Refugees

by Ken Kelley

Eric continues to recover from Covid-19 and told me yesterday afternoon me that he feels better each day. He also asked me to let you know that he appreciates your concern and prayers as he’s touched and warmed by your love.      

The theme for our worship service Sunday will be refugees, and I offer some thoughts and numbers for you to consider. According to the latest census numbers, almost 25% of Dallas residents were not born in America. The US Border patrol reported nearly 200,000 encounters with migrants along the U.S.- Mexico border in July of this year, the highest monthly total in more than two decades. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP) Many of you will remember seeing the scene pictured above from last month of 9,000+ migrants, mostly from Haiti, held in a temporary staging area under the Del Rio International Bridge. 

According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR): “At the end of 2020, there were 82.4 million forcibly displaced people in the world, of which more than a quarter are refugees (25.4 million). This number has doubled since 2010 and is higher now than it has ever been…One half are under the age of 18. One in every 95 people on earth has fled their home as a result of conflict or persecution.” 

Although I realize it’s obvious and understated, Immigration has become a hot button pollical issue in America. One of many issues pitting red against blue and white against “the other.” It may surprise many of you that the highest refugee admission rate in recent American history came under President Ronald Reagan, whose Republican administration helped resettle a record 220,000 refugees. (rstx.org) That level was immediately lowered when he left office. More recently, the migration ceiling was raised by Pres. Obama to 110,000 for 2017, lowered by Pres. Trump to 15,000 for 2021, subsequently raised by Pres. Biden to 62,500. Biden set the 2022 ceiling at 125,000 immigrants. (migrationpolicy.org)

These hard to digest numbers represent people, children of God, our brothers and sisters in Christ in harm’s way and without a home. How do we respond?  Where do we look for answers?

The official stance of the United Methodist Church as found in the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions uses the following language: “As Christians and United Methodists, we are called to love the stranger in our midst and to treat that stranger as we would our own family…” “This care for immigrants is rooted in the Bible. ‘In the New Testament, Jesus' life begins as a refugee to Africa when he and his family flee to Egypt to escape Herod's infanticide…’”

“We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination. We urge the Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all. We oppose immigration policies that separate family members from each other or that include detention of families with children, and we call on local churches to be in ministry with immigrant families. “

Our KPUMC Social Justice team is responding by helping refugees, immigrants, and their families find a path to citizenship, a tedious and lengthy process that often takes over two years. In years past, we hosted Thanksgiving lunches for refugees from the Middle East and helped furnish and equip their apartments. Our volunteers taught refugees from Syria conversational English and continue to teach Spanish speaking folks how to better speak English through Zoom and in person classes.

If thinking about this situation overwhelms you as it does me, and you don’t know how to respond, I invite you to reflect on the words of Emily P. Freeman who authored the NEXT RIGHT THING. The following quotes come from chapter 15 of that book which our senior support group discussed earlier this week in a different context:

“…the longer I walk with our Father God, our friend Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells within us, the more I have a hunch that he isn’t so concerned with the outcome of our decision, at least not in the same way we are. But he would be delighted to know that the decision we are carrying is moving us toward community and not away from it…and that it is turning our face toward his in a posture of listening with the hopeful expectation of receiving an answer. 

…and as you are becoming a person who stands beside others, take heart—the Lord is always with you and within you, beside you and before you. He is not impatient, he is not angry, he is not overwhelmed by you. He is not frustrated, fed up, or afraid. He is filled with compassion toward you and his banner over you is love.”

If we would love others as God loves us…

Godspeed,

Ken