ABOUT US
The Immigration Service and Aid Center project is a collaborative ministry between Baptist University of the Américas and the Baptist General Convention of Texas that focuses on equipping churches and other organizations to engage the immigrant community along a continuum of ministry options.
As a starting point , ISAAC provides unbiased immigration information from a Christian perspective. Whether it is through personal visits, sermons, website information, newsletters or facebook, the staff at ISAAC will help your organization “separate the wheat from the chaff” on a broad range of immigration issues and topics.
For those churches seeking to move further along the continuum, ISAAC helps by supporting service ministries such as ESL, citizenship, or other literacy programs. Through its relationships with other literacy organizations, ISAAC can help your church find the training and resources it needs to set up these types of ministries.
Finally, there is a dire need for quality immigration counseling and service at an affordable price. Far too many immigrants have been scammed by “notarios” and immigration consultants who prey on their lack of familiarity with the legal system. For others, the cost of an immigration attorney keeps effective legal counsel out of reach.
In response, the Federal Government has allowed non-profit organizations, such as churches, to become “recognized organizations.” To become a recognized organization, the church will have to undertake a rigorous application process and must have “accredited” representatives. ISAAC provides technical application assistance and trains church representatives.
The application process takes approximately one (1) year and there are some costs involved, but the results are outstanding. ISAAC became a recognized organization in April of 2013 and has been serving the immigrant community of South San Antonio since then. The ministry is hosted by Baptist University of the Américas and serves out of its campus at 7838 Barlite St. in San Antonio.
ISAAC has helped three Texas Baptist groups become “recognized” in the past two years, and four total nationwide. These groups have aided immigrants to become citizens, processed paperwork for visas, and, in some cases, even helped undocumented aliens to remain legally in the United States.
Wherever a church finds itself along the continuum of ministry services, ISAAC will support ministries, develop relationships, and provide education to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We believe that Romans 13 and Hebrews 13 are not mutually exclusive and truly seek to help churches minister to a mission field that has come to us.
DISCLAIMER: The following is not intended to be legal advice pertaining to your situation and should not be construed as such. It is for educational and informational purposes only. If you need legal advice, consult a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative from a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) recognized agency.