Build a Border Wall? Why the Issue CHRISTIANS Debate Is So Personal President Trump’S for Texas Family Immigration Orders
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Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 74, No. 3 | March 2017 for Churches of Christ Bar refugees? Build a border wall? Why the issue CHRISTIANS debate is so personal President Trump’s for Texas family immigration orders. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE “We Welcome Refugees,” HOUSTON declared the sign outside the o Reda Hicks, refugees aren’t Northlake Church of Christ in nameless faces on the news. Tucker, Ga., on a recent Sunday. They’re real women — with That message reflected the intense real stories of escaping war national debate over President and persecution in places Donald Trump’s Tsuch as Iran, Iraq and Sudan. order to bar — at Hicks, a member of the Memorial least temporarily — Church of Christ in this ethnically refugees from seven diverse Texas metropolis, volun- countries deemed teers with The Community Cloth, a terrorism threats. nonprofit that helps refugee women Trump’s court- launch microbusinesses. challenged travel ban “My children understand what a and his push to build refugee is … because they’ve played a wall along the U.S.- Neal together, shared stories and showed Mexico border have kindnesses to one another,” said sparked passionate Hicks, mother of Howard, 6; Josie, 4; responses from and Katie, born just a few weeks ago. Christians. What motivates the 35-year-old Members of attorney — whose husband, Jake, is Churches of Christ a former Green Beret — to devote express a desire to time and talents to helping refugee show love and com- families start over in a new country? passion to refugees She points to her Christian faith. and immigrants. Telgren “Throughout the Bible, there are But many voice con- examples of people risking every- cerns, too, for the nation’s security. thing to take care of others,” she “For me, there’s hardly anything said. “Consider Rahab and the critical more clear in the Bible than wel- role she played in carrying out God’s coming the stranger,” said Jim plan for the people of Israel. Consider Neal, a Northlake church elder who the Good Samaritan. Consider every serves as director of operations for Christian that has ever spoken truth Friends of Refugees, an Atlanta-area to power, knowing they could be for- Christian nonprofit. “It reflects so feiting their lives in doing so.” much of the character of what God Jake Hicks, 43, identifies with his is trying to do through his people.” wife’s concern for refugees based on On the other hand, ensur- his own experiences with U.S. Army ing America’s safety would put Special Forces. While fighting to sta- Christians in a better position to bilize Iraq, Afghanistan and other war- BOBBY ROSS JR. serve, said James Telgren, a minis- torn nations, he frequently served Sancha, pictured with daughter Gracey Rai, spent 20 years in a refugee camp in Nepal. ter for the Levy Church of Christ See HOUSTON, Page 8 Now living in Houston, she makes and sells children’s hats to help support her family. See REFUGEES, Page 7 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE MARCH 2017 Ferman Carpenter Sunset Vision Workshop 2017 International Bible Institute MARCH 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 My second- favorite place in the world HUALIEN City, Taiwan wake up to three little sets of eyes, peeking over the row of train seats in front of me. I“They want to know what Americans eat,” says Yolanda Chen, the minister’s wife who’s spent Inside Story the whole day with me, intro- ducing me to Christians on this East “King” Austin Peters basks in the spotlight of Night to Shine as he and the volunteer accompanying him prepare to board a limousine. Asian island and serving as my inter- Erik Tryggestad preter. A night for God’s children to shine It appears she’s not done with that particular task. