Helping Immigrant Families Feel Like They Bleong
In this episode of The Roots That Last, Ryan talks with Josue Trevino, Campus Pastor at Ecclesia’s Lindale campus, about how families can practice hospitality toward immigrant families.
Josue shares from his own story of moving to the United States from Mexico as a child, learning English, navigating the pressure to assimilate, and living with the feeling of being “a little out of place everywhere.” He reflects on how encouragement, inclusion, and belonging shaped his own experience, and why those same gifts matter so deeply for immigrant families today.
Together, Ryan and Josue talk about the fear many immigrant families are carrying, the way public narratives can affect children and students, and why simple acts of friendship can carry more weight than we realize. They also offer practical ideas for families who want to take a first step: inviting someone to dinner, writing a note of encouragement, trying another family’s food or language, participating in school cultural events, or joining programs like FriendSpeak.
In this episode, we talk about:
Common misconceptions about immigrant families
The pressure many immigrant children feel to assimilate
Why belonging matters so deeply
How parents can help their kids practice hospitality
Why trying someone else’s food, language, or culture can be deeply honoring
The fear many immigrant families are carrying right now
Simple ways to say, “I’m with you,” even without having all the answers
How FriendSpeak helps build friendship, language, and connection
This conversation is a thoughtful and practical invitation for families to love their neighbors well and help immigrant families know they are seen, welcomed, and not alone.
Guest:
Josue Trevino is the Campus Pastor at Ecclesia’s Lindale campus, a community center and church serving the Lindale neighborhood in Houston. He is also a father of three teenagers in Ecclesia’s student ministry.
Resources Mentioned:
FriendSpeak
Ecclesia Lindale
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