Responsive

In Mark chapter 6, we see an incident in which Jesus and the disciples were about to leave a place,
yet, because they desired to hear from Him, He was moved to teach them. We read:
34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Oh, and by the way, this was after Jesus had received the news about John the Baptist's death.  This can certainly encourage and challenge us in our response to the needs of people.  The disciples were weary, Jesus was grieving the loss of His cousin, yet He drew on the resources of heaven in order to minister in the situation at hand.  We may be tired, disappointed, troubled, or burdened - but God gives us the capacity to identify and respond to the people around us with His love.

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In Colossians 3, we see the description of qualities that believers can possess, because of the presence of Christ within, so that we may be responsive to those who need to see the love of our Savior.
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

The complex immigration crisis provides opportunities to do ministry.  And, in a climate where there has been much distortion and political posturing, one Texas congregation has taken a generous donation and is using it to serve children who are in America without their parents.

There is a facility called Youth for Tomorrow that is located in Virginia.  According to The Christian Post, it is a 215-acre facility that "is one of over 113 foster facilities nationwide that have partnered with the federal government to take care of undocumented immigrant children while they're processed and connected with family members in the United States or placed in foster care."

And, while there are those that would want to blame the current Administration's current policy to enforce immigration law for the separation of children at the border, there is a significant number that entered the country without their parents, i.e., the parents were the ones culpable for separating their children.  Or, children were being trafficked.

The pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Jack Graham, was one of a group of evangelical leaders who visited Youth for Tomorrow recently and reached out to the 165 children there.  The Post article said:

According to Graham, most of the children at the campus entered the United States as unaccompanied minors from Central American countries — most predominantly Nicaragua and Honduras. He added that most children are held at the facility for an average of about two months.

In speaking with the staff at the campus, Graham said that around 90 percent of the immigrant children there were trafficked into the country in some way.

Graham, who was accompanied by other leaders, including Harry Jackson and Johnnie Moore, stated that there is an untold story about the current crisis:

"There are a lot of sad stories about how they're here and why they're here, the violence in which they came and their families," Graham, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, said. "The coyotes who run for the drug cartels are very involved in this. That is the story that needs to be told."

"Most of these children were sent here either by parents or family or they came as a result of the trafficking movement that is coming out of these countries," he added. "It is a very bad situation. It is the trafficking that we need to stop."

The children "were treated to fun and games and were also given backpacks, duffle bags, new soccer balls, toiletries and school supplies courtesy of Prestonwood Baptist Church..."

Several weeks ago, the pastor had announced a $50,000 donation from Ivanka Trump to help the children at the border.  Another Christian Post article stated:

"HHS officials have told us that the basic needs of the children are being taken care of," Graham said. "What the kids really need most is someone to brighten their day. They need someone to give them hope. Our plan is to create an event for the children that will encourage them and make them smile. Of course, we will also focus on how we can provide financial aid to families to assist them in their situation."

Although the physical needs and education are being provided to the immigrant children, Prestonwood is seeking to provide things such as money, volunteers and Vacation Bible School-type activities.

Graham said, "Churches everywhere are contacting us, and Christians and people of faith who want to be a part of the solution," adding, "And that's the beauty of what churches can do in the midst of all this confusion and chaos around this issue. It's going to be a while before immigration is solved. But that doesn't stop us from going and being present and serving and making a difference in people's lives."

I think this article does contribute to a more complete picture of the situation involving children. While the Administration works to reunite over 2,000 children that have been separated from their parents, the degree to which these children are being used a pawns in a dangerous game - in many cases, without their parents - is appalling. The Church can exhibit compassion by sharing the love of Christ to those who are in desperate situations.

And, a further note - yesterday in Prattville, Tajuan McCarty spoke to a group of women and girls at First Baptist Church.  Maybe you heard the interview last week - if not, you can access it online.  She is directly involved in trying to rescue young ladies who are being trafficked; and that is an issue that affects communities all across our land, and not necessarily big cities.  She encouraged attendees to be vigilant in identifying and reporting suspicious behavior.  She is someone who is demonstrating God's love to those who are seemingly helpless.

So, what do we take away here?  First of all, I think you can consider how we use the resources God has provided to do effective ministry.  Prestonwood received a donation to help with ministry to children at the border; they have developed a strategy to utilize those funds.  So, we can think about what God has given to us - individually and in our churches and ministries, in order to make an impact.

We can also make sure that we are following a Biblical response to the issue of immigration.  There are those who would take Scripture and try to make a case for more liberal immigration policy, even to the extent of open borders - I certainly disagree with that.  Others make the case that the Bible teaches concepts relative to walls and borders.  And, quite frankly, you could contend, as one particular writer from whom I quoted recently did, that the Scripture does not necessarily address U.S. immigration policy.  But, in the midst of the morass that is the current border situation, we can seek ways to minister with the love of Christ.