Learn. Pray. Blog.

The Rev. Donald Gibson

This is a guest post by the Rev. Don Gibson. Don is pastor of Basic United Methodist Church and Rayos de Esperanz congregation in Waynesboro. This article was originally published in the April 2010 issue of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate and is used here with permission from the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.

“When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.  The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34

“I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters; you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40

In 2005, while gathered for a Sunday afternoon Bible study, members of Basic United Methodist Church were challenged to live in the realities of the ancient right of sanctuary. Cries for help, interrupting the persistent hum of the air conditioner, called to action the students of the Word, offering a dare to live the Word.

Felipe, a young, homeless, Hispanic man, stumbled helpless into the social hall and into the arms of strangers. Intoxicated and beaten, Felipe’s instinctive response was to remember the teachings of his childhood, the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and of Paul and the slave Onesimus (Philemon 1:1-25).

Felipe’s childhood was one to be forgotten. Though deeply loved, he lived with and in the realities of stark and unchanging poverty. His persistent childhood dream was to one day leave behind the hardship of his homeland, Mexico, hoping to provide “more” and “better” for his family. “Dreams are not probable,” his mother would remind him, “however, the Word of God will lead you to true prosperity, a prosperity that this world cannot ever take from you.”

As Felipe lay bleeding in the arms of strangers, reality confirmed the well-known truths of his mother. What now would be truth for Felipe? Would he find strangers unable to love and receive him, strangers embattled in the immigration issues that grip the politics and opinions of his “dream-land?” Or, would he, as in the fondly remembered Bible stories of his childhood, be welcomed, bandaged, fed, offered shelter and loved?

Our world is becoming increasingly globalized. This process has effects on culture, political systems, economic development and societal expectations. For many, this globalization offers an awareness of something better, something more. These seemingly “new” realities of globalization and the human inclination to draw battle lines are, in fact, nothing new at all. The story of the United States is the story of immigration. Ours is a history characterized by waves of ethnic groups arriving to these shores searching for freedom and prosperity. Each wave has brought with them hopes and dreams of a better life in addition to unique strengths and contributions. The U.S. has long been conflicted over the issue of immigration – both welcoming newcomers and resenting them. What is new, and desperately needed, is a fresh perspective of our own approach as Christians.

In a well-known and much-loved Bible parable, the Good Samaritan beckons us to remember and to ask, What is the current context of this story and how are we called to live in it? The parable says more than “It’s good to help people in need.” One if not the most important questions asked is, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus, in teaching the expert in law, offers that whenever others are in need, God expects us to be a neighbor to them.

In our current context we must remember that neighbors can come in strange places, unusual situations and can be found in the most unexpected persons. This parable beautifully explains the commandment of loving God with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves, without any reservations.  It also demonstrates the intensity of God’s love toward a sinful world. All of us were once like the suffering man, traveling through life sick, wounded and robbed, left to fend for ourselves at the mercies of the world.

As a Christian, I believe my faith calls me to view all people, regardless of citizenship status, as made in the “image of God” and deserving of my respect. I choose, based on the instruction of Christ, to show compassion for the stranger and love and mercy for my neighbor.  Is not our purpose to always be working to make His “kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven?” As Christians we are called to love our neighbors. The Bible is explicit in instructing us to welcome aliens and strangers in our land, and to love them as we love ourselves.  In these times, we must learn to listen to the ever-present, still speaking voice of God. If and when we do, we will learn how to respond to our sisters and brothers, our neighbors, residing among us.

Many millions like Felipe are leaving their homelands because of economic necessity, war, famine and persecution, and are looking to acquire enough wealth to fund a new way of life here or for families back home. For many, sadly, this never becomes their reality. However, Felipe did, one very hot August afternoon, encounter the truths of his childhood imitated by those who dared to live the Word while defining a word – neighbor!

–

You can subscribe to receive the Virginia United Methodist Advocate by visiting their website online by CLICKING HERE.

