Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Immigration Roundtable meeting

Prayer Roundtable on Immigration
Saturday, June 15, 2013

Your insight is needed in order to make a difference in this historic moment.

We are closer to reforming our broken immigration system than we have been for many years. However, the outcome is far from sure. 

On June 15th, from 11:30am-1:00pm, World Vision and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, as members of the national Evangelical Immigration Table, will convene pastors and other faith leaders for a time of prayer and dialogue with local legislators about the possibility of attaining an effective and human immigration system which reflects the biblical values of justice and compassion.

Location: Springcreek Church
Address: 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, Texas 75044
When: Saturday, June 15, 2013
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm (Lunch included)


The national Evangelical Immigration Table is the broadest and most powerful bipartisan coalition of faith leaders in support of immigration reform (
www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com ).

In addition, as preparation for the dialogue, we are offering a special education/training session on the history of immigration policy, the current pending legislation and a Biblically-based public policy advocacy model from 6:30pm-9:30pm on Friday June 14th (also at Springcreek Community Church).

We look forward to your participation! 

Please RSVP to joannlira@nhclc.org.

In Christ,

Rev. Keith Stewart
Rev. Gus Reyes 
Froswa Booker-Drew

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

We do not have an obligation to give amnesty to people who have broken our laws. How about a little compassion to the 20 million Americans who cannot find a good job? If the bill passes it would add millions more to compete with Americans then it would swell the welfare rolls. Then, of course, they could sponsor their third cousin once removed and soon our country would be Northern Mexico. We had better pray it doesn't 'pass. You have a lot of misplaced logic.

Larry James said...

Fact: immigrants take jobs most citizens won't consider. Ironically, reform will drive wages up opening many jobs to citizens...current system keeps wages low/oppressive-protection of law needed.

Fact: your attitude re immigrants is classic and gratefully for many of my ancestors has not prevailed.

Fact: undocumented immigrants pay taxes and have been determined to be basically cost neutral at worst across all jurisdictions.

Anonymous said...

Fact: your ancestors didn't come illegally. At that time we needed people to settle the country.

Fact: the other two are BS.

Anonymous said...

Anon -

First, no one said anything about being "obligated" to change the law. But just as we, through our Judges, Governors and parole panels, can decide to grant leniency or even pardon those who have trespassed our legal system, certainly the country, through its elected representatives, can do the same. It's just a choice. Second, if you think you can sponsor (and get in) a "3rd cousin twice removed" you know nothing about our immigration system. Only spouses and children are pretty sure bets. It takes quite awhile to get in a parent. Siblings rarely make it. Your 3rd cousin doesn't stand a chance.

Anonymous said...

If your ancestors got here before about 1875, the US had almost no laws restricting immigration. It was not possible to be "illegal." It's just an issue of timing.

Anonymous said...

Churches who sponsor pro-immigration should lose their tax exempt status.

Larry James said...

Anon 12:30, yes, that surely is in line with what Jesus said about welcoming strangers and what the Torah taught about how to treat strangers and aliens. And, how were your ancestors treated when they arrived here? Amazing narrowness appears here so often.

Anonymous said...

Employers will put immigrants ahead of Americans to work because they would not be eligable for Obamacare and therefore would be much cheaper to hire. Just hot off the wire.

Does anyone think the immigrants will have to wait 13 years to be eligable to vote? The purpose of the bill is to get more Democrat voters, there is no compassion in it, thats just a ruse.

Anonymous said...

Comparing strangers and aliens in Bible times is like comparing apples and oranges. At that time to get from point A to point B, people had to go through a strange country, unlike now.So if you saw a traveler pass by you were to treat him well. People don't travel that way anymore.

Anonymous said...

Millions more Democrat voters, and now they can get on various entitlement programs.

Anonymous said...

Yes, you are correct anon. 12:31. Larry takes it completely out of context. Back then , if a stranger came by , one had the obligation to feed and shelter him before he went on his way. That is different from being invaded by foreign nationals.

Larry James said...

Anon's claiming to understand the Hebrew concept of "stranger/alien," I'm sorry but most of these folks were not just passing through, but they settled in the land of Israel, as is clear from the texts in question. It is very disingenuous to make this claim with such expert authority. The scholarship does not support your position.

Anonymous said...

Larry, if you carried it to its logical conclusion, we would not have a country-- half the world Would be at our doorsteps.

Anonymous said...

"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:34

On example among hundreds. Disingenuous indeed.

Anonymous said...

"And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well." Matthew 5:40

Using that logic, we will all soon be naked!

Yes, taking the Bible seriously is hard.

Larry James said...

Anon 4:14, I didn't write the rule book, I just read it. One implication is that we don't own the "doorstep." In fact, we took it from another people a long time ago which should dampen our arrogance, but usually doesn't. Loving people is frightening, until you get to know them, then it is life's greatest joy. BTW-carrying your logic to its natural conclusion should lead you to start a movement to dismantle the Statue of Liberty.

Anonymous said...

I think more people would support amnesty if they passed a law that prohibited them from voting for 25 years. The Dems would never do that because they aren't motivated by compassion at all, they simply want more Democrat voters.

Anonymous said...

Yes , the Democrsts need a permanent underclass to vote for them. Who do you think put Obama in office?

Anonymous said...

Anons: really, cannot you not pause and just once respond to the substance of those who diagree with you? Your one note (and always sharp and off key) approach is really tiresome.