Welcoming Immigrants as a Form of Missions
December 2024
The Great Commission requires all of us—prayers, givers, welcomers, senders, and goers. Pastor Adam Copenhaver of Grace Church in Mabton, Washington, embodies the spirit of a welcomer. While his church prays and gives toward international missions, they’re also making a global impact right in their own backyard. In a town that’s 95% Latino, Grace Church is transforming lives among Mabton’s internationals.
In 2018, Grace Church launched “Cultivate,” a discipleship program designed to nurture faith in every generation. Every Wednesday, the church van weaves through town, picking up children and teens and bringing them to join local families at the church. The evening begins with a shared meal lovingly prepared by volunteers, and then everyone breaks into age-specific Bible studies—nursery, kids, youth, and adults. Each year, they study a new book of the Bible, such as John, Acts, or Exodus, with lessons tailored to meet the needs of every age group.
“Every year, we see people come to faith in Christ,” said Pastor Copenhaver. Many participants come with little to no knowledge of the Bible. He recalls one instance when the group was studying the book of John. During a preview of the next week’s lesson, Nicodemus was mentioned, prompting a woman in her sixties to ask, “What’s a Nicodemus?” Through Grace Church’s ministry, she encountered Jesus for the first time, surrendered her life to Him, was baptized, and continues to grow in her faith today.
This isn’t a transactional ministry—it’s a relationship-driven mission of hospitality. Pastor Copenhaver humbly insists there’s nothing extraordinary about what they’re doing, but it’s clear their approach is rooted in love. “It’s just loving your neighbor,” he shared. Hospitality is deeply valued in Mabton, and families feel that love when their children are cared for through Cultivate. “When we love their kids well, people are grateful,” he added.
Grace Church’s faithful ministry demonstrates the power of simple acts of love to make an eternal impact. Only God knows the ripple effects this work will have—not just in Mabton but among the nations!
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