peace and Intercultural Ministries, provides support, advocacy, and legal assistance as needed. A Deportation Defense Response (DDR) webpage is now online at www.onearthpeace.org/deportation_defense_response_team. A toolkit of resources is at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/168SYbD3cMBO8ORb4sDXMqMbA2yvSGCN. To be added to the DDR newsletter list, to share other helpful resources for the toolkit, to share how a resource from the toolkit benefited your congregation or community, to find out how to get involved with the work, or for other questions, email migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org. In addition, a page on the denominational website shares information on the "Walking Together" resolution recently affirmed by Annual Conference, with resources, Bible studies, and other tools

The group is inviting local partnerships and offering a process for online donations for the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund at www.onearthpeace.org/legal_mutual_aid_fund_donations. Congregations needing financial help to aid their immigrant church members may apply for grants from the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund by contacting ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com or 561-647-8981 to receive the application form. The team will distribute funds received to members of the church facing immigration challenges who need legal support.

Biweekly Prayer Gatherings for Immigrant Justice are now held every other Thursday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Central over Zoom. Find more information and RSVP at Prayer Gathering for Immigrant Justice - On Earth Peace. Specific prayers are asked for the Haitian Church of the Brethren congregations of our denomination, as the recent Supreme Court decision impacted about 300 members of those 10 congregations in Florida. These members are faced with difficult choices: to stay without legal standing, to leave behind spouses and children, to give up businesses and work here, to return to a country that is not stable or safe. Pray for them in this challenging time as they face choices that many of us will never face. And pray for the pastors who are providing care and support in the midst of the uncertainty. General secretary David Steele has issued a pastoral message titled “Standing with Our Haitian Church Family.”