How Can we be Involved in the New Migration Development in our Neighborhood?

10-26-2022

By Stephen Apollo

That there are a lot of things happening in our world today. Our news channels are full of very disturbing and moving stories. Perhaps, the questions we should ask ourselves as faith leaders and agents of positive change in our communities are: how do we make sense out what we see and hear in our world today? Are there some Christian sensibilities that should inform our hearing and our seeing? Or should we just let them pass?  

These are some of the questions I asked myself after watching local news on October 23, 2022. What caught my eye in the news was something happening in the neighborhood of McCormick. The residents of Woodlawn were intrigued about something happening in an Elementary School in their community. The residents were noticing unusual activities in the school; like companies bringing bathroom equipment and other household equipment, something that really caught their attention. They were soon to learn that, the elementary school was being converted to a sanctuary for at least 500 migrants and asylum seekers, sent from Texas.

The residents interviewed were gravely troubled by this new development in their neighborhood, citing some bothering concerns. They were particularly concerned that the same help is not been accorded to the homeless people in their community and considering the proximity of the school to a senior’s building and a high school, they expressed some security concerns, with the unknown background of the newcomers. These are indeed very legitimate concerns.

The essential questions that emerge from this situation are: how should the faith leaders and churches or even the many seminaries in the Woodlawn vicinity, deal with this new migration development, together with the legitimate tensions it brings with itself? What Christian sensibilities, should we receive and respond to this development? How do we maintain a creative and responsible balance, between the glaring tensions and our Christian values, that are necessary to receive these migrants?

All said and done, I believe that our responsibilities of love should not be overwhelmed by our security and political concerns. While they are all important and legitimate in this case, the question is, which one should carry the day? Any day, in my opinion love should always win!  The other side of the coin is that, the authentic concerns raised by the residents, could also be inspired by love. To me, the greater love should win here.

As a faith and learning community, how can we be agents of the reign of God in this situation happening next door? I am sure we can do something. 

"I was a refugee, and you took me in."