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Bishop Kennetha's Lenten Study (zoom webinar) - Beloved Community In the age of christian nationalism
How Things have Changed by Christine Anders
Immigration is a hot topic in our country. I recently spent time at the border, and over the next couple of weeks, I hope to share with you some of the people I met and things I experienced.
During the first week of my stay in Mission, Texas, I watched the local news, where I first heard of Sister Norma Pimentel, Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. One of the many ministries operated by this organization is the Humanitarian Respite Center.
I wanted to learn more about this ministry, so I stopped by the location listed on their website. The doors were locked. I rang the doorbell, and a young woman appeared at the door and handed me a piece of paper with a phone number and email address I had to use to make an appointment. I returned to my car and sent an email including my phone number. Before leaving my parking space, I received a call from Sister Norma’s secretary, who told me I could meet with Sister Norma later that afternoon.
I arrived at the Center at the appointed time with my ID in hand. I was let into the facility and told to have a seat as Sister was doing a TV interview. I waited a few minutes and then was escorted into the Center by a security guard who remained with us during our conversation. The Center’s efforts are coordinated with Customs and Border Patrol, local mayors on both sides of the border, community organizations, and other religious denominations, including United Methodists.
Sister Norma greeted me with warmth and kindness. As I looked around the large, empty Center, she explained that until the new administration took office, it was filled with families, sometimes several hundred people, including children.
Those who came to the Center had been cleared by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to enter the US and were allowed to travel to their destination, where they would then follow up with immigration officials.
“We saw families being dropped off at the McAllen bus station by CBP with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” Sister Norma told me. “We knew we had to do something. We had to provide these families with dignity and care.”
Many of these families arrived exhausted from weeks of walking. They were dirty and hungry. The Respite Center offered them a place to rest, shower, have a hot meal, and get necessities like clothes, diapers, etc. Even medical care was provided if they needed it. Staff and volunteers assisted them in planning their journey to their destination. Most families were there for only a day or two before they traveled on.
During our conversation, she detailed the challenges faced in establishing a haven for those in need. I asked her about the tight security, and she explained that the local sheriff suggested she tighten security because “there are a lot of haters out there.”
Since January, things have changed. The Center is empty except for a few staff members and security. Sister explained that many migrants arriving at the border had appointments with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and were waiting for their appointments when the new administration canceled the appointments and shut down the appointment app. These people, who traveled so far and hoped to make a new life in the US, are now stranded on the Mexican side of the border. Sister Norma is currently working with the Mexican government to provide food, water, clothes, and more to those in need.
As I left the Center, I was moved by the compassion and commitment of Sister Norma and the organization she heads. I thought about the nearly 500,000 people who had walked through those doors seeking a better life for themselves and their families, wondered what had become of them, and then thought of those currently living in tents on the Mexican side of the border contemplating their next move. I bowed my head and said a prayer for them.
Letter Writing Campaign - Sunday April 6, after worship
On Sunday, April 6 we are going to give you a chance to make a difference! After worship, head to Kenyon Hall, get a cup of coffee and a snack and then sit down, grab a pen and write a few letters. The short time it takes you to write Senators Ernst and Grassley, and Representative Zach Nunn can make a difference in the lives of children here at home and around the world.
Millions of children in the U.S. live in households facing food insecurity. Globally, almost 45 million children suffer from severe hunger, and nearly half of all preventable deaths among children under five are attributed to malnutrition. Child hunger is a local and a global problem, but together, we can make a difference.
Ask our senators and representative to call for the immediate restoration of lifesaving foreign aid and secure essential funding for global nutrition programs, and to fully fund and strengthen the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Sample letters and tips for writing effective letters will be on the table to help you out.
In addition to writing letters, we are going to ask you to pray for an end to hunger. Prayer is essential. After all, the Bible tells us to make our requests known to God. People like Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, and the prophets all asked God to help them carry out acts of justice, advocacy, or service. Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days before beginning his earthly ministry.
Prayer isn’t an afterthought. On the contrary, it’s essential to ending hunger. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” not only to show our dependence on the Heavenly Father, but also to recognize that He is the one who cares for people experiencing hunger. Prayer equips us to take faith-grounded advocacy actions. Through prayer, we acknowledge our dependence on God as we witness His love for humankind.
Pray for:
- People who experience persistent hunger, especially women and children.
- God’s love to guide our steps as we work to end hunger.
- The Church to advance the Gospel by working for justice and an end to hunger.
- The leaders of our country, that they will make ending hunger and poverty a priority.
- The hungry of this world are counting on you to raise your voice!