Action Center
Welcome to the LIRS Action Center
Every day, our community of volunteers, ambassadors, congregations, and communities from across the country dedicate their time to welcoming new neighbors and educating their communities on issues related to migration and refugees.
The work of LIRS would be impossible without this support. In the quickly-changing landscape of protocols and policies for refugees and asylum seekers, the LIRS network must ADAPT: Act, Donate, Advocate, Pray, and Teach.
While we encourage you to participate in all five components, we understand that not everyone can donate, but many can pray. Some might not be ready for advocacy, but they can educate themselves and teach others. In whatever ways you can, thank you for partnering with us in this work.
Act
- Take concrete steps to prepare for changes to the United States immigration system under the new Biden Administration with our Hope Rising toolkit.
- Sign up to be a pen pal to remind people in immigration detention that they are not alone or forgotten.
- Join a local visitation ministry.
- Take the deeper step in your involvement and volunteer with a local LIRS partner or affiliate. Volunteer opportunities vary depending on needs and some positions require applications and background checks to ensure the safety of vulnerable populations we serve.
- Share LIRS’ social media posts with your network.
- Experience the reality of the U.S. southern border first-hand through the Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey border immersion program.
Donate
- Give a monthly or one-time donation provide support to newly arrived refugees and to empower new Americans to become successful, contributing members of their communities.
- Ask your congregation to support LIRS through a special offering.
- Host a fundraising dinner party – LIRS can help with menu inspiration through our Culture Kitchen series!
Advocate
- Tell your senator to support the Dream Act of 2021.
- Be in the know with real-time Advocacy Alerts.
- Learn about LIRS advocacy initiatives, including policy updates and invitations to virtual events.
- Organize your community to engage in advocacy through Stand Up, Speak Up, an interfaith prayer vigil focused on prayer, reflection, and stories of migrants and refugees
- Write a letter to your members of congress.
Pray
- Take a few moments to pray through our new Digital Lenten Retreat.
- Host a Transformed Community bible study to explore ideas of radical welcome
- Explore resources for congregations fractured by fear.
- Engage with your community in a guided reflection on what it means to welcome migrants and refugees with our Immigration Catechism.
- Reflect on ministries of welcome in your context.
Teach
- Learn and share the history of conflict in Afghanistan, explore the culture through worship, food, and music, and learn more about LIRS’ work through the story of the Abdullah family in Gather: Afghanistan 2020
- Grab some friends and start a book club with LIRS’ Virtual Book Series.
- Test your knowledge on Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
- Ask your family about their immigration story.
- Host a screening of the Welcome Strangers film and learn about the work of LIRS partner Casa de Paz.
- Request an expert speaker from LIRS for your panel, webinar, church service, or other event. Our speakers are immigration activists, foreign policy experts, thought leaders, and former refugees.
- Visit our Climate Migration Resource Center to learn more about migrants who are forced to flee due to environmental changes.
*For additional support, resources, and ways to be involved with our work, contact outreach@LIRS.org
