The main room was a beehive of activity at the Conference Immigration Experience.
The Central Texas Conference offered a 2-hour Mission Experience for conference members to take difference-making action, including an Immigration Experience that was created and led by JFON Dallas-Fort Worth. JFON offered 4 advocacy options: writing postcards to Senators, calling Senators’ DC offices, joining an advocacy email list, and guided prayer. A screening room with videos of Jasmine’s Story and the new JFON DFW video were available as an education option.
At each station there were resources handed out that gave instructions for the activity at that location, plus information about immigration, United Methodist positions on the issue, and immigrants’ stories illustrating both the struggles faced and how JFON helps so many.
An estimated 200 conference members took part in the 90 minute event, with more than 100 writing cards which were delivered in person to the Senators’ DC offices, an estimated 40-50 phone calls made, 130 viewing the videos, and many others joining the advocacy email list, and engaging in prayer.
A team from around the conference came together to make it all happen. A great job!
Everyone agreed that the event was a great success, and several asked JFON to come to their churches to make presentations, lead workshops, offer sermons, etc.
Several churches plan to duplicate the Immigration Experience in their congregations, perhaps as a part of larger Missions or Social Action fairs that feature many ways to be engaged for the benefit of God’s children.
If you would like to know more, or receive resources used at the Immigration Experience to adapt for your setting, simply call Dean Reed at 254-485-5832.