STRIVING TO MAKE AN IMPACT

By Greg Smith

“Impact” is what CBF Global Missions field personnel strive for in our work. Not impact for impact’s sake, but impact that seeks transformational development, witnesses to Jesus Christ, and cultivates beloved community.

Creating positive impact in the lives of immigrants and their families is the reason LUCHA Ministries initiated our Immigration Legal Services program. We desired to see long-term impact in the lives of those whose struggles making it in the US kept them from living to their full, God-given potential. Because without achieving long-term, permanent legal status, immigrants, refugees, asylees and others find it almost impossible to live into their hopes and contribute fully to the welfare of their families, themselves and their communities.

Every person seeking to become a lawful permanent resident, such as Tomás, knows that with their permanent resident card in hand – commonly called a “green card” – they can confidently apply for a job that better matches their skills and abilities than if they only have a work permit. The work permit is great, but a green card that shows they are legal residents, that they can work at almost any job they would like and have the skills for, that they can freely apply for scholarships, grants and loans, and that they can travel internationally – plus other benefits besides – opens doors they could only dream of before.

Likewise, lawful permanent residents like Abdul and Afsoon seeking to become naturalized citizens come to us excited about the prospect of having a status that allows them to vote and engage their communities as full-fledged U.S. citizens. They know that achieving citizenship not only benefits themselves but also their immediate families. When I witnessed Antonia raise her hand at her Naturalization Oath Ceremony, I saw tremendous pride and joy, which spilled over to her husband and family in attendance. And not just for her, but for the 50 or so other new U.S. citizens from across the globe also taking the oath that day.

These are stories of impact. Of changing lives. Of making a difference. When we do this, we do it born out of our commitment to love our God with all our hearts, and souls, and minds and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. It is born out of a desire to witness to the love of Jesus Christ for the everyone regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or what color their skin is, to cultivate beloved community that welcomes and embraces everyone from everywhere, and to seek transformational development that permeates our local communities, our churches, and our worldviews.

God, who is Love, is the one who makes the difference, but we are privileged to be (just a few of!) the instruments God uses in making that difference. And in knowing the blessing of making an impact, our lives are impacted too.

To God be the glory.