My Spiritual Pilgrimage

I am horrible at fasting. Just ask my husband what I'm like after missing even just one meal. It's not pretty.

But I do love Jesus and I've got to tell you, I have been DESPERATE for more of Him lately.

I have been in this fight for Immigration reform for a few years now, and boy is it a roller coaster ride. One day there is all this excitement and hope because a Republican Congressman came out in support of reform, and the next it seems completely hopeless because another Congressman says Immigration Reform is dead. Things have really amped up in the last year and specifically the last couple of months. There was excitement as over 600 conservatives, including many Evangelical leaders, gathered in DC late October calling on Congress to pass reform by the end of the year. Yet here we are, December 4th with only a handful of days left in the year and we've got nothing. I have felt so discouraged and hopeless over the last couple of weeks. I have lamented to God about this and you know what He told me...pretty much as clear as day?

"Bethany, why are you putting your hope in man?" 

"What God, No I'm not!! I pray all the time for Reform."

"But Bethany, if you are hopeless because man is not moving, then will you only be hopeful if they are moving? Put your hope in Me."

Shoot. He's totally right.

It's so easy to say my hope is in Jesus but it's a whole other thing to actually put your hope in Him. Like fully and completely in Him. I want to though, so so badly. Like I said, I am desperate for HIM. I am confident that my passion for this cause is motivated by my passion for God, but it is so easy to get swept away in the fight and lose sight of why we are fighting in the first place. It's not about meeting with important people, planning events, or influencing legislation. I need to return to what this is all about: chasing after God's heart.

While I've been wallowing over here a group of people began fasting on November 12th on the National Mall. You can read more about that here. As I've followed the story, something really stirred in my heart. I felt something in me say, "Go. Join them." That voice kept getting louder and louder and finally, I decided to listen. It doesn't make any sense, I know I can fast anywhere, I know God is everywhere and I have a one year old, for goodness sake!

But when God says "Go," you go.

This is my Spiritual Pilgrimage. I am going with an expecting heart and if I am honest, a nervous one too. Like I said, I stink at fasting. I get cranky, forget to pray, and usually give up. This time though, I know I will have to stick it out because I will be sitting with people who have been fasting for days and will continue to do so long after I leave. I know I will stick it out because God is good and He will sustain me. I truly believe that.

I am fasting for families, for immigration reform and most importantly, to set aside a space and time to align my heart with God's. I am fasting because my hope is in God, and God alone.  Just as He will sustain me and the other fasters, He will sustain my friends and neighbors. He will deliver them. He will bring freedom. It's not a matter of if, but when. Even if man does not move, He will move.

Will you join me in this? Click here and see how you can!

Hope on a Tuesday

It was a Tuesday night and I planned on meeting with a small group of neighbors who I thought might qualify for the new Deferred Action Immigration Policy.  I had talked to maybe 20 people and expected about that many to show up. I set up a few chairs in the living room of our Solid House and waited for our new lawyer friend, who graciously agreed to help our neighbors file, to arrive. You see, normally how these community meetings go is maybe about 50-75% of the people we expect to show up actually do, and usually they are 15-30 minutes late. It's the way of the neighborhood and something I have come to embrace.

But this Tuesday was different. It wasn't even 7:00pm yet, the scheduled start time of our meeting, and the little living room was packed. People were overflowing into the patio and we definitely did not have enough chairs for everyone. It was hot and muggy, but the energy was high. We decided to move our meeting to the church down the street so everyone would fit. All SEVENTY people walked through the neighborhood to the church. It looked like a parade! When the lawyer arrived, he went right into introducing himself and sharing about the basics of the new policy. There were arms flying up left and right with questions about themselves or "their friends." I couldn't quite put my finger on it at the time, but something was special about this night. A group of people who daily feel the weight of their societal labels, like "illegal" and "criminal", were eager, anxious, and excited. There was fear in the room, but as the night came to an end, it hit me: for the first time, a room of undocumented immigrants from our neighborhood were gathered together and the normal overwhelming feelings of struggle and fear were strongly overshadowed by hope.

Hope is powerful thing. Hope gives you confidence, drive, and determination. As I scheduled individual appointments for each potential applicant that night, I heard countless people talk about how they were going back to get their GED now, re-enroll in college, or apply for a job in the field they love, have a degree in, but could never pursue without a work permit. Hope was in the air and it was a beautiful thing to be apart of. 

As the night came to an end and as I locked up the church, feeling physically tired but emotionally rejuvenated, a mom and her 13 year old daughter came up to me. They had just heard about the meeting and were wondering if I could help the daughter apply. I explained that she was too young right now, but as long as the policy was still in place when she turned 15, I would definitely help her. I gave her the basics of deferred action and her face literally lit up as I explained the potential for a work permit and driver's licence...things this girl didn't dare dream about. Her mom looked at her daughter as she put her arm around her. She didn't have to say it but I knew what she was thinking.

This is why she made the difficult decision to come and dangerous journey here...for hope. 

And this is why I got involved in this work to begin with...to see that look of hope on the faces of my friends and neighbors.

I recently heard my friend David's migration story and to be honest, it made me uncomfortable.

David's family came here from Peru, because they felt called. Legitimately and genuinely called. David's father is a pastor and heard about a church here in Southern California in need, and decided to answer the call by moving his entire family thousands of miles away from home. They were not able to get the proper visas to come legally, but felt strongly that if the Lord was calling them, they must go. 

As I listened to his story and wrestled with my feelings of discomfort, I pretty quickly felt convicted as I began to realize what it was that offended me. 

My initial thought was, "We don't need missionaries. We are the missionaries." I was offended that this family thought God would call them here, as if our country needed them. We are the ones who send missionaries all across the world, often times fudging the truth on our visa applications, claiming to be tourists or coming to do business, and therefor, entering under false pretenses and committing a federal crime. I know I've done it before. But it's ok when we do it, because we are the bearers of truth...of hope...of Christ. God couldn't possibly be calling this family to do something illegal for his Kingdom too, right? 

I admit, friends, I am broken. I am a work in process and have been struggling with my identity as a white, Christian, American and the power and privileged that comes along with that for some time now. It's easy to get sucked into the world's, and sometimes even the church's, perspective of who I am.  "I am the one with the answers. I am the missionary. I am the Savior." As I repented of these feelings and tendencies to see myself as greater than I am, I felt God assure me of my true identity. I am beloved and valuable in His Kingdom, just like David's family who risked it all to minister to my country. 

I invite you into an embarrassing and vulnerable part of my journey, because something tells me I am not the only one who feels this way. I am not the only one who felt offended by David's story. I am not the only one who struggles with a narrow view of the world and God. I have to be willing to accept the fact that if God can call me to do something "illegal" for His Kingdom, then He can most certainly call a family from South America to do the same. We are, after all, given the same value, worth, and purpose through the cross. 

Not to mention that our country probably needs more missionaries than we are comfortable to admit. 

