Church Presence in the Midst of Fear
On Jan. 30, 2026, the CRCNA released a statement and call to prayer to all of its members regarding the challenges many immigrants are facing in the United States today. Approximately one-fourth of CRC congregations are made up primarily of ethnic groups who identify as recent immigrants. We want to share some of their stories to help paint a picture of what is happening. You can read the first story from Texas here. A second story from Wisconsin follows.
My name is Mclowlly “Mac” Soré, a commissioned pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in North America and a church planter with Resonate Global Mission. I serve in Milwaukee, Wisc., where my wife and I, together with a committed team, are planting Vive Church Milwaukee. Our congregation walks closely with Latino families, many of them immigrants, who are navigating complex and often painful realities.
Our calling is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to embody it through a faithful pastoral presence—especially when fear, uncertainty, and suffering weigh heavily on our community.
A Wounded Community: The Story of Oreana Morán
One of the most difficult situations our church has faced in recent months is the case of Oreana Morán. Oreana came to the U.S. from Venezuela four years ago and received temporary protected status (TPS), which allowed her to work and stay legally. She has maintained a clean record during her time here, and she has been consistently employed at a local manufacturing plant in Milwaukee.
Oreana was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) five months ago. Because of her temporary protected status, she has not yet been deported, but she is being kept in detention. Her parents and uncles are active members of Vive Church Milwaukee, and as a congregation we have been consistently praying for her life and for a just resolution to her case.
This situation has created deep fear within our Latino community. Many families are living with anxiety and facing challenges at work. Some parents have expressed fear about sending their children to school or even attending church. As pastors, we are witnessing firsthand how fear can isolate and paralyze people. In response, we are reaffirming that the church must remain a safe place—one of grace, prayer, and hope.
Walking with Suffering: The Arana Family
Another story we wish to share is that of the Arana family. Liliana and Pedro are the parents of four children. When they came to the United States, they received political asylum status. This allows them to live and work in the U.S. while they petition for permanent residency status.
Until recently their status granted them access to medical insurance coverage. Liliana and Pedro’s youngest son, Thiago, has an extremely fragile medical condition. Thiago was born with serious health complications, and by the age of one it was confirmed that his brain had not fully developed. To date, he has undergone 14 surgeries in his fight for life.
Due to recent policy changes, the family has lost their medical insurance. This has led to a significant deterioration in Thiago’s condition. Today he is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit at Wisconsin Children’s Hospital. As a church, we are walking closely with this family, offering pastoral care, prayer, and a faithful presence during one of the most difficult trials a family can endure.
A Call to Prayer
We humbly ask the CRCNA family to pray for our Latino community in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. Pray for courage in the midst of fear, for comfort in suffering, and for the sustaining faithfulness of God as he carries his people through these valleys.
We continue to believe that the church of Christ is called to be a light, refuge, and hope in times such as these.