This is a guest post by the Rev. Greg West. Greg is pastor of the Puerto de Gracia Hispanic outreach at Grace Harbor United Methodist Church in Suffolk. This article was originally published in the April 2010 issue of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate and is used here with permission from the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Lloyd Bolt (center) "joined the great fiesta in the heavens one year ago," says the Rev. Greg West. Bolt is surrounded by some of his grateful amigos.

“Porque nuestra ciudadanía está en los cielos, de donde también esperamos ardientemente al Salvador, el Señor Jesucristo” — (Filipenses 3:20).

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. — (Philippians 3:20).

After being appointed to start a church in north Suffolk in 2002, I often drove around praying for the people who might be a part of this new ministry. Some of the first people I saw were Hispanics working in the fields at a nearby tree nursery. I pulled in and introduced myself to some of the supervisors. They were helpful and eager for me to meet the workers. They also shared, “You’ve got to meet Lloyd Bolt. He works with the Hispanics around here.”

Friendships with the amigos happened quickly as they are so appreciative of any “gringo” who speaks some Spanish; and a partnership with Lloyd, a faithful Quaker brother, began.

The majority of our amigos come from Mexico and Guatemala on a government H2B visa, which enables them to work in the United States about nine months of every year. Over the last seven years we have gathered with them for fellowship, worship, teaching both the Scriptures and English. One of our goals in mission at Grace Harbor is to establish long-term relationships with brothers and sisters and churches in Latin America. I didn’t know exactly how this would work, but I knew it was God’s heart.

We have had a faithful team of friends who found it a blessing to share life together with the amigos. Lloyd Bolt often led the way as we connected the amigos with doctors and dentists, fought bedbug infestations, helped when the Hispanics were victims of crime, and met various other needs. Lloyd traveled to some of the cities and pueblos where the workers lived, always receiving a big welcome. He brought video greetings from their husbands, sons, brothers, cousins and friends. These always turned into large gatherings and celebrations. Then Lloyd would film the families in Mexico and play those videos here to a full house.

These were beautiful, moving and sometimes agonizing moments. I watched as fathers saw their newborn children for the first time via video. I saw expressions of love and caring touching the hearts of these men so far from home. I witnessed a broken-hearted wife with children in her arms appealing to her faraway husband to break off the affair. While mission was a strong focus of mine in seminary, I underestimated the power of simple acts of love to accomplish God’s mission in the world.

Our ministry with these hardworking amigos has sometimes brought controversy with people unconnected with Grace Harbor. When people say, “They should have to learn our language,” I reply, “First-generation immigrants to this country rarely master the language — whether they are Italian, Hmong or Latino. However, the second generation has no problem with English.” When people say, “They shouldn’t be here,” or “They are taking our jobs,” I ask them to try to imagine being in their shoes. “If you could move north to Canada and earn in one day what it would take you two weeks to earn in your country if you could even find a job, then would you go to Canada? What if also you saw that your children were hungry because of your inability to earn money, would you travel then, even if it were illegal?”

These are difficult issues, and as followers of Christ we cannot forget the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” A passage from the Old Testament that I lift up is:

“The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

One of the greatest joys in being with our amigos is experiencing how the gospel transcends cultures, nationalities and geography! When a young man from Chiapas, Mexico, with dark skin and Mayan features trusts in Jesus to rescue him from his sins, new life comes just as it happens with all who trust in Christ! If we would see the sovereignty of God as well as the systemic injustice in so many of the people movements around the globe, then the church would mobilize to offer them Christ in word and deed.

—

You can subscribe to receive the Virginia United Methodist Advocate by visiting their website online by CLICKING HERE.

I consider it an honor that someone of Pat McSweeney’s stature would respond to my recent LegisLink article.

If you don’t know Mr. McSweeney, I don’t know him personally, he was the former Chair of the Republican Party in Virginia about 20 years ago.  The blog Mason Conservative refers to as someone who has lost his mind.  Additionally,  he advises the Virginia Christian Alliance, a new fringe religious group that recently hosted the now-infamous press conference where Bob Marshall claimed disabled children are punishment from God for abortions. (hear it here)

Read more…

The air is heavy with fear in the health insurance reform debate. The Bible tells us how to react to fear:

“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 2:6)

Read more…