Welcome the Immigrant | Christian Standard, March 2017 is a focused issue on immigration, refugees, and the church’s responsibility to respond with biblical conviction, compassion, and practical care. Built around the cover theme “Welcome the Immigrant,” this issue gathers Scripture-based teaching, legal and policy explanation, ministry stories, and local church examples that help readers think carefully and act faithfully.
The visible feature lineup begins with Kevin Lines’s articles on what the Bible says about immigration and refugees, followed by practical guidance for churches that want to help immigrants in their communities. Additional articles explain refugee resettlement, define key immigration terms, and explore how Christians can serve through legal advocacy, prayer, friendship, and hospitality. Gayla Congdon writes on welcoming the stranger, Justin Horey interviews immigration attorney Land Wayland, Kelsey McKain tells the story of befriending an Iraqi couple in Louisville, and Doug Priest highlights evangelistic opportunities in today’s global diaspora.
The issue also includes a multi-article section on refugee ministry in local churches across Indiana, Arizona, Maryland, Kentucky, and Illinois, showing how congregations are moving from concern to action. Beyond the cover theme, visible contents address leadership failure, women who feel devalued, the cultural lessons churches can learn from retail, preaching, and Christian response to society’s outcasts.
For readers researching immigration and refugee ministry, Welcome the Immigrant | Christian Standard, March 2017 offers a substantial snapshot of how churches were being called to welcome the stranger with truth, mercy, and gospel-centered service.
