Immigration is a huge issue in Europe. You have all of these small countries trying to figure out how to keep their own culture and sense of identity intact, while allowing for more open economic trade. Our experience coming to Austria has given us just a taste of what the experience of being an immigrant is. However, we both have masters degrees, loads of money and a network through which we found an Austrian who helps people navigate the process. Seriously without Anneliese, we would be sunk. The rules keep changing and the documentation was quite a chore to gather and have properly certified. Again, that took knowing how to get the information and money to have it certified. Because we had college degrees the initial language requirement was waived. However by the end of year two we have to achieve an A2 level of German language proficiency. This is just one way that Austria is trying to limit immigration.
We are the happy recipients of residence permits for one year. Our advisor told us that we broke all records. Americans receive an automatic 90 day visa, after which the letter of the law requires a person to leave for 90 days before being allowed back into the Schengen Zone (many countries in Europe are a part of this free immigration zone) if one doesn't receive a residence permit by then. We were a bit stressed trying to figure out what we would do if the 90 days passed before we received our residence permits, which we were told was a real possibility. One of our choices would have been to stay here illegally. Wow. We are thrilled, relieved and thankful we will not have to make that choice.
I have a heightened empathy for immigrants who don't have the resources we have.
Those of you in West Michigan have an opportunity to attend a workshop on immigration issues. I wish I could be there. I am thankful for the work of Rev. Christy Lipscomb, City Life Church and the West Michigan District of the Wesleyan Church for their work in helping the church wrestle with these issues. The details are below. Please send me a report if you are able to attend!
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Wednesday, March 13, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the West Michigan District of The Wesleyan Church is looking forward to hosting Matthew Soerens, an immigration training specialist with World Relief.
Join us at CITY LIFE CHURCH
564 S. Division
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 260-1477
www.citylifeonline.net
christy@citylifeonline.net
Cost is $5 at the door but please pre-register. (I can forward the details to you if you comment below or message me.)
There will be opportunities for discussion and Q&A with the speaker.
Immigration can be a complicated topic. On our West Michigan District Board, it's something that we wrestle with quite frequently. Our district is increasingly diverse, with Hispanic folks quickly becoming the fastest growing demographic. In the past, some of our strong minority pastors have been undocumented, and we have faced all kinds of tensions in being obligated to our country's law, while also being compelled by the need to reach lost people for Christ as quickly and effectively as possible. Demographers tell us that immigrant churches are the fastest growing segment of evangelical churches in the U.S.
The WMD is offering a top-notch event on immigration and faith that I believe you will find to be very practical, thought-provoking, and clarifying. Mr. Matthew Soerens comes highly recommended by Dr. Jo Anne Lyon as an excellent resource for churches on the topic of immigration. Soerens is an immigration advocate for World Relief, and is co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate (InterVarsity Press, 2009). Please join us for this special training session on faith and immigration. People from other churches, non-profits, and interested laypersons are all welcome.