Tutorial on the new policy of Deferred Action for "DREAM" eligible young people

Last week was an exciting week for our Church, Nation, and Immigrant communities. For those who missed some or all of what went down, here is a recap:

-Tuesday, June 12th: Over 150 prominent Evangelical leaders sign a Statement of Principals for Immigration Reform. Some key leaders of this statement presented it at a press conference in Washington DC with all major news media covering the story. Read More

-Thursday, June 14th: Time Magazine releases the cover of it's latest issue featuring 36 Undocumented Immigrants stating, "We are Americans, Just not legally." (On stands June 25th) Read More

-Friday, June 15th: President Obama announces a new memorandum, effective Immediately, offering deferred action and work authorization to young people meeting a list of specific qualifications. Read More

As I woke up Friday morning to countless texts, Facebook messages and emails regarding the news, I felt deep in my heart that God was saying, "I have not forgotten you" to all those struggling as Undocumented Immigrants in our country. I was filled with hope and also many, many questions as to how this would logistically play out. Many questions have yet to be answered and in an effort to keep people informed, here is a basic tutorial on what we know so far.

Important terms and definitions:
Deferred Action - basically a postponement and protection against deportation
Work Authorization - essentially, a piece of paper that allows you to work legally in this country
Removal Proceedings - The process of being deported
NTA - Notice to Appear, basically a demand to appear in front of an Immigration judge to determine your status in the country
USCIS - United States Citizenship and Immigration services, they process all requests for visas and Immigrant benefits
ICE - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they enforce Immigration law

Qualification Criteria from USCIS:
1. Have come to the United States under the age of sixteen
2. Have continuously resided in the United States for at least five years preceding June 15, 2012 and are present in the United States on June 15, 2012
3. Currently be in shcool, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharge veterans of the Coast Guard of Armed Forces of the United States
4. Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety
5. Not be above the age of thirty

What it isn't:
-Amnesty, a path to Legal Permanent Residency or Citizenship
-The Dream Act
-A change in the Law
-Comprehensive Immigration Reform
-An Executive Order

What it is:
-Protection for a vulnerable and important group within our country from deportation
-A way for many eligible and deserving youth to come out of the shadows, continue their education, and contribute to the economy more fully by allowing them to work legally without the threat of deportation
-Prosecutorial Discretion, basically changing the way the Law is enforced, which is within the authority of the President

What we know:
-This memo will be implemented within 60 days of when it was announced, so sometime around August 16th
-Those in removal proceedings or with a final order to be removed who qualify, should request deferred action with ICE immediately
-Those NOT in removal proceedings who believe they qualify SHOULD NOT turn themselves into ICE, but rather wait for USCIS to release the implementation plan and apply directly with them once the application process is available
-Those who believe they qualify should begin gathering documentation proving they meet the criteria listed above
-Applying for Deferred Action and Work Authorization will not trigger an Immigration investigation into the applicants relatives
-Those who apply and are denied will be given an NTA, but not necessarily be placed directly in removal proceedings

What we still don't know:
-How those who qualify will apply
-The intricacies of the exact meaning of each of the qualifications
-If those who receive this form of temporary relief will be able to travel outside of the country
-What will happen if President Obama is not re-elected next term

What you can do to help:
-Help spread facts and not rumors...check your facts before posting something on a blog, facebook, or twitter
-Volunteer at a local Legal Services organization, like World Relief or Catholic Charities. There will certainly be A LOT of need over the next few months and years in regards to this policy change. Solidarity will be helping in some capacity to process applications for our friends and neighbors that qualify. If you are interested in helping, email me at bethanyanderson@solidarityrising.org
-Learn more about the Bible and Immigration by joining one of Solidarity's 8 week learning communities. For more information, click here.
-Join with Evangelical leaders like Max Lucado, Shane Claiborn and Dave Gibbons, by signing the Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform

My Response:
The general consensus is that this is HUGE. It is step in the right direction and will not only positively impact our nation, but will allow for thousands of hard working young people to come out of the shadows and have an opportunity to fully contribute to our country without living everyday in fear of being sent back to a country they may not know or remember. Is this a political move on Obama's part, given it's an election year? Probably, but aren't we used to all types of politicians doing what ever they can to get re-elected? I don't think we need to dwell on the supposed motivations of President Obama. Rather, I think we should praise our LORD that He is answering the cries of so many young people who have lived a life of oppression and struggle. I personally do not think it's an accident that this announcement came just 3 days after the Church came together in UNITY declaring our commitment to Immigration policies that reflect dignity and respect for all humankind. When do you have so many different denominations come together in agreement on anything?? It is unprecedented and can only be lead by the Holy Spirit. I think God is honoring that unity and answer to His call. I also think that this is only the beginning of God doing miraculous works in our nation in regards to Immigration policy.

Let us continue to seek God's heart for the oppressed and be diligent as we seek His calling for the Church to respond.

Law of the Land

Last week, I had the privileged and honor of attending Immigrant Pathways Institute in Chicago. Basically, I spent about 9-10 hours a day learning, studying, and researching our current Immigration Laws. In addition, I was able to engage in some challenging theological discussion with seminary students, Biblical theologians, professors, pastors and lawyers. After only a week of class, I don't claim to be an expert, but I do feel like I gained some specific insight, some of which I would like to share here. It's hard to summarize all that I learned and how the Lord is stirring in my heart, so bare with me as I try and articulate it all.

1. We can't start with the law. As Christians, we have to start with Scripture. If we start at the Cross, and continue to keep that our focal point, then we can not help but to see all humanity as made in the Image of God. All are worth His death, so all should be worth our time, love and energy. No one is beyond His grace, so as we try to be like Him, we must strive to extend His grace as well. Noel Castellanos, Executive Director of CCDA, said it brilliantly, "Justice is about all people being made in God's Image and injustice is anything that tries to strip that truth from people." If we look at the issue of Immigration from this point, we can't help but seek to learn before we judge. We have to hear the stories, understand the motives, look at the law in light of God's justice, and shape our opinion from that place.

2. We are called to submit to the law, which does not always mean follow it. Danny Carroll, author of "Christians at the Border" and a theologian from Denver Seminary, made this point way more eloquently than I ever could as he explained it during one of our devotions during the week. He shared that there is a difference between submitting and following. In Romans 13, Paul is clear that "whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement (vs. 2, NRSV)." The problem is that so many Christians end the discussion with this verse. I think this is unfortunate because the scripture also makes it clear that there are times when we are not to follow the law of the land, but submit to the authority and consequences that may come from doing so. In Acts 5:27-42, we see the story of Peter and the apostles being brought before the authorities who are angry that they have disobeyed the law of the land by continuing to preach in the name of Jesus. The apostles respond to this anger by saying, "We must obey God rather than human authority (vs. 29, NRSV)." There are times when the law of the land does not match the law of God, and we have to choose God's law. This does not mean, however, that we do not still submit to the authorities. In Acts, there is no account of Peter and the apostles resisting the punishment issued by the law of the land. They willingly take the punishment and submit to the authorities without following their law.

