In Johannesburg, South Africa, 8,000 miles away from the White House, Achy, a 39-year-old immigrant Baptist pastor from Zimbabwe, relentlessly watches events in Washington. From double impeachment to Biden’s first 100 days in office — on paper this stuff should…
Breathe free, huddled masses; we’re sorry for how our nation treated you
The Statue of Liberty, Mother of Exiles, stands a little taller this week. Her fabled torch shines brighter. Once again, she beckons her welcome to “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Our presidential election signals a change at our borders….
The true story of two immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. and the pastor who’s helping them
Michael Wangai (not his real name) has been in U.S. immigration “detention” since August 2019. The only crime he has committed is seeking political asylum in the United States with a certainty that if he returns to his home country…
Faith-based groups unite to denounce Trump’s further gutting of legal refugee resettlement
An array of American faith-based organizations roundly condemned President Trump’s Sept. 30 decision to limit refugee resettlement in 2021 to no more than 15,000. That would be the lowest level on record, following a year that already brough an 80%…
Religion Notes: Fellowship Southwest seeks volunteers for the border; BWIM seeks women for mentor program
Fellowship Southwest appeals for volunteers to help churches on U.S./Mexican border A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship organization focused on the U.S.-Mexico border said it has mission and ministry opportunities for volunteers interested in serving asylum seekers on both sides of the…
Storytelling helps pastor deal with suffering witnessed at U.S.-Mexico border
The pain and suffering Jennifer Wilder witnessed at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this year shook her to the core. Wilder, the pastor of Broadview Baptist Church in Sunderland, Maryland, spent parts of January and February as a volunteer providing pastoral…
Pray for immigrants? We need them to pray for us, minister-activist says
Religious leaders gathered at a vigil in December to declare support for Rosa Gutierrez Lopez, an El Salvadoran immigrant who had just taken sanctuary in a Maryland church to avoid deportation. Baptist minister and immigrant rights activist Julio Hernandez was…
Religion Notes: Baptist church empties disaster fund to help furloughed workers
-Baylor lands major Lilly grant for music
-Housing for caravan families
Faith groups amass compassion for migrant caravan as Trump amasses troops
Members of the migrant caravan winding its way through Mexico voted Thursday night to continue toward the U.S. border, and President Trump has promised to meet them there with troops and stricter asylum rules. But faith is also going to…