A big ask, but think about it. How about your church, civic group? From: "Heather Cronk, Faithful America" <mail@faithfulamerica.org> Reply-To: "Heather Cronk, Faithful America" <mail@faithfulamerica.org> Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11:04 AM To: Ruth Ryals <rryals@comcast.net> Subject: Can you host an asylum seeker in need? Register for an info session this weekend >> Now that the border is beginning to slowly open back up, we're in need of sponsors who can receive individuals or families into their homes as they wait for their asylum request's court date. Dear Faithful America member, This might be the biggest ask Faithful America ever makes -- but it's an incredible way to make a real difference in someone's life. One year ago, the Trump administration cruelly tightened its already-overwhelming restrictions on asylum seekers, functionally shutting down the U.S. southern border as part of its xenophobic, white supremacist agenda. The pandemic quickly made things worse. Many of the private homes that usually welcome asylum seekers had to close their doors, leaving immigrants without the sponsors they needed for their asylum request process. Thankfully, Faithful America members stepped up, and dozens of churches expressed interest in using their empty buildings to temporarily house asylum-seekers. One year later, COVID-19 still dominates our lives -- but a new administration has made a world of difference in reopening the U.S. border to those seeking safety and refuge. The Biden administration isn't moving as fast as it could or should, but we're finally starting to see folks admitted through points of entry at the border, following public health guidelines. Unfortunately, there is no robust plan yet to ensure that folks have what they need when they arrive -- and that's where you can come in. As a way of living out the Gospel's message of radical hospitality, would you be willing to learn more about opening up your home to asylum seekers in need? Opening your doors to immigrants is a big ask. Please prayerfully consider it, and sign up for an upcoming ASSP information session to ask questions and learn more >> There are info sessions this Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Pacific) and this Sunday, March 28, at 4 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Pacific). Three years ago, I helped launch a volunteer-run project called the Asylum-Seekers Sponsorship Project (ASSP). Our network connects folks from all over the world who are migrating to this country -- seeking safety for themselves and their families -- with U.S. residents who are willing to serve as volunteer sponsors by opening their doors to a stranger in need. Now that the border is beginning to slowly open back up, we're in need of sponsors who can receive individuals or families into their homes as they wait for their asylum request's court date. If you're connected to a church community, that can also make a huge difference. Church buildings that remain empty or under-utilized right now present an incredible opportunity to offer a quarantine location for asylum seekers before they temporarily move into your home. When I made a similar ask of Faithful America members last year, there were dozens of churches that expressed interest -- and several actually ended up serving as places of either short-term or longer-term refuge for folks who were lucky enough to make it through the nearly-shuttered border. But now that conditions have changed at the border, we're looking for individuals who can leverage their church community as a short-term quarantine location, serve as a sponsor until that all-important court date arrives, then stand side-by-side with folks as they have their day in immigration court. Is your community looking for a way to show up for those seeking refuge in the United States? Sign up for either this Friday or Sunday's ASSP information session to get all the details >> (Registering for an information session does not commit you to anything -- this is just to learn more.) Since 2018, the Asylum-Seekers Sponsorship Project has served as a powerful rejection of Donald Trump's hateful agenda. Now we hope to also serve as an opportunity for people of faith to offer concrete witness to love and justice. Over the past three years, we've organized for the release of more than 400 asylum-seekers from unjust detention -- but the urgency of the coronavirus pandemic and the reopening of the border requires us to quickly scale up that work. I hope that we can rely on you and your faith community to help us in that work, either by opening your doors or forwarding this email to someone who can. Thank you for everything you do to love your neighbor and make a difference for those in need. In the struggle, Heather Cronk, Faithful America board member, on behalf of the Faithful America team P.S. -- I know this is a big ask. If you need more information about the Asylum-Seekers Sponsorship Project before your church can get in touch, I completely understand -- just visit asylumsponsorshipproject.org "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2 Faithful America is the largest online community of grassroots Christians putting faith into action for social justice. If you are receiving this message, it is likely because your email address was used either to sign one of our petitions or join via our homepage, faithfulamerica.org. We can be reached through traditional mail at Faithful America, 206 Elm Street, Box # 202898, New Haven, CT 06520-2898. 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