TCIM: Thriving Congregations Immigration Ministry

TCIM Woodland Church Steering Committee
Diana Bridges, Lance Mayes, Mark Noblitt, Lee Prophitt, Patty Villarreal

Goal
Strengthen connections of our ESL community, Woodland community, and beyond, in order to deepen our understanding of cultures to see the world with renewed eyes. An outcome would include development of a model transferable to other churches.

Theological Framework
Why should we have the goal of getting to know our immigrant neighbors, beginning with our ESL community, those we’re in closest proximity to?

  • Because we’re Christians.

  • This is a logical step in our desire to follow and live like Christ.

  • The gospel of John speaks of the God who wasn’t content to be benevolent from a distance, but who came near to “pitch his tent among us.” This incarnational Way is the church’s path as well. As God has come near to us in Christ, we choose to be engaged with our neighbors, not just those we presume are most like us, but also those whose cultural roots are different than our own.

  • We don’t go only to serve, but also to be served, again following the example of Jesus, who received friendship, meals, and cold water from those around him. If Jesus the Word made flesh, engaged in these “I-Thou” relationships, we are called to do the same thing.

Why doesn’t ESL do overt evangelism?

  • Our teachers come from a variety of backgrounds. The majority aren’t members of Woodland. For those of us who are Christians, our call is to live like Jesus as we teach and engage with our students. If we take our faith seriously, there should be sufficient Christian content in our lives to allow us to talk about our faith in natural ways.

Plan
Woodland was granted participation in Cohort 2 of Thriving Congregations Immigration Ministry through FaithWorks. We began work in December 2025; the cohort is for two years and includes a grant of up to $6000.

The TCIM Steering Committee will be working towards the goal by using focus groups, having ESL students give input, hosting workshops, hosting potlucks, and hosting other events (including a retreat). Our TCIM Steering Committee meets regularly including monthly meetings with Cintia Aguilar, FaithWorks’ Immigration Ministry Manager.

When we conclude after two years, it will be just the beginning of Woodland thriving as a church with our immigrant friends.