Dear Caldwell,
Yesterday, we took time in worship to ask hard questions and think deeply about ways that we as a church, as part of the body of Christ, can practice “glocal” ministry (local + global = glocal). Finding ways to act locally with global impact can feel like an intimidating proposition. It’s hard to know where to start. Tonight, however, we can do something.
About an hour ago, a friend of Caldwell called to ask whether the church would host a prayer vigil tonight on behalf of an immigrant family, the father of which is now facing deportation. Two years ago, the Session put in place a standing policy that we would make the sanctuary available for such services. The vigil, organized by the Latin American Coalition of Charlotte, begins tonight at 7 p.m.
Here are the details: This morning at 5:30 a.m., one of the local leaders of the immigrant rights movement, Rausel Arista, was stopped at the airport in Buffalo, NY. He was detained by federal officers and is now in a detention facility there. He has no criminal record, has lived in the US since 1995 and has 2 US citizen boys. Rausel is a community organizer for the Latin American Coalition and he lives in Monroe, NC.
What happened to you today? One never knows what a day will bring. This morning, I slept a little late. The rains then slowed me down until I finally got to work and got going, albeit at a leisurely pace. Tonight, I was looking forward to a quiet evening at home with the family. All in all an uneventful day in my life, a day of ease, comfort and privilege. For Rausel and his family, however, this same day now poses risk of being broken up, scattered and facing an unknown future, if Rausel is deported.
What kind of nation are we? God’s timing is something to behold, isn’t it? For the last two weeks, many of us have been watching as our nation dealt with a tragic influx of children from Latin American nations. These children seek refuge from rampant violence in their native towns and countries. For America, these stories have sparked sharp debate about what kind of country we are called to be when innocent children are forced literally to run for their lives, traveling hundreds of miles alone to seek shelter in the U.S.
What does our faith say? As people of faith, we worship a God whose Holy Law insisted on welcoming the stranger and showing hospitality. That God came, incarnate, and said, “Suffer (welcome) the little children, for such is the kingdom of heaven.” For those who can make it, perhaps tonight’s vigil will help us make sense of our national debate and our own call to practice “glocal” ministry.
In Christ,
John