Letter from an Undocumented Pastor
Dear ministry colleagues and church leaders. I hope God is pouring blessings on your life, family, and ministry. As you know, our undocumented status forces us to act with a low profile. Although we often go unnoticed, here we are in this great nation. Usually, we have small ministries in places we rent. Our ministries often carry nuances of our native countries or communities. Most of us are bi-vocational because our ministries alone cannot sustain us, and like Paul, we decided not to financially burden our congregation.
You already know how complicated and demanding the ministry is, therefore, you will understand when I tell you that it has been very difficult to respond to my call. Not only have I had to overcome my insecurities and identity problems due to my undocumented status, but I have also had to overcome the labels that society puts on you for not having legal documents. Furthermore, some have questioned my calling. Some have told me that my calling does not exist. Some others have called me criminal. Some have suggested me to ask God for forgiveness for having crossed illegally. Some others have ignored me, and I have suffered different treatment. It hasn’t been easy, I had to navigate alone, but in the end, everything has worked for good.
Regarding my family, I can tell you that as a husband it has been very frustrating to see our marriage goals and dreams be stopped by my status. I still remember the many times we tried to buy a house but because of my situation, my income could not be considered. We needed the two incomes, especially in California where one income is not enough to buy a house unless you have a well-paying job. I also remember when, due to my condition, we could not go on vacation so as not to expose myself to being detained and deported. I remember my wife saying, let’s go to San Diego, and me responding, no, because there is a border patrol check point in Temecula.
Despite all the limitations that I may have as an undocumented person and pastor, I am very happy with the way the gospel is flourishing in the Hispanic community, especially among new migrants. I have witnessed the power of God healing wounded hearts pursuing the desire to have a better life. I have had to shepherd the undocumented, being undocumented myself. Sometimes in our meetings, we joke that la migra is going to come and we will face deportation, but in our hearts, we rest in the sovereignty of God, longing for the freedom we will enjoy one day.
We have wanted to have a building where we can meet; however, we have realized that many of our community members often cannot even afford their monthly rent because they are still working to have financial stability. So, we have given up on that idea, due to the reality we live in. However, we continue to yearn to have not only a meeting space, but also a place where the families of our community can live. At a conference I attended in Michigan, it was mentioned that a church had built apartments they could lease at a low cost, benefiting newly arrived migrant families but also helping the community to mitigate the weight of a very demanding economy. A ministerial model like that would be great for us! Because of that same reality I have had to give up some financial privileges that many other pastors have. But thank God, other doors have opened to be able to provide for my family and in this way allow the church to support more families.
I ask you to please continue praying, so that God continues to heal the wounded hearts of his people. May the sovereign God protect all the displaced he has brought with the purpose of continuing to build and expand his church in this country. May God continue to move the hearts of those in power to be able to welcome immigrant families and create an environment of hospitality towards strangers. May God continue to bless this great nation and continue to raise up his church. Amen.
Excerpted from “Healing the Wounds of the Displaced: Pastoral Ministry in Immigrant Churches” by Francisco Zamora Avila. Copyright © 2025 Fortress Press. Used with permission.
