Welcoming Immigrants

What is an immigrant? One definition is “a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.” The majority of immigrants in the United States are here legally, although the news would have us believe otherwise. These are people who have left everything they know and love to pursue a different kind of life, and many of them are coming from places that would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to enter as missionaries.

Their presence in this country is an opportunity for followers of Jesus to welcome them well with the same love we have received in Christ, and to introduce them to the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done for them.

“Things are changing in the U.S. and Canada,” said Ed Stetzer. “By 2050, there will be no majority race or ethnicity in the United States. The nations of the world are living right here, yet many are not hearing the gospel in an intentional, organized way. We can do better.”


According to Pew Research, the United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world. More than 40 million people living in the U.S. were born in another country (about 12% of the population), and just about every nation in the world is represented among the foreign-born population. Immigrants face the complexities of learning English and figuring out culture. Simply cultivating friendship with a welcoming American can make the difference between thriving and merely surviving. In the context of sharing life with our foreign-born neighbors, we can prayerfully introduce them to Jesus in the hope that not only will they become disciples of Jesus, but also, they will share the gospel with their friends and family here and back in their home countries.


Overall, however, the growth of immigrant participation in 74 surveyed Christian organizations – with a total of 3,757 missionaries and church planters working among first-generation immigrants – is slow. Surveyed organizations currently minister to immigrants from 151 of the 202 countries considered in the analysis. While a quarter of the ethnic groups have no organizations ministering to them in North America, another 26 percent have only one or two national or regional organizations reaching out to them.


“For us to be faithful in assisting our churches in the tasks of evangelism and church planting, we need an awareness of what work is underway so believers, churches, denominations, and ministries can support and participate in these missions efforts here in North America. We will not make significant progress in fulfilling the Great Commission in North America until we take seriously the mandate to reach more of the millions of immigrants and hundreds of people groups in our communities with the gospel.” Ed Stetzer

God is bringing the nations to our cities, and many of them wouldn’t have access to the gospel if they were in their home country.

Global Frontier Missions intentionally ministers to immigrants with the hope of seeing them reached with the gospel and equipped to make disciples and plant churches in their home countries. We also focus on refugee and international student demographics.

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me."

-Jesus-

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