Some Good News.
I have written elsewhere, and talked plenty, about the ways the church (predominantly white church in particular), has been inconsistent with who God calls us to be - especially in our treatment of marginalized people. I have tried to be careful to always say that this is not universal but still far too common. I have often said, and deeply believe, that restoring the credibility of the people of God is a multi generational task.
Having said that I had a 96 hour experience that reinforced the reality that this is not universal. There are remarkable people and organizations animated by their faith in Christ who are sacrificially serving their vulnerable neighbors and I had the incredible privilege of being with many of those types of heroes in one 96 hour window.
I traveled to the US/Mexico border with a group from The Holy Post and World Relief to learn about the complicated situation at the border. We met with incredible individuals and churches on both sides of the border who were more interested in caring for people than they were in politics. One church in Tijuana houses people fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries from literally all over the world including but not limited to Afghanistan, Haiti, and Venezuela. They feed them, house them and help them learn how to navigate the system at the border and in the US. We met with a Christ-following border patrol agent who teaches Sunday school at a predominantly Spanish speaking church in San Diego that includes both those who are lawfully present and those who are not lawfully present. I hope that anyone who crosses the border meets an agent like the one we met. We met with churches in San Diego who are housing, teaching English, finding jobs, providing legal advice, becoming friends, and sharing meals with hundreds of people who are desperate enough to seek asylum in an unknown country. We were led on this trip by Matthew Soerens, who works in the policy and advocacy office of World Relief. I am not sure I have ever met anyone with the same combination of Matthew’s extremely compassionate heart and extreme intellect. I am grateful he is the one advocating for some of the world's most vulnerable people.
I returned home from that trip to lead a small group of guys involved with Chicago Fellowship to a visit to Progressive Beulah Pentecostal Church in Auburn Gresham on the south side of Chicago. This church is pastored by Thomas Barlcay who has become both a friend and hero of mine. One of the things he and the church have done for nearly 40 years is care for those in the community suffering from addiction. Thomas befriends them, then the church pays for them to go away to rehab, then houses them when they return. As we shared a meal together one by one another deacon would enter the room and share how long since they have been sober or clean and how they are now a part of the church and serving their community.
The next day I met with the leadership of ASJ who courageously work to root out corruption in the government and law enforcement in Honduras as a way to love their neighbor. I was blown away both by their effectiveness and the steady courage as they face death threats on a regular basis.
In the midst of all of this I share an office with the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn Young Life staff. On my way to the printer I walk by incredibly talented staff people who are praying for teenagers who are fighting anxiety, depression and hopelessness. Then I watched Mary and Stacy practice the talk they are going to give to adults one night, before boarding buses with middle school students the next morning for a weekend of joy, laughter and hearing about and experiencing God’s unconditional love.
When I got back to my office I opened an email from our church who has decided to house 6 full families (20+ people) from Venezuela who are seeking asylum in the US. This welcome news was followed by an email from my wife Annie who continues to serve as an administrator at The Field School who is working to provide a high quality education for kids from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds on the west side of Chicago because they too are using the Calvary building.
Yes, we, (white) evangelicals need to tend to the plank in our own eye and I will not stop calling us to that.
But there are many faithful people and organizations who are animated by their faith in Christ who are sacrificially loving their neighbor and that is some good news.