Podcast

Quick To Listen

How Gang Brutality and US Immigration Policies Threaten El Salvador’s Christians

Will the end of temporary protected status cut off funding for churches in one of the world’s most violent countries?

In 2001, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck El Salvador, killing nearly 1,000 people. In the wake of the humanitarian disaster triggered by the natural disaster, the United States welcomed nearly 200,000 Salvadorans to live and work legally. (Undocumented Salvadorans already in America could also apply for status.) For more than 15 years, this population has existed under temporary protected status. This week, the Trump administration announced that this program will end in fall 2019.

“We’re in 2018, 17 years on, and the country has in fact largely recovered from the earthquakes. The Trump administration at least on that point is absolutely correct,” said Stephen Offutt, an associate professor of development studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. “What’s not been taken into account is the fact that El Salvador is still a dangerous place.”

While Salvadorian churches at times offer the only options for gang members hoping to leave that life behind, “that’s not the whole story,” said Offutt. Instead, as CT reported last year, pastors and other religious leaders have been kidnapped or extorted by the gangs.

“One of the reasons I respect pastors in these communities so much is because they stay there,” he said.

Offutt joined associate digital media producer Morgan Lee and guest host, managing editor Andy Olsen, to discuss how US immigration policies may defund Salvadorean churches, the intensity of the violence in the country, and how pastors instruct their congregations to interact with gangs.

What is “Quick to Listen”? Read more

Subscribe to “Quick to Listen” on Apple Podcasts

Follow the podcast on Twitter

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Andy Olsen

Read Andy’s story: How Evangelicals Are Reshaping American Missions

Follow our guest on Twitter: Stephen Offutt

Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee, Richard Clark, and Cray Allred

Our Latest

Jonah in an Age of Outrage

The prophet’s lesson is also ours: We must recover compassion for neighbor and enemy alike, or our words will be hollow.

Grassroots Efforts Bring Together Diverse Sects in Iraq

Interfaith group uses projects and dialogues to push for greater religious freedom.

Becoming Part of God’s Family

Weekly participation in ordinary church life isn’t flashy, but it is radical.

The Russell Moore Show

David French on Faith, Fear, and the Future of the Church

David French checks in on a potpourri of important subjects.

News

‘Every Adoptee’s Worst Nightmare’

The horrifying history of adoption fraud in South Korea has spurred Christians to finally care for orphans in their own country.

The Bulletin

NYC Mayoral Race, Trump Softens to Ukraine, and Can Horror Films Edify?

Mamdani leads NYC mayoral race, Trump-Putin relationship cools, and why horror movies might help you cope in a horrible world.

The Bigfoot and UFOs Podcast Introducing Listeners to Christ

“We want to make a space where people can scratch an itch about the weird stuff they’ve encountered, but our heart for this is for people to encounter God.”

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube