AMMPARO WELCOMING CONGREGATION

AMMPARO is the Evangelical  Lutheran Church in America strategy to 

Accompany Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation, and Opportunities

In Spanish, the word amparo means protection, refuge, or shelter. Since 2016, AMMPARO has been the holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA as a church in the world to accompany children and families today and in the future. 

The Good Shepherd Congregation Council approved the recommendation that the congregation become an AMMPARO  WELCOMING CONGREGATION on February 21, 2017, the first designated as such in the Northeastern Iowa Synod. The congregation’s commitment to supporting migrants is long-standing, beginning with active assistance for refugees from WWII and southeast Asia in the 1970’s.

In obedience to Matthew 25:35 … I was a stranger and you welcomed me, WELCOMING CONGREGATIONS agree to welcome migrant children and families, listen to their stories with respect and receive the divine blessings that they bring, pray for and share the gospel, provide emotional and spiritual support, accompany migrants to access local and institutional services as needed, and advocate for justice for and with migrant families and children. 

Ways to stay in touch with AMMPARO:

AMMPARO Facebook: facebook.com/ELCAammparo

 ELCA Advocacy Twitter: @ELCAadvocacy

 AMMPARO Blog: blogs.elca.org/ammparo/

 ELCA Advocacy Connections Monthly Newsletter: http://elca.org/advocacy/signup 

Do you want to know what Good Shepherd is doing about immigration, especially immigration in Northeast Iowa? Click here.

Are you wondering how you can help? Here are some ways to start:

• Prayers: Include migrants in your own prayers and when praying with others, include these needs, for ask the prayer leader to do so.
• Take action: Follow updates from Good Shepherd in weekly announcements and the bulletin about immediate needs.
• Learn more about immigration rights, laws and advocacy. Look for ways to share that information with others. Click here for good resources.
• Support immigrants through local ministries. Click here to check out these resources.

– Reviewed by Martha Steele, Good Shepherd’s official AMMPARO Representative, May 2022 (information added July 2025)