Disciples Home Missions

Connecting People to the Life-Changing Love of God

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A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace

Jan 15, 2025
This guide, developed in collaboration between the National Immigrant Law Center (NILC) and the National Employment Law Project (NELP), provides practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace. It is available in multiple languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Thai.

A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace

by Brian Frederick-Gray

This guide, developed in collaboration between the National Immigrant Law Center (NILC) and the National Employment Law Project (NELP), provides practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace. It is available in multiple languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Thai.

Let’s Talk about Terminology and the US Immigration System

Jan 14, 2025
In this video from the “Let’s Talk About…” series, Attorney Jonelle Ocloo (Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel) defines/describes key phrases in the US Immigration system such as “refugee” and “asylee” and “immigrant.”

Let’s Talk about Terminology and the US Immigration System

by Brian Frederick-Gray

In this video from the “Let’s Talk About…” series, Attorney Jonelle Ocloo (Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel) defines/describes key phrases in the US Immigration system such as “refugee” and “asylee” and “immigrant.”

Learn more by visiting https://www.disciplesimmigration.org/

Justice and Advocacy Ministries empowers Disciples to use our voices and our actions to promote greater justice and mercy in the world. Disciples Home Missions seeks to bring a coordinated approach to influencing the church’s work for justice with a focus on three key areas: 1) Refugee & Immigration Ministries; 2) Racial Justice; 3) Environmental Justice.

A mesmerizing view from beneath a tall tree with a lush green canopy.

Clergy Renewal Grant Programs from the Lilly Endowment

Jan 3, 2025
illy Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary seek to strengthen Christian congregations through renewal and reflection. Two programs–one national and the other aimed at Indiana congregations–provide opportunities for pastors to step away from the persistent obligations of daily ministry and engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God’s life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry.

Clergy Renewal Grant Programs from the Lilly Endowment

by Brian Frederick-Gray

A mesmerizing view from beneath a tall tree with a lush green canopy.

Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary seek to strengthen Christian congregations through renewal and reflection. Two programs–one national and the other aimed at Indiana congregations–provide opportunities for pastors to step away from the persistent obligations of daily ministry and engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God’s life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry.

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Weightlifters

Jan 2, 2025
This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator--one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time. It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!

Weightlifters

by Brian Frederick-Gray

2025 Laity Readiness Resource

This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator–one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time.

It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!

Rev. Monique Crain Spells
Vice President for Mission, Advocacy, & Programs

WHAT’S INSIDE?

  • Laity Sunday Litany
  • (7 ) Trainings Videos
  • (3) Downloadable Workshops
  • (1) Youth Study
  • (1) Men’s Study

Social-Emotional Faith Formation: S.E.L.F Youth Curriculum

Jan 2, 2025
This curriculum brings together Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and faith formation to empower youth to engage deeply with their spirituality while developing the emotional and social skills they need for life’s transitions. In today’s world, young people are looking for ways to express their faith in ways that are inclusive, compassionate, and just. This curriculum offers a space where everyone no matter their background, experiences, or perspectives can come to the table, be heard, and grow together in faith and love.

Social-Emotional Faith Formation: S.E.L.F Youth Curriculum

by Brian Frederick-Gray

by Rev. Managgerie Winston

This curriculum brings together Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and faith formation to empower youth to engage deeply with their spirituality while developing the emotional and social skills they need for life’s transitions.

In today’s world, young people are looking for ways to express their faith in ways that are inclusive, compassionate, and just. This curriculum offers a space where everyone no matter their background, experiences, or perspectives can come to the table, be heard, and grow together in faith and love.

Inspired by Jesus’ example of welcoming all, this curriculum builds skills that help youth live out their faith with empathy, resilience, and a commitment to justice. Each lesson is an invitation to explore who they are, understand how they relate to others, and discern how they can make a difference in the world around them.

Immigration Resource List (January 2025)

Jan 2, 2025
All people in the United States have certain rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, regardless of immigration status. The curated resources listed below can help you and your community stay informed, prepared, and united in support of immigrant neighbors.Please Note: This information is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer.

Immigration Resource List (January 2025)

by Brian Frederick-Gray

All people in the United States have certain rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, regardless of immigration status. The curated resources listed below can help you and your community stay informed, prepared, and united in support of immigrant neighbors.Please Note: This information is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer.

