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Giving Immigrant Laborers a Hand Up
by Sheryl Young
CLICK HERE to read what one Canadian FMC is doing to reach immigrants. |
At Light & Life FMC (Chandler, AZ) Pastor José Gonzalez rolls up his sleeves and gets into the thick of things. Not content to simply share the good news from the pulpit, Gonzalez wanted to help people right outside his church doors — the hopeful immigrants who daily gather along Arizona Avenue to be chosen for day labor jobs, no roof over their heads, no creature comforts.
“It’s easy to preach the love of God while not helping people hands-on,” Gonzalez says. “I saw how they were being treated, talked down to, sometimes working for no pay. So my wife and I began building relationships by offering them coffee and other small items while they stood outside.” In May 2003, the church opened a day labor center immediately behind its own building. The open-sided ramada-style structure has an aluminum roof and a concrete floor and is equipped with picnic tables and a drive-through pickup zone for prospective employers. The congregation raised some $80,000 to start up the ministry.
“The neighborhood ended up welcoming our effort,” says Gonzalez. “Workers told others, and the city actually helped us open the center!”
The Man Behind
the Ministry
Pastor José Gonzalez (64) has shepherded Chandler Light & Life FMC since 1980. He grew up in a Christian home — his father was a pastor, and preaching came naturally. Gonzalez started a church in Mexico before coming to Arizona.
“My beautiful wife, Evangelina, is my right arm,” he says. “We have five children [the youngest, Elizabeth, is still at home] and nine wonderful grandchildren! One of our sons is in charge of the music program at the church; Elizabeth serves in our children’s ministry.”
The church is primarily a Spanish-speaking congregation. To donate to or get involved in this vital, vibrant ministry to immigrants visit www.chandlerfmc.org.
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Q: What services do you provide, and for how many people daily?
A: We serve breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday to an average 45 per day (mostly men) who are on the street from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m., eager to work, waiting for employers to choose them. We provide clothing, household and hygiene items, and try to find places for them to sleep. Out of this, praise the Lord, sprang up a ministry of giving Thanksgiving food boxes to needy neighborhood families, and we presented Christmas toys to 1,000 children.
Q: Can you explain how the laborers get “chosen” for work?
A: Prospective employers in trucks or cars will choose people either in the order they arrived or by what trade they can do. They may ask specifically for someone whom they have used before, or for someone who speaks English (most of the workers are Mexican or Central American).
Q: Do the workers become “regulars,” and are there questions about their being legal?
A: Most faces are new within two months. Some find shelter and better jobs. We don’t ask whether they are here legally — we just use the opportunity to share the Word and love of God, which everyone needs and deserves.
Q: How do you share the good news?
A: We realized early that it didn’t do any good to make people listen before getting our assistance; that didn’t hold their attention. Now we just talk about the gospel whenever possible — two or three minutes here and there, and through our actions as we are helping them.
Q: How can our readers pray for Chandler Light & Life FMC and the day labor center?
A: Please pray that we can expand our facilities to offer more programs. The church has grown so much I preach three Sunday services and every night except Monday! We also have a free clinic, working with the local hospital for specialized care. But we may lose some property due to needed city revitalization.
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