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** Listening to Immigrant Voices
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As fear-based policies escalate and immigration crackdowns intensify, the call to listen—to truly hear the voices of immigrants—has never been more urgent. Many in our communities carry stories shaped by persecution and displacement, yet also by profound faith, resilience, and hope.

Consider Iran. While headlines focus on military tensions, a quieter revolution is unfolding beneath the surface: a thriving underground church, where thousands—perhaps over a million—gather in secret to follow Jesus. Many who flee from such places are labeled as threats or strangers. But what if we saw them instead as prophets? What if the voices we silence out of fear are the very ones God is using to speak to us?

This is the invitation of the gospel: to move beyond suspicion and listen with sacred attention. In doing so, we discover that those we are told to fear may actually be the ones who lead us more deeply into the heart of God. In this season, let us tune our ears to immigrant voices—not as an act of charity, but as a faithful practice of discipleship.

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** Seeking Women Leaders: Cohort 3 Launches This Fall
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Applications are now open for our third Sustaining Women in Ministry Cohort. At the heart of Missio Alliance is a commitment to champion the callings of women faithfully serving God’s Kingdom, and so we're excited to announce the next 6-month cohort beginning September 2025.

This cohort is designed for women leading in full-time or part-time ministry—whether in the church or nonprofit settings, or community. It’s especially valuable for those who often find themselves serving alone and would benefit from both professional development and a network of like-minded women leaders.

Applications are now open and due by August 1, 2025.

Spots are limited to 10 and open to women of all ages.
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** Familias Unidas Retreat – Portland, Oregon
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On Saturday, June 14th, Missio Alliance hosted a meaningful strategic retreat as part of Familias Unidas, our Lilly-funded initiative focused on strengthening Latino/a families. Fifteen local pastors and community leaders came together to continue an important, ongoing conversation: how the Church can walk alongside Latino/a parents and caregivers as they build deep and lasting connections with their children and support them in their spiritual journey.

Throughout the day, we shared meals, ideas, and prayers. We listened closely to one another, reflecting on the everyday realities Latino /a families face: balancing cultural expectations, navigating generational differences, and raising children to follow Jesus while staying rooted in their heritage.

The atmosphere was warm and joyful, shaped by a deep sense of shared purpose. Reaching that space, however, took some effort. That same day, No King protests brought much of the city to a standstill, forcing several participants to find creative ways around road closures and transit disruptions. In the midst of the city’s noise and tension, we celebrated the gift of having space to breathe, connect, and dream.

Familias Unidas is more than a program. It’s a shared commitment to accompany Latino/a families with presence, prayer, and purpose.


** Open Call for Writers: “Letters to the Church”
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What would you say to the Church if you could pause, reflect, and speak with courage?

Series Prompt: Write a long-form letter, narrative in tone, that gives voice to what the Church needs to hear in this moment. Be bold and prayerful. Speak with clarity and heart. You never know who’s longing for a word like yours.
* Word Count: 1,250 – 1750 words

* Pitch Deadline: Submit a potential title and thesis statement to [email protected] by August 1, 2025.

* First Draft Due: If selected, a solid first draft will be due by September 1, 2025.

“Letters to the Church” will publish on missioalliance.org beginning in mid-September 2025.

The Church needs to hear your voice.
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Immigrants: The Best Hope For Christian Renewal in America ([link removed]) | Lisa Rodriguez-Watson ([link removed])

"Migration is a significant vehicle by which the church in North America will be renewed. Immigrants who arrive in our country as Christians often embody an unwavering, vibrant faith that could edify and challenge North American Christians.” Read More ([link removed])
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Acompañamiento: The Sacred Between Us ([link removed]) [link removed] Liliana Reza ([link removed])

"When we look at Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, we see various factors that push and pull people to migrate – famine, civil unrest, political persecution, family reunification, and seeking new opportunities – all as part of the greater story God is telling and inviting us into." Read More ([link removed])
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Standing in the Middle of the World: A Bicultural Story of Finding Belonging ([link removed]) | Prasanta Verma

"My sense of not belonging was both outward and inward. Yes, there were some who clearly saw me as someone they couldn’t have community with. And I also had some internal work to do – to feel welcome in my own skin, to accept my ethnicity – something I had wanted to reject for much of my life. A sense of belonging goes both ways, I have since learned." Read More ([link removed])

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** Cultivating a Posture of Humility
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Humility is the doorway to sacred listening. When we enter conversations, especially with those whose experiences differ from our own, with the need to defend, fix, or explain, we miss the deeper invitation. But when we come with open hands and hearts, ready to be changed by what we hear, we practice a holy kind of courage.

This week, choose to listen without preparing a response. Whether it’s a conversation with an immigrant neighbor, a story shared online, or a testimony from the global church, pause before reacting. Ask: What might God be revealing to me through this voice? What assumptions do I need to release?

You might journal your reflections, or simply sit in prayerful silence after listening. The goal is not agreement, but presence. Not resolution, but reverence.

As we cultivate humility, we make room for God to speak, not just to us, but through those we might otherwise overlook. In a world full of noise and certainty, this kind of listening is a radical act of faith.

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