Amid the blueberry fields of Hammonton, New Jersey — the self-proclaimed “Blueberry Capital of the World” — a small Presbyterian church is living out its faith through concrete acts of welcome. Already known locally for its year-round Monday-Wednesday clothing and home goods ministry, the Presbyterian Church at Hammonton has deepened its outreach to the migrant workers who sustain the region’s farms. In a moment when immigration policy shifts, ICE raids, and funding cuts have heightened fear and instability, the church asked a simple question: What else can we do?
Amidst the administration change, cuts to non-profit funding, ICE raids, and the re-opening of the nearby Delaney Hall Detention Center, a lot in Hammonton changed quickly.
The answer came quickly when they began to look at the challenges their own community was facing. Farmers who relied heavily on migrant workers experienced a delay in their arrival, which negatively affected their crops. And the migrant workers who did come – many with legal paperwork – faced threats of deportation regardless of their immigration status. Hammonton Presbyterian Church decided to expand its mission by creating and distributing welcome toiletry bags to migrants and by partnering with the Presbytery for Southern New Jersey, local Presbyterian Women’s groups, PathStone, a not-for-profit community development and human service organization that serves New Jersey and surrounding states, as well as Puerto Rico, and the neighboring Methodist and Lutheran churches to collect supplies. They’ve since handed out hundreds of bags, intending to do more.
Founded 164 years ago as a mission church for Italians, Hammonton has a long history of mission and commitment to immigrants and newcomers. Today, the current migrant population in Hammonton is comprised of 50% Hispanic and 50% Haitian. Since the majority of the local migrants are Catholic, the Presbyterian Church at Hammonton knows the people it serves will likely never attend a worship service at their church. But their call isn’t about filling seats, but to extend God’s grace and work to all in need in the community. Instead of focusing on the migrants coming to Hammonton Presbyterian Church, Hammonton Presbyterian Church went to them.
Instead of focusing on the migrants coming to Hammonton Presbyterian Church, Hammonton Presbyterian Church went to them.
Pastor Rachel Sutphin strongly believes that the church has a responsibility to welcome the outsider. One of the Bible’s most consistent and repeated commands is to look after the widow, orphan and stranger.
“The Bible is very clear with this emphasis on welcome and hospitality, especially for those who are typically the outsiders,” Sutphin said. “That is something that was really unique at the time, unique to the Jewish faith, unique to the Christ-following faith. There’s this interest in crossing boundaries and being able to support one another.”
In addition to the welcome bags, the church offers ESL and citizenship classes, interpretation help and hopes to open a preschool that would extend to migrant workers’ children.
When we think of Corinthians 13:4 — Love is patient, love is kind — we often think of a wedding. But, as Sutphin reminds us, Paul was speaking about community, and the love it takes to be in one. She says this is a core tenet of a connectional church, and as disciples, we are called into active community.
“Paul is writing a letter and saying, ‘be a community that loves one another.’ All the words of love – Love is patient, love is kind – are all action words,” Sutphin said, adding that the emphasis is on “us as a church, both loving each other in action, but also loving the outsiders, the strangers, the other secular organizations as well.”
Following Jesus and God in loving action and hospitality, despite the polarization of politics, can be challenging. One way that Hammonton Presbyterian Church has confronted this challenge is by seeking the common ground of humanity. This approach leads to complex conversations and a willingness to continue showing up. “My church is very invested in having those (difficult) conversations in unity, that’s one of the benefits of a small church. In order to succeed, we truly do need each other. Members aren’t replaceable because they’re not coming in as quickly as people are leaving us. So, we value being able to talk through our differences.”
That’s one of the benefits of a small church. In order to succeed, we truly do need each other. … We value being able to talk through our differences.
When asked about the church’s role in politics, Sutphin said:
“It goes back to how we define politics. If politics is advocating for certain people, I do not see the church’s role in that, because we believe only in the sole kingship of Jesus. I do believe the church needs to be active in our advocacy for and against certain issues when they are related to human rights and human dignity.
The Bible Canon has been closed. However, that does not mean that God is done speaking. We can interpret from the arc of the whole Bible, the movement of God, as well as experiencing the movement of the Spirit around us, guiding us to the values of our faith, values of supporting the dignity of all human life, the values of welcome, the values of expressing concern for the oppressed and vulnerable, setting the prisoner free.
We see this pattern with Jesus. We see this pattern in Isaiah that we can’t entirely separate ourselves, because then church just becomes faith without works, which Scripture tells us is dead.”
Creating and handing out toiletries has also engaged the church’s youth because it’s a tangible action. It has created opportunities for families to discuss the importance of loving one another and welcoming outsiders. Whereas the older model of church was more focused on retreats, and listening to inspirational speakers and prayers, young people now are more interested in mission work and hands-on faith. Children, in part due to technology, are significantly in tune with the world and feel overwhelmed, too. Yet, they hold the belief that they matter and can make a difference.
A church doesn’t have to solve all the problems. Instead, they can look to their own unique niche and gifts.
The Presbyterian Church at Hammonton hopes to inspire other congregations to think creatively about hospitality in their communities and ways to make a meaningful impact. The constant deluge of stories is overwhelming and often divisive, making it difficult or frightening to know where to start. But a church doesn’t have to solve all the problems. Instead, they can look to their own unique niche and gifts. Listen for the call and begin there. Then seek out allies. Reignite the practice of showing up and meeting community needs.
