Written by Jose Luis Casal, General Missioner for the Tres Rios Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (Thank you to Rev. John Odom, Presbytery of Mid-KY for sending this out.)
I believe in Almighty God, who guided the people in exile and in exodus, the God of Abraham in a strange land, Joseph in Egypt, Ruth in Israel, and Daniel in Babylon, the God of foreigners and immigrants.
I believe in Jesus Christ, a displaced Galilean, who was born away from his people and his home, who fled his country with his parents when his life was in danger, and returning to his own country suffered the oppression of the tyrant Pontius Plate – the servant of a foreign power – who then was persecuted, beaten, and finally tortured, accused and condemned to death unjustly. But on the third day, this scorned Jesus rose from the dead, not as a foreigner but to offer us citizenship in heaven.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom among us, who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, and reunites all races, cultures and tongues.
I believe that the Church is the secure home for the foreigner and for all believers who constitute it, who speak different languages, are diverse in culture and race and yet are united in love and purpose.
I believe that the Communion of the Saints begins when we accept the diversity of the saints.
I believe in forgiveness, which makes us all equal, and in reconciliation, which identifies us more than does race, language or nationality.
I believe that the Resurrection God will unite us as one people in which all are distinct and all are alike at the same time.
Beyond this world, I believe in Life Eternal in which no one will be an immigrant but all will be citizens of God’s kingdom, which will never end.