Explainers and Fact Sheets:

“Know Your Rights” Resources:

The Red Card

This guide produced by the Immigration Legal Resource Center provides basic information about important practices to remember during encounters with law or immigration enforcement. You can print the Red Card which can be handed to an officer asserting your rights. 

The Red Card available in: Arabic | Chinese | English | Farsi | French | Haitian Creole | Hmong | Korean | Pashto | Punjabi | Russian | Spanish | Tagalog | Tigrinya | Ukrainian | Vietnamese |

How to use your Red Card: Illustrated & Multilingual Guide Book

The “We Have Rights” Video Series

These know your rights tutorial videos are available in seven languages to help prepare viewers for encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
English | Spanish | Arabic | Mandarin | Haitian Creole | Russian | Urdu

CLINIC’s Downloadable Know Your Rights Guide

English | Spanish | Arabic | Chinese | Hattian Creole | Farsi | Korean | Russian | Vietnamese

How to Avoid Fraud when dealing with Immigration System

National Immigrant Justice Center: Know Your Rights to Avoid Fraud
English | Spanish

Know Your Rights: Resource Libraries

General Information

What to do if ICE Comes to Your Door: 

Informed Immigrant: 
If ICE comes to your door (English)  
If ICE comes to your workplace (English)

American Civil Liberties Union: 
English | Spanish | Urdu | Arabic | Haitian Creole | Russian | Mandarin

What to do if ICE questions, detains, or arrests you as a U.S. Citizen?
iAmerica: ICE interactions with U.S. citizens (English)

What to do in an Immigration Raid:

Informed Immigrant: 
How to Prepare For Immigration Raids (English)

Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.: 
Rapid Response Toolkit to Help Advocates Prepare Their Communities For ICE Raids And Detentions

Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition:
A Toolkit for Organizations Responding to Mass Worksite Immigration Raids

Creating a Family Preparedness Plan:

A Family Preparedness Plan is a comprehensive plan in case of immigration emergencies, regardless of immigration status. Many organizations provide guides. 

Immigrant Legal Resources Center’s Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan:
English | Spanish | Chinese

Informed Immigrant: Making a Family Preparedness Plan (English)

Immigrant Rights Action: Family Preparedness Plan (English)

We Have Rights: Downloadable Emergency Plan Form:
English | Spanish | Haitian Creole

Deportation Defense:

Deportation Defense can include community-led campaigns to stop the deportation of community members using legal interventions and community advocacy to highlight that community member’s contributions to society. 

Make the Road New York’s Deportation Defense Manual:
English | Spanish

Find Legal Help:

Visit www.disciplesimmigration.org to connect with the Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel

Visit www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory to connect with the National Immigration Legal Services Directory

Go to www.ailalawyer.org to connect with a lawyer in your area

Find Mental Health Help:

Trauma Informed care for immigrants and asylum seekers:
Healing Horizons

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) 
Helpline: 800-950-NAMI (6264)
Email: info@nami.org 
Website: https://www.nami.org/

After the Storm: Cultivating Hope/Healing after a Disaster

Jan 2, 2025
This experience can be adapted for a 1-2 hour session, in-person during a church education hour, retreat, or workshop, or online. Though designed for people of faith, it can be expanded for interfaith or broader community settings.

After the Storm: Cultivating Hope/Healing after a Disaster

by Brian Frederick-Gray

This experience can be adapted for a 1-2 hour session, in-person during a church education hour, retreat, or workshop, or online. Though designed for people of faith, it can be expanded for interfaith or broader community settings.

Facilitator’s Note: 
Your role is to create a safe, courageous space for individuals to share, listen, and deepen empathy. Resources like Parker Palmer’s Touchstones for Creating Trustworthy Space can help guide boundary-setting. This resource focuses on spiritual care rather than disaster preparedness. Let participants know if they start to feel anxious or have a trauma response please invite them to step out or raise their hand for support. Tears are welcome in this space. People may begin thinking they are ok and find that memories bring emotions and memories that are a surprise.

Context: 
There will be space during this time to turn attention to any variety of traumas, storm, flood, mass violence, fires, collective illness or something
else. If your community has shared a common
trauma, like a hurricane, try to include symbols

or tangible items that have meaning in your community.