3. God's law is clear when it comes to immigrants. If we look at scripture, the values we find in the Old Testament, and the commandments throughout the New Testament, it is clear we are called to love and welcome the stranger. We are called to treat the immigrant like someone who is native born. If you don't believe me, take a look at one of these many verses, just to name a few: Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18, Deuteronomy 24:19-21, Exodus 12:49, Psalm 146:9, Zechariah 7:10, Malachi 3:5, Matthew 25:35-36 and 40, Hebrews 13:2.

4. The Law is unjust. This may be controversial for some people, but this is the honest conclusion I have come to. For starters, it has not been fully enforced for decades. By not asserting the law, it does lose a bit of it's authority and our government finds itself in a place of contradiction. In the past 20 years or so, we have made it relatively easy for people to come here, find work, start lives, lay roots, all while giving them very few rights. Now, our country seems to be in a bit of a dilemma. We have 12 million+ undocumented immigrants in our country, many of which were small children when their parents brought them here, and now we want to start enforcing the law? Basically saying, "While we felt like you benefited us, we were OK with overlooking the law, but now that we are struggling and it seems like there just isn't enough to go around, we would like you to leave. Oh, and by the way, since it will be WAY too expensive to round you all up and deport you, we are just going to pass more and more laws that make life miserable for you, so you will chose to leave on your own. Who cares if you have children who have lived here for practically their entire lives, or if you have continually paid your taxes, been apart of our churches, served our food, cleaned our houses, taken care of our children and grandparents, we just don't want you anymore." Supporters of laws like Arizona's SB 1070, or Alabama's HB 56 might tell these immigrants to "get in line" and "do things the right way." What was overwhelming clear to me as I studied the law in depth, is that for the majority of those who are undocumented, this is impossible. These "lines," for the few that may qualify, are upwards of 20-30 years. As I learned the different ways people can migrate legally, the countless names and faces of my neighbors went through my head. I thought about their stories and their backgrounds and realized that there is probably not even one who, under our current law, would ever be able to migrate legally. I just can not wrap my head and heart around how this could possibly be just or how this could be what God wants.

5. Immigration in our country is an incredible opportunity for the Church. When I look at my own story and how God has shaped me, specifically in the last 7 years, I realize that the immigrants in my life have played a crucial role in it. As I have focused my energy on depth with Christ while I seek to love and minister to my neighbors, I have learned more about God's heart for His people, unending grace, racism, entitlement, evangelism, vision for the future, and purpose for my own life, than I ever could have imagined. Not only do we have the nations at our doorstep, making the great commission a whole heck of a lot easier, but the opportunity for redemption of our past is GREAT. Let's be honest, the mainstream Church has missed the boat on some huge justice issues throughout our history. Slavery, Chinese Exclusion Act, Civil Rights, just to name a few. Are we going to let history repeat itself? Are we going to sit by silently while fear of the other and entitlement guides our thoughts, words, and actions? Or are we going to stand up and proclaim that ALL humans are made in the image of God and we are not going to allow anything strip that truth from people? We have an opportunity to intervene in the lives of those who are vulnerable, suffering, and most definitely hurting as strangers in our land and share the Good News with those who do not already know Him, all while growing in our depth with Christ and becoming more and more like Him. I don't know about you, but I do not want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to look back at this time in our history with shame that their fore fathers did not do more to advocate for the marginalized. I have a strong sense that we are at a crucial point in our history and I do not want us to miss the opportunity.

As I process all I am learning and what God has called me to, I have to continually ask God to break my heart for what breaks His. As I do this, I feel myself more and more burdened by the stories of my immigrant neighbors and the unfortunate apathy of many of my brothers and sisters.

Forgive us Lord and help us to be more like You.

*A special thank you to all those who shared their wisdom with me over the last week: Danny Carroll, Craig Williford, Matthew Soerens, Noel Castellanos, Bill Hamel, Alex Mandes, World Relief staff, Immigrant Hope staff, and Trinity Seminary Students. 

The New Girl

Her face says it all. She is terrified, untrusting, confused, hungry and dirty. Her cheeks are sunken in and her lips as dry as the desert she just came from.

She couldn't be more than 17. She's a cute girl with straight, long, dark hair. I really know nothing about her, other than she's from Central America and was just picked up with her 19 year old brother.

Why did she come? Where are her parents? What happened to her while she traveled here? How long did she go without food and water? Does she know she's safe now? I know I can't ask her any of these questions right now, so I just smile at her. I can assume there is one question her mind is focused on. "Where is my brother?"

My heart breaks as I imagine and assume the hardships this young women has faced. Clearly, a desperateness must have driven her and her brother to make the long and dangerous journey here. Maybe they were trying to find their parents. Maybe they were escaping gangs or poverty. Perhaps they were hoping for the American Dream. No matter what the reason, the reality is that she is here now. She is alone, scared, most definitely hurting and vulnerable. The question for us is how will we respond to her?

Matthew 25:40

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

The Justice Conference

I am so inexplicably excited for this weekend.

Feb 24th-25th.

Don't miss it!

http://thejusticeconference.com/

The Good Mexican

I have been thinking about a Bible story found in Luke 10, you may have heard of it.

The Good Samaritan.

I have always looked at this story from the perspective of the injured traveler. Why? Because he is who most closely represents me. I am a white, American Christian. I am of the "dominant" ethnicity, culture and religion. I do not see my self as a religious hypocrite (hopefully others don't either) and I don't really relate to the Samaritan either. I have never been looked down upon by society. I have never been treated like a second class citizen and I don't know what it feels like for an entire people to consider themselves superior to me. So I guess I am the wounded traveler.

As I reflect on this story I have to ask how it relates to our society today. I can't help but draw similarities between how Samaritans were viewed by the Jewish people and how our society views Immigrants.

I feel like I just had an epiphany.

I need Immigrants to teach me how to be a neighbor, just like the expert in the law from Luke 10 needed a Samaritan to teach him how to be a neighbor. What a concept.

We NEED those who our society calls week, sinful, valueless to teach us about holiness.

As I think about my own story and how I have come to so deeply carry the burden of the undocumented I know it was not by accident and it surely was not of my own accord. I care because people in my neighborhood took the time to share their stories with me. They took care of me, fed me, loved me, and allowed me to enter into their lives. They welcomed me. They were vulnerable with me. They allowed me to be vulnerable. And now, I am a better person because of it. I have something I don't think very many people ever experience:

I have a calling.

With that calling comes freedom, hope, peace, and joy.

