Rallying for Immigration Reform

Health care stole the spotlight yesterday, but just blocks away from the Capitol, tens of thousands of people marched in support of immigration reform. Here’s a story that includes several evangelicals who attended the march yesterday.

Today, several religious leaders met with senior White House officials to discuss immigration reform, including Sojourners head Jim Wallis and Sam Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Here are statements from others:

Galen Carey, Director of Government Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals :

“We are pleased that President Obama and Members of Congress are finally giving long overdue attention to resolving the immigration crisis this year. Fixing our broken immigration system is important to the security and prosperity of all Americans, and particularly to the hardworking immigrant families who contribute so much to our churches and communities. Immigration reform can’t wait. We want action now.”

Rev. Rich Nathan, Pastor of Vineyard Church of Columbus, the second largest church in Ohio:

“As a pastor I have witnessed the brokenness of our immigration system firsthand. We have individuals from 75 different nations attending our weekend services. Some are here illegally to escape poverty and to make a better life, but now face only two options: to stay in the shadows or to be deported. In the Hebrew Bible, special provision is made for immigrants, along with orphans and widows, to safeguard the most vulnerable people in Israelite society. God’s call to people who value the authority of the Bible is clear: remember where you came from and act with justice and love towards the immigrant in your midst.”

Here are a few photos from the rally:

This is our 100th episode! Thank you so much for being a part of the Viral Jesus community. And a special thank you to those of you who have journeyed with us 100 times and back. In honor of episode 100, Heather shares a devotional thought about faith, consistency, and perseverance from Romans 4:19–22.

This week, Heather also sits down with author Aaron Armstrong. Aaron’s latest book is called I’m a Christian―Now What? A Guide to Your New Life with Christ. Heather and Aaron discuss Aaron’s experience of converting to Christianity in adulthood, what a pastor did that helped Aaron feel a sense of psychological safety, and the questions Aaron thinks new believers may be asking.

Guest Bio
Aaron Armstrong is the author of several books for adults and children, a documentary screenwriter, ministry leader, and podcaster. A Canadian living in the United States, he serves at his local church as a community group leader and as a part of the preaching team. He and his wife, Emily, have three children: Abigail, Hannah, and Hudson.

Host Bio
Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 p.m. EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today
Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day
Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath
Producer: Loren Joseph
Mix Engineer: Alex Carter
Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

This week on The Bulletin hosts Mike Cosper, Nicole Martin, and editor in chief Russell Moore discuss the latest congressional hearings, where US university presidents defend hate speech on campus. Historian Thomas Kidd joins the show to talk about how we talk about dead people—the nice and the not so nice. Finally, McLean Bible Church’s new lead pastor, Mike Kelsey, drops by for an honest and inspiring conversation about the struggles and opportunities of multiethnic churches.

Joining us this week:

Thomas S. Kidd serves as research professor of church history at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kidd completed a PhD in history at the University of Notre Dame, where he worked with historian of religion George Marsden, and he earned BA and MA degrees at Clemson University in South Carolina. Kidd has authored numerous books, including Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh (Yale University Press, 2022), Who Is an Evangelical? The History of a Movement in Crisis (Yale University Press, 2019), and American History, vols. 1 and 2 (B&H Academic, 2019).

Mike Kelsey is lead pastor at McLean Bible Church in metro Washington, DC, where he has been a pastor for over 16 years. Previously, Mike served as campus pastor at the MBC’s Montgomery County location and as a member of the teaching team, as well as in other pastoral roles, including pastor of MBC’s Frontline Silver Spring.

Resources Referenced:
There Is No Right to Bully and Harass by David Frum
Friendship and Humanity v.s. The Orgy of Truth Telling by Roger Berkowitz
From Which River to Which Sea? by Ron E. Hassner

Read More from Christianity Today about Today’s Topics:
Funeral for a Stranger
What to Say at an Awkward Funeral?
At McLean Bible, Mike Kelsey Is Reimagining the Multiethnic Church
Study: Black Christians See Limits to Multiracial Churches
The Majority of American Megachurches Are Now Multiracial

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today
Executive Producer: Erik Petrik
Producers: Clarissa Moll and Matt Stevens
Associate Producer: McKenzie Hill
Editing and Mix: TJ Hester
Music: Dan Phelps
Show Design: Bryan Todd
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