# Evangelical churches attract migrants in US > Migrants find faith communities in US evangelical churches. - Title: Evangelical churches attract migrants in US · The Conversation - Summary: Migrants find faith communities in US evangelical churches. Evangelical churches in the US draw many migrants, who find belonging and spiritual guidance… - Keywords: evangelical churches, migrants, faith, belonging, migration, religious communities, asylum seekers, congregants, church services, prayer, bible study, Evangelical - Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/belonging-and-belief-why-evangelical-churches-draw-many-migrants-in-the-us-286504 - Author: Johanna Bard Richlin - Read time: 1 min - Topics: evangelical churches, migrants, us, faith, belonging, migration, religious communities, asylum seekers, congregants, church services, prayer, bible study ## Kim's faith perspective Kim, a Congolese asylum-seeker in Maine, says Democrats are not people of God. > Democrats are not people of God ## Evangelical diversity 3 in 10 US evangelicals are not white, with migrants shaping religious landscape. > 3 in 10 US evangelicals are not white ## Migration and faith 12% of US evangelicals were born outside the country, 7% have at least one parent born outside. > 12% of evangelicals in the US were born outside the country ## Migrant church experiences Migrants find empowerment through prayer, worship, and Bible study in evangelical churches. > Migrants often told me that their churches’ close-knit communities, and evangelical Christianity’s emphasis on fostering an intimate relationship with God, gave them a sense of empowerment ## Gláucia's faith journey Gláucia, an undocumented Brazilian migrant, says she trusts God's will for her future. > I love living here... if God wants me to leave, I’m under God’s will ## Conversion stories Many migrants convert to evangelical faith after arriving in the US, seeking community. > When you are here, without your family, without any friends, you feel alone, and look for something to hold on to ## Migrant church impact Migrant churches provide prayer, study, and worship opportunities for community support. > The three congregations that I attended offered multiple prayer, study and worship opportunities for migrants throughout the week ## Religious trends 87% of migrants have religious affiliation vs 70% of all US residents. > Migrants, however, are more likely to have a religious affiliation: 87%, compared with 70% of all people in the United States ## Political beliefs Migrants believe Trump will restore US as Christian nation, prioritizing his policies on abortion and marriage. > Some of them believed Trump would restore the United States to its presumed destiny as an explicitly Christian nation ## Future implications Migrants hope to gain citizenship and influence US politics through their faith communities. > Many migrants I met, including green-card holders and asylum-seekers, hoped to eventually gain citizenship and be able to vote ## Key takeaway Evangelical churches in the US draw many migrants, who find belonging and spiritual guidance through faith.