I have never felt more like myself, the person I was intended to be, then I do now. I have never felt more connected to God and His purpose for my life. The words of Mordecai to Esther are ever present in my mind, "Perhaps I was created for such a time as this." Perhaps I was created to stand up for the poor and carry the burden of the Immigrant. Perhaps I was created to be apart of a larger Christ movement of engaging people who look like me in a fight they might not be connected to otherwise.

And what if more people like me were able to enter into meaningful relationships with the "Samaritans" among us? What if more White, conservative Christians, broke bread with the Central American who cuts their grass? If God can use a few Immigrant families to DRASTICALLY change the course of my life, the possibilities are endless. Relationship is key, folks. We have to step out, on both sides. We need the Immigrant church to reach out, love the non-Immigrant church and teach us how to be a neighbor, even if we don't deserve it. And the non-Immigrant church, we need to be willing to learn. We need to see ourselves and others, even if they look different than us, as God sees us all: equally broken and equally loved.

It's changed my life...

And all because a Mexican treated me like a neighbor.

My Letter to the Executive Director of Morgan County's CCC

I recently stumbled upon an article from a town in Alabama and it was extremely troubling to me. The jist? A para-church organization decided to start enforcing a rule they have apparently had for a long time in regards to the people they will serve at their local clothing and food bank: if you do not have a legitimate social security number, you are not welcome. You can read the whole article here. Of course, this did not sit well with me so I thought I would send a letter to the Executive Director of the Committee on Church Cooperation in Morgan County, Alabama. I thought I would share it here as well.

Dear Gayle Monk,

My name is Bethany Anderson and I live in Fullerton, CA. I know this is very far away from Morgan County, Alabama, but I felt deep in my soul that I should reach out to you and the organization you oversee. We are connected even though we have never met. We both claim to follow the same God. You see, I had to write you because we are supposed to be sisters in Christ, but I am afraid your Christ is very different then the one I have come to intimately know and love. The Christ I know loves and accepts everyone. He stands up for the oppressed. Although He is greatly concerned for all of humanity, He makes it very clear that He has a deep concern for the poor, hungry, sick, prisoner, and stranger. In fact, He says that those that do not show this same love and concern for those that fit any of the descriptions listed will find it extremely difficult to enter the Kingdom of God.

I am afraid you might have missed that part of Jesus' Good News. I am also afraid that your enforcement of a rule that excludes undocumented immigrants from the services you provide will taint the true Good News for others as well. I fear that those who are undocumented in your community have not experienced the transformational love of God and instead, have experienced a god that tells them they are not good enough to receive his love. I am afraid that those who call Christians hypocrites might be proven right. I am concerned that you, your staff, board and volunteers are missing the purest sense of joy, peace and purpose that the Lord blesses us with when we fully participate with Him in His Kingdom. I don’t mean to be rude, but I know for a fact that by consciously choosing to NOT serve and, more importantly, NOT to be in relationship with those who are undocumented, you are missing out on fully being who God intended you to be. I am reminded of the many scriptures in the New Testament where Jesus continuously challenges the Pharisees legalistic mindset. He exemplifies being a Godly rebel by touching those He was not supposed to touch, talking to those He was not supposed to talk to, and healing those He had no business healing, especially on the Sabbath. If we are to truly be like the One who came before us, then what does this rebellion look like in our society? I can’t help but think of the undocumented community as one of the most marginalized, isolated, and hated of our society. When Jesus was here in the flesh, He spent a lot of His time with those who were also marginalized, isolated, and hated. He did this, I believe, mostly because He loved them dearly and partly to show us who we should spend our time with.

I think the work you do is commendable. Feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and loving the hurting are at the heart of Christian ministry. However, I am very thankful God does not have comparable qualifications for receiving His services as you do for those in your community. Thank God He loves us no matter where we were born. Thank God He died for all of us. Thank God He invites all of us to eat at His table and drink His living water. Thank God we don’t have to show a social security card, proving our worthiness, at the gates of heaven. I know I surely do not deserve the grace given to me, and although I do not know you, I am sure you are grateful for this as well.

If I may, I would like to offer a challenge to you. Would you give one day of your life and spend it with an immigrant, preferably one without papers? I know there are many in your community and if you have trouble finding one who is willing to spend the day with you; maybe you can talk to a local pastor to point you in the right direction. If all else fails, you are more than welcome to visit me in California. We have an extra bed and my husband and I would love to introduce you to our foster son from Honduras who was trafficked here and now is undocumented, or our good friend who was brought here as a young child, is in college, and works with the teens in our neighborhood, or our neighbor who came here with her 2 young children because they were literally starving in Mexico. In any respect, I encourage you to hear the story of an Immigrant. Ask what life was like in their home country. Ask why they decided to come here (if they even had a choice in the matter) and what the journey was like. Ask them what life has been like for them here and what their dreams are for the future. After your day with them, prayerfully consider what you would do if you were in their situation and how God might be calling you to engage.

I fully know how confusing and difficult the issue of Immigration is. I know the laws don’t make sense and that people on both sides of the discussion are passionate. I also know that we, as the Church, have a choice to make. We can choose to be on the side of complacency or even hate or we can stand on the side of understanding, grace, and love. We can be like the Pharisees: too clean to touch the unclean, or we can be like Jesus: the perfect expression of God’s upside down love.

Gayle, you are in my prayers and if you would ever like to converse further on the things I have written, I would be honored. My contact information is included. Blessings to you.

Sincerely,

Bethany Anderson

My DREAM for Change part 2

My life has most fully been lived on a little street in Fullerton, Ca.

This neighborhood means so much to me. It's where I fell in love with my husband. It's where I discovered who I truly am. It's where I have experienced Jesus in the deepest way. It's where I learned to dream BIG dreams for those I love, even if they are not able to dream them for themselves.

My neighborhood is far from "beautiful". There is trash everywhere, gangsters hanging out on the corner, worn down apartments, and I have broken up a fight or two. But it's not this physical place, full of imperfections, that has so deeply impacted me. It's the perfect God I have experienced through my neighbors that is what brings me to a deep place of reflection.

In the countless meals I have shared, walks to Target I have taken, and conversations had at the food trucks, I have come to realize how connected I am to my neighbors. We are not all that different. We all want to be safe, provide for and protect our families. We all want to be valued.

We all want to dream.

As similar and connected as we are. There is a stark difference between me and my neighbors: I have been given the right to dream. In fact, I have almost been forced to dream. I grew up with the idea that I could do anything. I was free and even entitled to follow my dreams, whatever they may be.

My neighbors? Sure they can dream, in theory. They can imagine being doctors, engineers, teachers, artists, musicians, lawyers, politicians...but the reality of their circumstances often crushes those thoughts before they even fully play out in their heads.

