Bryant Wright, a former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president, is the current president of the SBC’s “Send Relief”—a program funded by Southern Baptist tithe dollars under the banner of the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Wright, a “never-Trump” leftist, is the founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA, and led the congregation for 38 years. Wright was pursued by Kevin Ezell, president of the NAMB, and Wright reports to both Ezell and Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board (IMB).

Over the years, Wright has been involved in several leftist pro-open-borders campaigns including the Evangelical Immigration Table (EIT), a front group for the National Immigration Forum which is heavily funded by George Soros and other leftist organizations. In 2015, Wright led his church to embrace a massive refugee resettlement effort based on the unbiblical and false teaching that Jesus himself was a refugee and he has openly opposed the former president and his own local government’s efforts to protect its citizens from overburdening the welfare system and indefinitely turning entire neighborhoods into refugee camps. He has called on the state to effect mass immigration stating that “the Bible teaches people to care for refugees.”

And as president of the Send Relief program, he continues to push these ideas through the Southern Baptist Convention. As with all liberals, progressives disguised as Christians often re-label illegal immigrants as “refugees” to soften the stigma attached to this federal crime and garner sympathy for them by painting them as victims while sidestepping the real issue: these people are in the country illegally.

Denver, a sanctuary city notorious for its policies that shield illegal immigrants from federal enforcement, has become the recipient of Southern Baptist tithe dollars through Send Relief’s social justice programs, including English classes, job training, and afterschool programs. Send Relief has built the Denver Ministry Center smack dab in the middle of this illegal immigrant population—and there is a lot of money involved.

According to the Send Relief website, the Denver Ministry Center partners with “local non-profits, resettlement agencies, public school systems and churches” to provide “clothing and groceries,” “Personal development, like English acquisition and job skills, for refugees,” and even afterschool programs. These resettlement agencies thrive on the continued influx of illegal immigrants into such sanctuary cities and it has been shown to be an industry in the range of billions of dollars, lining the pockets of those who run these organizations.

Send Relief’s, and by extension, the Southern Baptist Convention’s initiative not only exploits the city’s lax law enforcement policies but also supports and encourages illegal immigration under the guise of community aid, effectively aiding and abetting federal criminals.

This misappropriation of church funds is a departure from the true mission of the Church. Scripture commands us to uphold law and order—Romans 13:1-2 clearly states that all authority is established by God, and we are to submit to governing authorities. Providing support to illegal immigrants undermines this principle and compromises the Church’s integrity. But nevermind all of that, because they’re “refugees,” remember?

The ambitions of Send Relief, under the pretense of humanitarian aid, blur the lines between compassion and complicity. By spending your missions money to provide social services in sanctuary cities, they directly endorse and perpetuate illegal immigration. This not only misuses resources meant for genuine gospel ministry but also entangles the Church in politically charged social issues that detract from its God-ordained mission.

True biblical justice requires helping the truly oppressed and needy without violating the law or enabling lawlessness. The Church’s primary mission should remain on spreading the gospel and making disciples, not engaging in actions that contradict biblical principles and undermine lawful governance. Southern Baptists need to reassess their continued support of NAMB, the IMB, and its various entites that are involved in such programs.