Hello everyone,

In December the Mill City Pastors and Leadership Team brought to our community the heavy burden we feel for our immigrant neighbors both within and surrounding the Mill City community. We lament the fear, injustice, and dehumanization that so many experienced due to the increased raids and presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in December, January and February. There is no doubt in our minds that this deeply breaks God’s heart. As followers of Jesus, we believe that every immigrant should be treated with dignity and respect, as those made in the image of God.

There are ongoing needs in the immigrant community and we are going to continue to discern how we can be supportive.

We are also so proud of the way our church has taken action and served others while also being faithful in prayer! 

Here is where we will keep an updated list of the ways that you can join in with efforts coordinated by our community (Updated March 10th):

We have some specific ways we can support the immigrant community at Las Estrellas over the next several days (March 10-14) – if you have some margin could you please let us know? You can reach out to Andrew Rescorla – he is donating his time in this season to be our Immigrant Support Coordinator as the needs continue. You can email him at [email protected] if you can help out!

Some people have had folks from outside our church ask how they can support us financially as we love our neighbors – here is an external link to share: millcitychurch.com/response

Weekly Grocery Runs – NEED MET! We are partnering Pastor Joel Ramirez who leads Iglesia Centro Cristiano De Minneapolis and Pastor Rene of Primera Iglesia Evangélica Bautista Columbia Heights. These churches are able to meet the continued grocery needs in their community now that there are less needs. They report most people returning to church on Sundays! Praise God!

We are communicating with the pastors about ongoing long-term ways to partner! Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Supporting immigrant-owned restaurants – MCC Member Jesse Dresselhaus has curated this list and checked in that these restaurants will be open most Sundays. We encourage you to bookmark this list: Immigrant-owned restaurants list 

Grassroots Support For Neighbors – We have set up a WhatsApp Group to connect those in need with those who have the resources or connections to meet those needs. It’s been amazing to see how God is working through each other to meet needs quickly and personally because of existing relationships. UPDATE: this group has covered $35,000 of rent and countless amount of supplies! To join the group email our team at [email protected]

Financial Support – As you can imagine there are a lot of ways to support people financially in this season. Mill City has gotten many requests from our partners and we will continue to do so – giving to the Mill City Here For Good fund will empower us to continue to say yes.  Some of you have said friends and family have asked you how they can give. They can give to our church to support the cost of our efforts: millcitychurch.com/response Or to the One Fund that will go to immigrant churches: Transform One Fund

Most importantly, many of you are faithfully finding ways to love and serve others in your neighborhoods and networks. Getting involved in efforts close to where you live or work are ideal because even when we aren’t in crisis, these are the places God has called you to love in the name of Jesus. 

Mill City Church has had the mission to “love our community in the name of Jesus” for over 17 years. We have been, and will continue to be, in this for the long haul when it comes to loving our neighbors – and even those we disagree with – in the name of Jesus.  At times when it feels overwhelming and disorienting remember our three part spiritual process – Repent, Lament, Act