When I first moved into my neighborhood I was an idealistic 19 year old. I thought with a little love and imagination this neighborhood could transform. What I have come to realize over the last 7 years is that love and imagination will only take you so far. I pray everyday not to lose my idealism, but I have accepted the reality that transformation takes time. It takes work and it is often times very difficult. When it comes to the reality of my neighborhood, there is just so much we have to overcome. We have systemic poverty, slum lords, a broken education system, and too many kids who don't know how to dream. We have generations of people who can't see past the corner of Garnet and Placentia and the second they do they are quickly reminded that for them, there is no point. Over the years I have also come to realized how deeply connected these issues are with the fact that so many of my neighbors are undocumented. When you don't belong, you have no rights, and you are treated like a second class citizen, what's the point of dreaming? I fear our lack of just Immigration policy is robbing our neighbors of their God given right to dream.

I think, as the Church, we need to acknowledge this as a viable possibility.

We also need to begin repairing the damage we have caused by allowing our big corporations to cause systemic poverty in our neighboring countries, taking advantage of cheap labor, creating a demand for drugs, weapons and prostitution, and allowing years of outdated and unjust laws go unchanged. Too many people want to criminalize the acts of those who came here unlawfully, but I think we need to take responsibility for our role in this mess.

We were so busy asserting our American right to dream for power and prosperity that we forgot about the dreams of our neighbors.

I know that changing our immigration laws will not instantly make everything better. There will always be poverty, corruption and injustice. But for my neighborhood, and countless other Immigrant communities across the nation, we will not see our dreams of transformation fully come to fruition without it. What Comprehensive Immigration Reform would do is restore my neighbor's ability to dream...something we had no business destroying in the first place.

My Heroes

What would you risk for God's calling?

I have to admit, I've never had to risk too much. I know who I am, what I am called to do, and I am blessed to freely pursue it without putting myself at risk. Well, I suppose an anti-Immigrant activist could stumble upon this little blog and decide I am so valuable to their opposition that they should take me out...but really, what are the chances of that happening?

As you might have read here, I have been feeling a little discouraged about my efforts in this fight and quite hopeless that I will actually see meaningful change. God is funny though. I guess He actually listens to my whining because He sent me 2 great reminders of His hand in all this. It was just what I needed.

The first reminder happened as I was catching up with a dear friend and colleague the other day. This girl is one of my heroes and throughout our conversation, I remembered why. This friend is an amazing advocate for the poor, oppressed, and immigrant. Funny thing is, she happens to be undocumented her self. Having come here at a young age, she knows full well the struggle of an Immigrant family. Although her family was able to legalize, because of one incorrect form, she was not able to attain legal status here. As we were talking about some recent events in her life, she shared with me how some of her family is afraid she is putting herself at risk by being such an outspoken advocate against injustice. She said to me, "But Bethany, I refuse to live in fear." It is clear that God called her to this work, or should I say, God called her to be HERE and do this work. She is willing to risk everything for her calling, not just because Reform will be worth it, but ultimately, because He is worth it. She is not bitter. She does not complain. She is not afraid. She just lives how God has called her to live.

My second reminder came later that day as I connected with another friend. I have admired this friend from a far for quite a while. For starters, she is brilliant. Seriously, brilliant. She is so articulate, humble, kind, selfless, determined...really, the list could go on and on. She is also undocumented and the perfect representation of a DREAM Act student. She not only graduated from college, but she has her Master's in Psychology. Like I said, she's pretty smart. Even though her status here prevents her from fully pursuing her career, she refuses to sit on the sidelines and wait for our government to recognize her worth. Instead, she uses her education and experience to help people who could not otherwise afford the support of a counselor. After we spoke, it hit me that she gets something most do not. You see, she knows that God has called her to something bigger and no matter what the law prohibits her from doing, she will find a way to pursue that higher calling.

My friends. My partners in the Kingdom. My heroes. They remind me why I am here. They remind me that it's not really about the cause, but about chasing after a God who loves us all equally. It's about for-going this earthly kingdom for His Kingdom. You know...the Kingdom where no one is "illegal".

Yeah, that's what I am living for.

That's what I am fighting for.

And to my dear friends, you know who you are, thank you for inspiring me, teaching me, and being in this fight with me. Thank you for reminding me that His Kingdom is worth risking everything for. I look forward to the day when you receive that little piece of paper in the mail that tells you what we already know: you belong here. I am with you to the end.

Will Things Ever Change?

I am feeling discouraged.

Over the last couple of weeks I have spent a lot of time catching up on what's happening in Sacramento and Washington DC in regards to Immigration. I have read articles, listened to speeches and even watched all 2 hours of a committee hearing on the DREAM Act. Maybe it's just because Immigration is my "thing", but it seems like it's everywhere these days.

Everyone is talking about it, but nothing is changing. In fact, things are getting worse. There have been more deportations under the Obama administration then under Bush. There is complete chaos at the state level as everyone tries to take a federal matter into their own hands. And most important to me, those I care so much about feel more hopeless than ever. The list of faith communities, organizations, government entities and business' that support the DREAM Act and Comprehensive Reform are staggering. Most people who have taken the time to educate themselves on the reality of our Immigration system have come to the conclusion that the status-quo just isn't right. But still, nothing changes.

The more I seek out answers to my questions like, "Why did Obama promise to pass reform in his first year of presidency and then do nothing?" or, "Why did Republican Senators who previously sponsored the DREAM Act vote against it last December?" I have come to realize that those checks and balances we learn about in 12th grade government can be kind of pesky at times. I don't mean to sound like a conspiracist or ungrateful for our democracy, but the truth is, I am pretty frustrated.

While politicians are busy figuring out how to get re-elected or what bills to hold hostage to get their own bills passed, my neighbors are paying the price. They are struggling to put food on the table, help their children get through school, and push forward in the midst of dear loved ones being deported. I know that some will say they brought this struggle upon themselves by coming here without documentation, but I still can't help but sense God's deep love and compassion for their situations.

I am committed to seeing this through but I often wonder how long I will have to wait to see my friends and family receive the same rights I was given at birth.

I am praying for a victory...even a small one.

Immigrant Day 2011

The last 48 hours have been a complete whirl wind.

Monday night, a group of us from Solidarity headed to meet some friends in Santa Ana to catch a bus headed to our state's capitol. Once we arrived, we grabbed breakfast before taking part in the Inter Faith Prayer Service. I was honored to lead the prayer on behalf of the Evangelical Community. You can find what I shared here. One of the highlights for me was hearing Steve Li share about his incarceration last year and getting the opportunity to meet him in person. We spent lunch preparing for our afternoon visits with the Assembly members and Senators from Orange County. We were able to meet and share our thoughts on Immigration with Mimi Walters, Curt Hagman and Chris Norby, all of which were sensitive and understanding of our call for them to do the right thing! We also met with the staff of Jeff Miller and Alan Mansoor, which proved to be equally as exciting. It was so awesome to see democracy first hand and take advantage of the power we have as citizens to hold our leaders accountable. I'm already looking forward to next year, except I think I will fly...I might be getting too old for the drive all night thing.

Here are some pictures from the day!

Waiting for the bus

Sleeping on this bus proved to be impossible!