Hospitality Considerations:

  • Will food or beverages be provided?
  • How will the space be set up (indoor/outdoor, seating arrangements)?
  • Ensure accessibility for all participants.Materials Needed:

Materials Needed:

  • LED candles (or traditional candles)
  • Cloth/items for sacred space
  • Refreshments
  • Paper, pens/markers, oil pastels, flat rocks(or less expensive cards or sticky notes) for optionalbenediction
  • Nametags
  • Canvas boards or thick paper (one per person)

Building Vibrant, Faithful Conversations about Justice

Jan 2, 2025
Justice and Advocacy Ministries presents this four-part, guided workshop to help you build vibrant, faithful conversations about justice in your church and community.

Building Vibrant, Faithful Conversations about Justice

by Brian Frederick-Gray

This Toolkit for Congregations includes;

  1. Conversation Covenants
    Group Guidelines for Faithful Conversations
  2. Naming and Addressing Injustice
    A simple, 4-step Guide to Identifying Justice Issues
  3. Peace and Justice Playlists
    Building a Spiritual Resource for Any Topic
  4. Describing and Defining and Justice
    A Modern Twist on a Classic Spiritual Disciplines

Let’s Talk About: Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel

Dec 10, 2024
In this video from the “Let’s Talk About…” series, Attorney Jonelle Ocloo (Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel) talks about her work as an immigration attorney, the services she offers Disciples, and her own immigration journey.

Let’s Talk About: Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel

by Brian Frederick-Gray

In this video from the “Let’s Talk About…” series, Attorney Jonelle Ocloo (Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel) talks about her work as an immigration attorney, the services she offers Disciples, and her own immigration journey.

Learn more by visiting disciplesimmigration.org.

Justice and Advocacy Ministries empowers Disciples to use our voices and our actions to promote greater justice and mercy in the world. Disciples Home Missions seeks to bring a coordinated approach to influencing the church’s work for justice with a focus on three key areas: 1) Refugee & Immigration Ministries; 2) Racial Justice; 3) Environmental Justice

Ministerial Relocation Form

Dec 10, 2024
Ministerial Relocation Form for submitting information to the Office of Christian Vocations and the Ministerial Yearbook

Ministerial Relocation Form

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Personal Information:

(if known, list home address where you will live once you are serving in new position)

Information about NEW position of ministry:

Information about PREVIOUS position of ministry:

2024 Advent Resource: Don’t be Afraid

Dec 4, 2024
DHM is pleased to offer our 2024 resource for the Advent Season. Take time to sit with reflections from our thoughtful writers (Miseon Choi, David Clifford, James Semmelroth, Darnell Managerrie Winston), listen to a few songs, and say a prayer. Blessed Advent!

2024 Advent Resource: Don’t be Afraid

by Brian Frederick-Gray

DHM is pleased to offer our 2024 resource for the Advent Season. Take time to sit with reflections from our thoughtful writers (Miseon Choi, David Clifford, James Semmelroth, Darnell Managerrie Winston), listen to a few songs, and say a prayer. Blessed Advent!

Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Dec 2, 2024
Death, Dying, and Bereavement -- A Theological Manna Conversation featuring Dr. Jamie Eaddy and Dr. Dan Moseley; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells

Death, Dying, and Bereavement

by Brian Frederick-Gray

From the Theological Manna series — Death, Dying, and Bereavement: A conversation featuring Dr. Jamie Eaddy and Dr. Dan Moseley; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells

Communal Faith Formation for Today

Dec 2, 2024
Theological Manna Conversation: Communal Faith Formation for Today. A Webinar featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano

Communal Faith Formation for Today

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Theological Manna Conversation — Communal Faith Formation for Today

A Webinar featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano

An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort

Dec 2, 2024
Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray

An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort

by Brian Frederick-Gray

From the Theological Manna series — An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort. A Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray.

Thursdays in Black Summit: Session 2

Nov 20, 2024
Watch the Recording from the second session of the Thursdays in Black Summit! Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black! Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.

Thursdays in Black Summit: Session 2

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Watch the Webinar Recording

Workshop Description

Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black!

Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.

Breaking the Chains: Thursdays in Black Summit Resources:
https://www.ucc.org/what-we-do/wider-church-ministries/gsjm/breaking-the-chains/

The US National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888 or you can visit: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en

Thursdays in Black Summit: Session 1

Nov 13, 2024
Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black! Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.

Thursdays in Black Summit: Session 1

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Breaking the Chains: Deconstructing the Narrative


Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black!

Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.

Visit Breaking the Chains: Resources for Action for a full list of action items, resouces, and ways to engage!