VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/16/18)—Continuing to denounce the separation of migrant children from their families, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) announces a new way for American Baptists to financially support legal aid for family reunification and suggests helpful resources for those who wish to advocate in their communities.

On behalf of American Baptist Churches USA, ABHMS is coordinating a One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) collection specifically to help separated immigrant families. To give a gift that will provide for such a family’s legal aid, send a check to the attention of Kim Wilkins at American Baptist Home Mission Societies, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851. Make the check payable to “One Great Hour of Sharing” and write “OGHS-Immigrant Children” in the memo line. Or, give online by visiting www.abc-usa.org, clicking “Give Online,” and including “OGHS-Immigrant Children” in the comments section when making your gift.

Funds will be funneled to Church World Service (CWS) and the Immigration Connection Project (ICON). An ABHMS partner, CWS provides legal services to immigrants. A partnership between the Vera Institute of Justice and New America, ICON seeks to connect immigrant parents and their legal representatives with a legal service provider that is working directly with separated children.

CWS provides online information for contacting members of Congress. For a number of other actionable ideas on behalf of immigrant families—including a #FamiliesBelongTogether mobilization on July 26 in Washington, D.C.—consult the online “Interfaith Toolkit to End Family Separation and Keep Families Together,” provided by ABHMS partner the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.

ABHMS has been a signatory on letters to Congress regarding immigrant protections, and Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Haggray has recently spoken out against migrant family separation.

Information about ABHMS’ Immigration and Refugee Ministries is available online at abhms.org > Ministries > Immigration and Refugee Resettlement.

One Great Hour of Sharing is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches.

One hundred percent of donations go to relief efforts; no dollars are retained for administrative costs. To ensure that your church receives credit for your gift, write the church name on your check.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

 American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.