Lula B. Sherman United Methodist Church in Evanston entered into a new community partnership on July 14 when it cut the ribbon on new office space in the church for the Consulate of Costa Rica.

This is more than a tenant-landlord relationship, Rev. Aaron McLeod, Sherman’s pastor, said. It’s a partnership that provides the church a way to engage with their neighbors.

“We aim to be good Samaritans,” he said. “We don’t want to see people as strangers but members of the family of God.”

One of the collaborative ministries between the consulate and the church comes through Samaritans for the Common Good, an advocacy group that provides legal clinic services to consulates. Rev. McLeod, who is also an attorney, founded the organization after the most recent national election.

Samaritans for the Common Good also partners with PEWS—Protect Evanston, Wilmette, and Skokie. This ecumenical group organized around immigration reform.

The church also hosted a free two-day Welcome Weekend on July 11–12 that served immigrant and working families with homeownership guidance, immigration legal education, and a cultural celebration.

The chair of Sherman UMC’s Board of Trustees, Stephanie Murray, said that offering space to the Costa Rican Consulate provides a good service to their neighbors—and the consulate’s services benefit from the church members as well.

Costa Rica has a significant Afro-Cuban population, so renting space to the consulate also provides a way for the church to act on its commitment to ministry with the African diaspora.

Housing the consulate expands the church’s outreach ministry, Rev. McLeod said.

“This allows us to reimagine how we can be neighbors,” he said. “It’s part of our quest to make disciples for the transformation of the world; to be a world house, welcoming all people.”