Immigration was the focus of a recent program at New Albany Church of the Resurrection. “God’s People Coming Together, an Evening of Witness, Reflection, and Prayer” took place Monday, April 4.
“The concept was to have an interfaith event to further people’s understanding of the breadth of possible reasons people immigrate to the United States and the impact on their lives,” said John Tucker, who spearheaded the program. “Then to pray for God’s support for them.”
The timeliness and importance of the topic inspired the church’s Social Concerns Committee to open the program to the faith community of central Ohio.
There was prayer, singing and presentations by two men who spoke about their experiences coming to the United States.
Carlos Mijares Mendoza arrived a few years ago from Caracas, Venezuela after deciding his family was not safe there. He had worked as a licensed pilot, but the government wanted him to fly illegally.
After receiving physical threats when he refused to break the law, Carlos, his wife and their two children left Venezuela. With the help of friends, the family settled in New Albany and are going through the asylum process.
Daniel Daffa arrived in central Ohio almost 30 years ago. While studying political science at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, he was imprisoned for opposing government crimes against his people.
In Columbus, he helps emigrants from the Oromia region of Ethiopia assimilate into the local workforce.
Dureti “Mimi” Tadesse met and married Daniel after he was released from 10 years in prison. Attempting to leave the country on foot, they both were arrested, separated, imprisoned, and tortured. Upon release, they requested asylum through the U.S. Embassy and arrived here.
They have become U.S. citizens and co-founded C.G. Women’s Empowerment to assist women in Oromia.
All the speakers expressed how they miss their friends and relatives from their homeland, how hard it was to leave them and how difficult their journeys had been.
Following the program, organizations hosted information tables with opportunities to volunteer or offer financial assistance. The groups represented were:
• A Salvadoran mission school supported by Church of the Resurrection in the rural town of Agua Caliente.
• Little Dresses of Love, a sewing ministry started by church members that makes dresses for children and women in impoverished areas of the U.S. and abroad.
• C.G. Women’s Empowerment (CGWE), sponsored by New Life Church of Gahanna. CGWE supports women by providing long-term solutions to their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Women receive a free cow and the use of its products for food and profit. The women then pass on the first-born female calves to other needy families.
• Community Refugee and Immigration Service (CRIS) of Columbus, which serves local refugees and immigrants. CRIS’ programs and services aim to facilitate self-sufficiency and integration.
• The New Albany Food Pantry, which aims to eliminate food insecurity in the New Albany-Plain Local School District by connecting those in need with food and other resources.
A video of the event is available on Church of the Resurrection’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/allrwelcom/, under “Videos.”