Sharing my heart for the Church at the Inter Faith Prayer Service

Proud to represent the OC!

Strategizing our Leg visits

Waiting outside one of the many offices we visited

I was so glad Viviana could join us representing her mixed status family.

Our OC Team

Although incredibly exhausting, this trip reminded me how life changing this work is and how blessed I am to be in this fight with so many exceptional people. I feel more confident than ever that we will see Comprehensive Reform in the next few years and I am really looking forward to all the Green Card and Citizenship parties we will be throwing in our neighborhood! I just hope the Church gets on board and realizes how important it is to be apart of this.

My Prayer for Immigrant Day 2011

It was such an honor to be able to lead my fellow Evangelicals in a prayer during the Inter Faith Prayer Service at Immigrant Day 2011. Here is what I shared.

It’s an honor and a pleasure to be here with you all today representing the Evangelical community. We are all here because we have a burden. We have a burden for justice either in our own life or the lives of our friends and families. Today, I am burdened by the hardships my undocumented neighbors face everyday. I am burdened by my young friend whose dad was deported less than two weeks ago and whose family lives in fear that their mom and two oldest sisters will be deported as well. I am burdened for the young man from my neighborhood who is struggling through college with the hope that by the time he graduates, things will be different. I am burdened by the dad in my neighborhood who dreads even leaving our street for fear of being stopped at the checkpoints that are frequently set up around us. But perhaps the heaviest burden I carry today is for my Christian brothers and sisters. I fear that the Church might be missing an opportunity to be what Jesus has called us to be. I fear that instead of loving our enemies, caring for the orphans, and welcoming the strangers we are busy building walls, both figuratively and literally. I am afraid that too many of my brothers and sisters make judgments about Immigrants out of fear and ignorance and they are missing an opportunity to be more like Christ by loving their neighbors as themselves. My prayer is not only that freedom and justice will spring forth for my friends and neighbors, but my prayer is also that the Church will be the revolutionary agent of love and peace it was created to be. Will you pray with me as we lift these burdens to our Lord and Savior?

God, we know that you are a God of justice. We know that you love and care so deeply for the immigrants in our community. We know that you know exactly what it feels like to be a stranger in the land and we know that your heart breaks every time a worker is taken advantage of, a family is separated, or the dream of a student is diminished by our broken system. But we also know that you have created an institution that is the answer to all of our societal problems. You created the Church to be your physical representation on earth. Lord we pray for the countless individuals and families who struggle daily to live a life of dignity in a society that tells them they are less than. We pray for your presence to be felt in the homes of each of our immigrant brothers and sisters and Lord we pray for comprehensive reform that reflects the values of your Word. But Lord we also pray for your church, for our church. We pray that you will help us to see our undocumented neighbors as you do, as your beloved creation deserving of freedom and opportunity to live life to their full potential. We pray that you will help us to boldly stand and proclaim that you love the Immigrant and because of your deep love for them, we will love them as well. Help us to turn our pity into compassion and our charity into action. Help us to fight for your justice with unconditional grace and love. Lord, help us to be the Church you intended us to be and help us to love like you created us to Love. Lord, help us to me more like you. Thank you for this opportunity to grow in our relationships with you as we engage the hurting and broken world around us. May your name be glorified through our actions today and may the freedom you talk about in your scriptures be wholly felt by all of us here and those whose stories weigh heavy on our hearts. We love you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Jesus loved Osama Bin Laden...and he loves undocumented Immigrants too.

May 1, 2011.

Osama Bin Laden is dead.

The world is celebrating?

Let me start by saying that I, as the wife of someone who lost his grandmother in the 9-11 attacks, know full well the devastation this man has caused. He did many evil things and was responsible for the loss of many innocent lives. Our society tells us that he most certainly deserves a torturous death. Our Americanism tells us "justice has been served."

But I have to ask, since when are we, as Christians, supposed to conform to the world around us? Our Jesus taught us another way. He taught us to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies. Why is it that we can preach this in such shallow contexts, but when it comes to something that challenges OUR country, we get lost in our patriotism? I am afraid far to many Christians were praying for Bin Laden's death instead of his salvation. Didn't Jesus love Osama Bin Laden? Didn't Jesus die on the cross for him, too? If we don't believe that God is big enough to save even the most evil doers, then what's the point? We should be lamenting the likely possibility that Bin Laden did not chose the love Christ had for him.

This is a blog about Immigration. So are you ready for the connection?? Here it comes....

We are Christians first. We are to adhere to the life God has called us to rather than giving in to our human flesh. Our human flesh is to protect our own, look out for ourselves, and stand against anyone who challenges our comfort. I am afraid this is the biggest block for Christians when it comes to embracing Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Simply put, people are scared.

The thing is I feel like we should be way more afraid of a meaningless and self absorbed life that happens when we lose sight of the revolutionary way God has called us to love and live. As someone who has been trying to love the "enemies" of so many Americans for a few years now, I know I would not be the person I am without these relationships. God has used my feeble attempts to love my neighbors as myself to draw me deeper into His purpose. I am so thankful for this because I have seen a small glimpse of God's Kingdom on earth. It has helped me to hope for a better way that I so desperately want everyone to see. What if we surpassed fear, ignorance, slander and mass-hysteria for the depth that comes with true faith? What if we looked at our so called enemies as Christ does?

Maybe I am idealistic, I think I am ok with that, but I am pretty confident that if we, as the Church, loved as Christ did, we would treat the "strangers among us" very differently. I also think we would not celebrate the death of someone who most likely will spend his eternity separated from God.

Where is the Church?

When I was 17, I went on a trip to Ukraine with youth from my church. We spent a week and a half in a little town called Novovolynsk and although most of the time is a blur, there is one day that is ingrained in my memory forever.

It was a Sunday and we visited the church we were partnering with. After the service, the pastor took us on a tour of the city to show us all the different ministries this church was involved in. The tour took a few hours and it seriously blew my (young, immature) mind. We visited the farms that they ran in order to provide jobs for those who were unemployed and food for those who were hungry. (One of their farms harvested lettuce that was purchased and used by EVERY SINGLE McDonald's in the country!!) We visited the coffee shop/community center that provided a safe place for the youth to hang out. We visited the only drug and alcohol rehab center in the area that provided free care the community. We visited the downtown area, where the pastor and lay leaders regularly met with the City officials as equal partners in running the city. Are you getting the picture? This church was an integral part of the society in this little city and beyond. They were at the table for every discussion affecting the people and development of the city. This church was not afraid of engaging in political issues, because they understood that advocating is a Christian mandate. If it affected those God had called them to love, then they were there.

As I reflect on my experience on this trip, I can't help but wonder how drastically different our society would be if the church in America was more like this church in Novovolynsk. What if we weren't afraid of members leaving or scaring people away by taking a stand on social issues? What if we boldly proclaimed that we have the answer to ALL of societies problems and what if we acted on that truth? What if those outside of the church saw us as an institution that was desperately NEEDED in all aspects of society? What if we loved every orphan, every drug addict, every displaced person, every politician, every CEO with the confidence that HIS love is enough to change the world?

