AMMPARO is the ELCA's strategy for Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities. It comes from Psalm 46:1 ‘God is our refuge and strength.’ In Spanish, ‘Dios es nuestro amparo y fortaleza.’
AMMPARO is a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA to accompany vulnerable migrants and all who are forcibly displaced. It began after witnessing children and families forced to flee chronic violence, poverty, and environmental displacement in Central America, but is now the ELCA’s global migration strategy.
As part of the AMMPARO global migration strategy, the Iglesia Luterana Mexicana (ILM) provides a critical lifeline to those forced to flee their homes. This video highlights the ministry’s essential work in Mexico City's largest shelter, Casa Tochan, and showcases the amazing resilience of migrants seeking safety, dignity, and a better future.