{"id":573,"date":"2026-04-05T23:14:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T04:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.local\/initiatives\/advent-welcome\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T23:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T04:46:00","slug":"advent-welcome","status":"publish","type":"fw_initiative","link":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/initiatives\/advent-welcome\/","title":{"rendered":"Advent Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”<\/p>\nMatthew 25:35 NIV<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Advent Welcome toolkit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four themes for four Sundays — each grounded in Scripture and the Holy Family’s journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Esperanza<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We wait in expectant hope — for the coming of Christ and for the flourishing of our neighbors. Our hope is not passive.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Peace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prince of Peace entered a world of displacement and uncertainty. His peace passes understanding — and calls us to act.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Joy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joy is not the absence of hardship — it is the fruit of faithful presence. Mary sang of it. We participate in it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Amor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfect love casts out fear. The love of Christ compels us toward the stranger — not away from them.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About this initiative<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if preparing for Christ’s coming meant welcoming those he said he would come in?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full overview<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Advent Welcome initiative, created by the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC), invites congregations to see hospitality toward immigrant neighbors not as a political act but as a spiritual one. Drawing on Matthew 25, it asks what faithful preparation for Christ’s coming really looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initiative provides churches with practical resources, theological grounding, and community across the Advent season. It is not partisan. It is biblical, Gospel-centered, and pastoral — rooted in the life of Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A word from NaLEC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Together, beginning the first Sunday of Advent, we will proclaim that the Evangelical church chooses to be the inn that opens its doors wisely, judiciously, and compassionately — not one that turns people away.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

During Advent, we remember that our Savior entered the world through a family facing displacement, rejection, and uncertainty. The incarnation itself is God’s declaration that human dignity is of the utmost importance. This movement is not partisan. It is biblical.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ways to engage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find your place in Advent Welcome.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reza<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the Advent Welcome prayer and incorporate it into Sunday worship or personal devotion. Record and post on December 5th using #AdventWelcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the prayer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preach<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the four Advent Welcome sermon outlines — grounded in Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love — to form your congregation around faithful hospitality this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get sermon outlines<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open your doors: host a meal, a listening session, or a solidarity gathering with immigrant neighbors during Advent. Share the toolkit graphics with #AdventWelcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See all resources<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A season-long church initiative framing the welcoming of immigrant neighbors as an act of Advent faithfulness \u2014 rooted in Matthew 25 and the incarnation narrative.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"fw_initiative_tag":[38],"class_list":["post-573","fw_initiative","type-fw_initiative","status-publish","hentry","fw_initiative_tag-advent-welcome"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fw_initiative\/573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fw_initiative"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/fw_initiative"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fw_initiative\/573\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"fw_initiative_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulwitness.us\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fw_initiative_tag?post=573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}