President Obama recently sat down with a group of political and faith leaders to discuss Immigration and ask for their help in finding solutions for our broken Immigration system. I am thankful that he recognizes the importance and influence of the faith community, but I wonder how many within the Body, are willing to be apart of that discussion. It's funny that Christians are some of the most passionate patriots our country has, yet we say "the Church shouldn't be involved in politics." I believe we should be all up in politics. We should be holding our leaders accountable to the standards and values this country was founded on. We should be the loudest ones advocating for the rights, justice and protection of the weak among us. We should be involved in politics, not to gain power and prestige, but simply because we have the answer. It's time we get back to the scriptures, seek out His wisdom in the many issues affecting the world around us, and assert the voice God has given us.

*DISCLAIMER*This post is really painting a broad stroke of the American church in general. I am not so cynical and arrogant to believe or state that every single US church is totally off base. I just think we can be better :)

Anchor Baby Revolution

I held a one week old baby boy tonight. He is perfectly beautiful and I was instantly in love. He’s just a little guy, weighing in at just over 6 pounds. He has all this hair and likes to pucker his big lips. His name is JJ and he is what many sadly refer to as an “anchor baby”.

You see, his mother is a 15 year old girl from Central America who upon finding out she was pregnant decided to make the dangerous journey to the US. She is an illegal immigrant.

As I was holding JJ I thought about how innocent he is. I thought about how happy he must make Jesus, laying there in his purest form, untouched by the darkness of the world. I thought about what it will be like for him to grow up and the hardships he will surely face being a child of an immigrant.

Then I thought about the new life he must have brought to his mom. This young girl comes from a place infested with violence, poverty and corruption. She has lived more life and seen more devastation in her 15 years than most do in a lifetime.

I hate that many in our country (including far too many in our Church) will never see past the law breaking act of crossing the border to have her baby. I hate that there will be people who think she is manipulative, selfish and wants nothing more than to live off the benefits of having an American Citizen child. Many things will be assumed about her while very few people actually try to get to know her. I hate that many will not see her innocence or her pure intent. I hate that many will not realize how selfless she actually is. I hate that her heroic act of traveling 2000 miles, alone and pregnant, just so that her baby won’t have to worry about being kidnapped and trafficked by the gangs or know what it feels like to slowly starve to death, will go unnoticed.

I don’t want to suggest that anyone who is pregnant should be able to come here and I don’t mean to over emotionalize our current Immigration situation. I simply want to remind us that there are beating hearts behind this issue. There are people like JJ and his mom who want nothing more than to live a life of dignity. I want us to ask ourselves the difficult questions. I want us to see JJ and his mom and think about what it would look like to love them well. I want us to think about the millions more who were not as lucky as JJ. I want us to consider our part in loving those who have crossed our borders while figuring out our role in the transformation that needs to happen in the places people are coming from. This issue calls for more than new policy; it calls for an army of Christians who are ready to fight poverty and corruption with peace and love. As believers, I don’t think we can complain about the drain JJ and his mom might be on our economy while we do nothing to address the reasons they are here in the first place.

Sometimes I feel hopeless because I know we have such a long way to go.

But then I remember who our God is.

I remember that when Jesus looks at JJ and his mom, He does not see an illegal immigrant and her anchor baby. He sees His son and daughter who He loves with all His heart and who He was willing to die for. I can’t help but hope for the kind of revolution that would occur if we were all more like Christ in this way.

My Modern Family

As crazy as our Christmas break was, it was a good opportunity for me to reflect on how God has shaped and grown my idea of family. My husband and I are among the few blessed with parents and siblings who have our backs no matter what. It’s all we could ever need in a family. I’m not sure why, but we are also among the even fewer that have experienced the blessing and challenge of welcoming others into that family. I say “others” with a grain of salt because somewhere along the way, “they” have become an integral and crucial part of “us.”

Over the holidays we spent time with many people and I would like to share about three of them.

1. Y was born in Korea. He has two parents that love him very much. They loved him so much, they sent him to a far away land to have the opportunities, they believed, could only be found in America. He came to live with my husband’s family about 4 or 5 years ago as international student. Of course, in line with my in law’s luck, Y happened to be the CRAZIEST Korean student to probably ever come over. We all fell in love, almost instantly. He is kind, helpful, thoughtful, and freaking hilarious. What is really cool about our newest brother is how his story has unfolded over the last couple of years. He did not know Jesus when he first came, and comes from a family that is not super excited about Christianity. But at a conference he attended with the youth group, his whole life was turned upside down. He met Jesus and as often happens; he has never been the same since. His focus in life has changed from getting a good education so he can find a good paying job to doing and being all that God intended him to do and be. He has fallen in love with music and using it to worship Jesus. He loves the Lord so evidently, it is definitely contagious. I’m glad he came to the US, after all, he met the Lord here.

2. M lives with us. We met him through the shelter and he was placed with us when his case and previous foster family fell through. He has been with us for about 6 months and our lives will never be the same. When we first heard about M, we thought we would be temporarily providing a home for an 18 year old that needed a hand up. I don’t think either of us expected to fall in love. He will forever be our family. His biological family lives in Honduras. Although they are still very close, M is determined to over come the extreme poverty he grew up with and sees America as the only option for that. His story of coming to this country is horrific. He was beaten, held hostage, and essentially sold into slavery. Thankfully, he was apprehended by the police and eventually handed over to the shelter I work with. He does not know Jesus, but I pray that he is experiencing His love through our family and Christ community. Having him in our home has been a huge responsibility, but also a beautiful gift. I can see how God is pursuing him and it is amazing to be apart of that journey. Words cannot express the blessing he has been to our family. His struggle for citizenship has now become our struggle for justice. For those of you that know me, I can be pretty feisty when it comes to something I feel strongly about. Let’s just say I might raise some hell if this kid gets deported. It just isn’t right.

3. L is my brother in law. He was “adopted” by my husband’s family when he was 14. He grew up on the streets of Sao Paolo, Brazil in a ministry for street kids who have been separated from their families. When my in laws met him many years ago, they knew he was special. Once in America, with his new family, he quickly became the life of the house. L is the funniest and most unique person you will ever meet. Part of it is his no shame Brazilian sense of humor and part of it is how creatively God made him to be. L did not always know Jesus and it wasn’t till the last few years that his relationship with Christ has grown to such incredible depths. He is wise and hears clearly from the Lord. Unfortunately, L fell out of status a couple years ago, due to an error his school made with some of his paperwork. It was pretty much irreversible by the time they realized what happened. He is now 27 years old and cannot legally work. His life and family are both here and even more importantly, he feels that his ministry is here. L has a group of guys that he has played soccer with for a while now. He prays for these friends and has humbly ministered to them in such impactful ways. He is a friend to everyone and represents the welcoming and inclusive nature of our God. He is one of my favorite people in the world and I love him very much. Although I trust God can and will use him whether he stays here or goes back to Brasil, I can’t help but feel that God specifically has him here for a reason.

