With Warm Faith, Pastors Seek to Counter ICE
United Methodists are striving to lead courageously as their cities face threats of militarization and an onslaught of masked federal agents. In both the Northern Illinois (and othe…
Jesus said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” —Matthew 18:3-5
Greetings in the hope we share in Jesus Christ.
I write to remind the church of Jesus’s commitment to children and that our welcome and treatment of children, in the words of Jesus, “welcomes me.” I write to disseminate the information I received today from the Council of Bishops on the administration’s new targeting of unaccompanied children (see below).
We will try to follow up with appropriate information, but for now, check on your neighbors. Reach out to family. Watch coming and going from schools. Protect unaccompanied minors who may be targets of racial profiling. Church, please also be in prayer, returning to the Lord’s Prayer, that “your kingdom come, your will be done.”
From the Council of Bishops:
Beginning October 3, ICE will launch an operation reportedly named “Freaky Friday,” targeting unaccompanied children aged 14 and older of all nationalities.
Given this alarming information, we strongly encourage annual conferences and local churches, to the extent possible, to do the following:
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