Lessons From Pandemic Church Planting Apply to Current Immigration Crisis

The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of EPIC.

Rev. Miluska E. Silencio

As a Latina woman clergy church planter in the COVID-19 pandemic, I won’t ever forget my ministry experience from 2019-2021 which is highlighted in this study. A key insight I found relatable is the “remarkable resilience” of churches’ adaptability.

At our church plant, staff and elders immediately agreed to follow CDC safety guidelines, pivoting to online livestreaming and Zoom small groups to continue fostering community.

A verse that helped us move forward amid shutdown challenges was Isaiah 43:19 (NIV), “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Even though we were a young staff, we had a high learning curve of having to find out which streaming service was cost effective for us to do so, how would we record or have live worship, set up our sermon rotation along with finding resources for those who needed groceries or financial support. 

Our most resourceful communication tools were our Mailchimp newsletter and staff commitment to one-on-one pastoral care check-ins using Calendly links. We did experience the heavy weight of burn out, but learned together to set boundaries for our work. Once we discovered our church community consisted predominantly of entrepreneurs and work relocators new to NYC, we launched a fundraising campaign for members who became unemployed and needed groceries. We also partnered with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly to connect volunteers with isolated seniors who needed both groceries and community. Many members signed up, and the intergenerational fellowship that resulted was joyful to witness.

Our church community, like most congregations surveyed, adapted despite decreased attendance. We faced no conflict over vaccinations or restrictions.

However, as a multiracial, multicultural congregation, we struggled with racial tensions during the pandemic. Anti-Asian rhetoric—COVID-19 labeled the “China virus”—harmed our community, but we didn’t speak out promptly. Only after the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings and rising Asian hate crimes in NYC did we publicly condemn the language. We apologized and created space for grief and lament, but the delayed response deeply hurt some congregants.

We learned to act more humbly and intentionally across all ethnic communities—not only supporting our Black members who attended peaceful protests after George Floyd’s death, but also staying informed about hurts affecting every group. This experience highlighted a gap I’d like to see explored in future research: how multicultural churches responded to overlapping pandemic and racial crises.

Churches respond to immigration crackdowns with sanctuary and support

I believe this shared pandemic ministry experience applies to our current crisis: ICE targeting Latinx immigrant communities—documented or not—through profiling and detention without due process. Now more than ever, churches must pivot to serve immigrants who fear entering sanctuary locations. Ministers must become traveling churches, going to them and applying the adaptability lessons learned during COVID-19.

Colleagues are already providing pastoral care door to door and via Zoom, while others serve as advocates and legal representatives for communities facing detention and deportation. My greatest hope is that ministers and churches continue this adaptability and creativity, remaining present in ministry during this administration’s crackdown while having the courage to confront unjust power and act on behalf of vulnerable communities.

Rev. Miluska E. Silencio has been an active youth minister in her NYC community since 2005, aiding immigrant families as a pastor in various church plants along with being an activist outside of church walls, bridging faith and justice with her formerly undocumented immigrant story. Her roots are as Afro-Peruvian and indigenous from her father and through her mother’s side Italian, she is in a journey of discovering her heritage and takes joy in doing so being part of the Indigenous Ministers Association as vice president. She is currently an Evangelical Covenant Church licensed clergy member serving as a coach to pastors, church planters and future women pastors; along with being an Assistant Site Director for Immigrant Connection NYC. She earned her bachelor’s from CUNY Hunter College as a double major of psychology and religion, has a seminary degree, MPS, from Alliance University and is pursuing her Doctor of Ministry in Urban Ministry at Fuller Seminary. She has worked in higher education administration at Hunter College, served as an enrollment manager, faculty, and youth seminary coordinator for City Seminary of New York (CSNY). As part of CSNY, she was a researcher with Dr. Maria Liu Wong & Dr. Geomon George on “Engaging the Present and Envisioning the Future: Leadership Development in an Urban Youth Seminary.” As a writer, she contributed her story Restaurando Esperanza in “Keeping the Faith: Reflections on Politics & Christianity in the Era of Trump & Beyond.” Rev. Silencio is married to Josh, a hearty bicycle mechanic, and they have one son named Benjamin. In her free time, she can be found catching up on Netflix shows with her hubby, enjoying her kids smiles, and having piña colada cheers with friends. She is married to Josh, a hearty bicycle mechanic, and they have two kids under 2 years old.