I am so thankful that these three people have not only ended up in my country, but also in my family. They have taught me that diversity is not only a blessing, but a necessity. I would not be who I am without these people and I know there are hundreds more who would say the same thing about them.

A piece I wrote ran in the Newsong NOC bulletin last week and I thought I would share part of it here!

Mark 12 tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength AND love our neighbor as ourselves.

I have been trying to love my neighbor as myself for about 5 years now. As I have cried with my neighbors as they share the struggles of being undocumented, I realized that the call to love must go beyond comforting them in their darkest hour. I have to look at the root of the darkness and take on their pain as my own, just as Jesus did. I choose to carry the burden of my undocumented neighbor because I have to remember how Jesus carried my burdens on the cross.

I speak up for my undocumented neighbors because I know God intended us all to have a voice. I chose to fight for my undocumented neighbors to have rights here, because I know our identity and worth is not found in the country listed on our birth certificate. I care deeply for those that are “orphaned” and “widowed” by the oppression in their home country or by the broken system in our country because I know God is in the business of bringing freedom and justice for those our society says are “the least of these”. I want the Church to understand the complexities of immigration because I think this is our chance to be who God has intended us to be. We can chose to live in fear, hoard our blessings as Americans, and follow the kingdom of the world OR we can choose to live in freedom, lay our lives down for our neighbors and align ourselves with the Kingdom of God. I am here to tell you that amidst the confusion, pain, and struggle of doing the latter, there is indescribable peace and purpose. God calls us to love the orphan, the oppressed, the stranger in the land, not because he needs us to, but because it will make us more like Him.

My DREAM for Change

The DREAM Act. What is it, officially? It's a Bi-partisan piece of legislation that would provide paths to citizenship for young people who meet a specific list of requirements. What is it to the thousands of undocumented youth working their butts off with little to no payoff? It means a future. It means opportunity. It means hope.

Let me break it down for you.

Over the last 2 decades, when migrating to the US became the response to poverty and oppression in Mexico and Central America (other places too, but most undocumented immigrants are from this region), parents would uproot their entire family and make the difficult journey here. Many of the children were very young. Upon settling in the US, parents would enroll their children in school and they would begin their pursuit of the American dream. These children grew up, learned English, assimilated to American culture and slowly detached from their home country. Their memories of their life in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador became few and far between. They said our pledge of allegiance at school, learned about our government on the news, were entertained and integrated into our pop culture, and sang our national anthem at sporting events.

They were becoming American in every way except on paper.

Many didn't even know they were "Illegal" until they noticed all their friends getting driver's licences or applying for part time jobs and asked their parents why they couldn't do the same. And after high school? Well many of these students went on to college, working as babysitters, house cleaners, tutors, construction workers, painters, gardeners just trying to pay the ever growing fees for tuition and books. Many did not make it past the first year in college. Some gave up on their education because it was just too difficult. Others were left with little options, forced to work more and study less until they stopped classes altogether.

But some made it through.

Some toughed it out and found an inner strength that can only be understood when witnessed first hand. Those that graduated with their BA, their masters or even their PhD, defeated all odds and got through college with NO LOANS, NO FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, NO WORK STUDY, and in some cases NO IN-STATE TUITION.

Now what do we, as a responsible country, do with these nurses, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and engineers who are not able to put into practice the education they worked so hard for? Even more importantly, what do we, as a community of Christ followers, do with the dreams of thousands who wait in limbo? I only see 3 options.

1. Deport them all.

2. Let the status quo remain.

3. Create paths to citizenship.

I don't think Jesus is for mass deportation. The group of people we are talking about are innocent. They did not chose to break the law in coming here. They have worked hard and want to be apart of this country. In many cases, they do not know or remember much of their home country. Would it really be right to rip them away from everything they know and send them back to a a place that really is foreign to them? I look at scripture and who Jesus is and I can not seem to reconcile this option with my faith. I'm really not sure how anyone could.

The status quo does not work. We have thousands of people living life in limbo who have little to no rights. I'm not sure about your Jesus, but mine is not ok with that! He is the defender of the weak. He stands up for the oppressed. He calls the Church to do the same. I can't settle for sitting back and doing nothing while so many are suffering. My faith won't allow it.

So this brings us to the 3rd option. What if we created a comprehensive path to citizenship for these young people? What if we invited these determined, hard working, intelligent, good people to come out of the shadows and live in their full potential? This is exactly what the DREAM Act would do. It is not amnesty, rather a way for deserving young people to earn their legalization. This is more than a piece of legislation. This is the future of countless young people. We need to do what's right.

Now let me take a minute to address the critics. There are far too many lies and misconceptions going around about the DREAM Act. It is my opinion that most of these false statements are rooted in one of two things: fear or entitlement. Many are afraid of what this might do. They are afraid it would encourage future illegal migration. They are afraid these students, once given citizenship, will then sponsor their families to become citizens, and so on and so forth. They are afraid it will cost too much money...the list of fears could go on and on. Many also feel entitled to their rights and privileges as American's, which means there has to be someone who is NOT entitled. They say things like, "Well what if they take the spot of an American citizen student in a university that is already difficult to get into?" or "Those are MY tax dollars, why should someone else benefit from that?" The attitude is that these undocumented students are less deserving of rights than American born students are. I would be very careful about this mentality...it is pretty blatantly anti Jesus.

Besides, there is very little legitimacy to these statements of fear and entitlement. I could write for days about all the myths out there and address just about every single one with factual statements proving this really is the only option for our country. You can find some of that here.

I, however, am more concerned with the day we all meet Jesus and when He asks us if we loved the stranger and looked after the poor. I want to be able to humbly look Him in the eyes and thank Him for who He made me through this fight. I want to praise Him for allowing me to know Him better through my feeble attempts at loving the stranger and taking care of the orphan and the widow. I want my brothers and sisters to be able to do the same.

We all need to be a lot less concerned with the impacts on us as Americans and focus our energy on being administrators of His justice, grace and love.

If you are interested in helping the DREAM Act get passed as it goes to vote THIS WEEK, click here and follow the instructions to place a call with your local representative.

Once on the phone, say something along the lines of "I am calling to urge my representative to vote yes on the DREAM Act because I believe it is the first step in fixing our broken immigration system. As a person of faith, I feel it is necessary we do what is fair and just for the thousands of undocumented young people who feel just as American as you and me and who deserve the rights you and I have. Please let my representative know that his/her constituents want the DREAM Act. Thank you."

It will seriously take about 2 minutes and our politicians need to know the Church is alive and that we will not be apathetic. Will you join me?