Last September, Bishop Dan Schwerin met with Hispanic/Latinx pastors to listen to their stories and better understand how their congregations are navigating these challenging days. What he learned was both powerful and heartbreaking. 

Parents spoke of being afraid to send their children to school. Some individuals are afraid to leave their home to work and, as a result, cannot pay their rent or other basic bills. For the same reason, some families are not going to worship services. Most painfully, the bishop learned that two members of our congregations have been detained.

Families who have lived and worked among us for years now find themselves unable to meet their most basic needs. These are not distant stories; they are the realities of our siblings in Christ.  

Moved by these conversations, Bishop Schwerin felt compelled to establish an Emergency Solidarity Fund, which received strong support from our Conference Committee on Finance and Administration and Advocacy Partners Subcommittee.

Scripture reminds us to stand with the marginalized, to bear one another’s burdens, and to embody God’s justice and compassion. This was an opportunity to live out that calling in tangible and faithful ways. More than financial assistance, this appeal was a visible expression of solidarity. It declared that our immigrant siblings in Christ are not alone. Together, we are choosing to be a community of hope, courage, and resilience.

We are deeply grateful for the generous response of the Northern Illinois Conference. We distributed $60,000. These gifts enabled us to distribute three rounds of support directly and compassionately to the 20 Hispanic/Latinx churches and ministries within our conference, while also extending support to other communities experiencing similar hardship. Assistance focused on immediate and critical needs, including rent, bill payment, food, transportation, legal fees, and essential support for families in crisis.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the churches, clergy, and laity across the conference who have responded with compassion and generosity. Your faithful giving was more than a financial contribution; it was a testimony of love, unity, and shared commitment to our Hispanic/Latinx communities. Thank you for standing alongside our immigrant siblings and for embodying the gospel in such a tangible and transformative way. This is the church at its best: listening, responding, and standing together.

In a time marked by uncertainty and fear, we continue to practice hope, not as an abstract idea, but as faithful action rooted in love.