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE wipe tears with the other — unable to “You guys like pizza?” I contain a flood of emotions. ask. Yolanda translates. The FORT SMITH, Ark. On this recent Friday night, more kids frown and shake their rowns on their heads, the kings than 350 volunteers came together heads. “Really? What about and queens flash huge smiles as at the West-Ark Church of Christ to hot dogs? Hamburgers?” they emerge from a sleek black throw a giant party for God’s children They nod. One of them chat- limousine. with autism, Down syndrome and ters in Mandarin and giggles. CThey wear fancy suits and formal other special needs. “You remind her of Santa dresses and seem to glide up the red “This is a glimpse of the kingdom, Claus,” Yolanda says. carpet as the waiting crowd cheers. that’s what it is,” said Chris Benjamin, I grimace. “He’s consider- The 150-plus royal guests pass under preaching minister for the 700-member ably grayer than I am.” a lighted archway with the message church. “You see the upside-down Fatter too, I think, though “Night To Shine” flanked by the words kingdom in action because those often I suppose I have the pizza, “Hope” and “Dream.” Many pump fists overlooked are given special honor.” hot dogs and hamburgers to in the air. Others simply glow. Around the world, 375 churches in PHOTOS BY BOBBY ROSS JR. thank for any resemblance. The friendly paparazzi hold cameras all 50 states and 11 countries hosted “King” Shawn Bagley, with his Night to This is probably my second- and smartphones with one hand and See SHINE, Page 10 Shine buddy Kenna Tackett. favorite place to be in the world — on a train, headed back to my hotel in a foreign Churches send relief after deadly storms in the South city (Taipei, in this case) with a camera full of photos and a Ministries associated with Churches Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Louisa Street Church of Christ and the note pad full of scribbles (that of Christ sent truckloads of relief Effort, are sorted into disaster kits that Crowder Boulevard Church of Christ. I hope I’ll be able to decipher supplies after severe storms and include cleaning supplies, food and Disaster relief ministries, including a month from now when I tornadoes ripped across Mississippi, other emergency needs. The ministry Churches of Christ Diaster Response actually write the story). Georgia and Florida, claiming 12 lives also supplies clothing and shoes. Team and Disaster Assistance CoC, Today I sat at the feet of a and demolishing dozens of homes. After the storms, another round are working with congregations Christian couple in Hualien Church members and volunteers of severe weather pounded the New including the Kensington Woods City named Boaz Wang and unloaded two truckloads of supplies at Orleans area, producing multiple Church of Christ in Hattiesburg, Ruth Lu. That’s right, Ruth the meeting place of the US 19 Church tornadoes. Miss., to distribute relief. and Boaz. They serve a small of Christ in Albany, Ga. The supplies, The Disaster Relief Effort sent two See DIGITAL, Page 4 sent by Nashville, Tenn.-based truckloads of relief supplies to the SEE UPDatES at www.christianchronicle.org. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY MARCH 2017 WORLD: Travels remind us of God’s gift — each other FROM PAGE 3 from William. He was asking for Church of Christ and have a ministry statistical info on churches in the at two nursing homes. That doesn’t U.S. I gave him what I had, and do them justice, though. These guys added, “By the way ... I’m thinking are totally invested in the lives of the about visiting your city.” people they serve. I’ll share more William invited me to church, about them in the months to come. picked me up at the airport and drove My most favorite place to be, by me all over Taipei — in the midst of the way, is with my family, hearing Chinese New Year celebrations. He my wife use words like “suprachi- and his wife, Yolanda, treated me like asmatic,” listening to my 9-year-old family — because we are family. bang out the notes to Europe’s “The I’m indebted to the Chens, the Final Countdown” as she practices Dionios and so many others around piano or watching my 3-year-old the world — Steve Raine in New grab a household item and give it LIU FONG Zealand, George Akpabli in Benin, a funny voice. “Hello. I’m Mr. Bag. Over cups of coffee in a Japanese-style tea room near Hualien City, Taiwan, Erik Bert Ritchie in Northern Ireland, You can put stuff in me.” Classic. Tryggestad interviews Boaz Wang and his wife, Ruth Lu. Yolanda Chen (in hat) translates. Steve Aponte in New York and Leaving them for weeks at a time many more. For all of you who have is tough. I’m blessed to have in-laws and their ministries. Often, it seems visiting Olidan — and taking their sacrificed your time and resources who move in whenever I need them, we’re brought together by a divine kids to Hong Kong Disneyland. to help me tell the stories of our making personal sacrifices to care hand, and this trip is no exception. Dionio is director of the Phlippine fellowship, I have nothing to declare for our children. Last year, while plotting a course Bible College of Bangar. We had except heartfelt thanks. Still, as I sit on nasty airport carpet to and from Cambodia to cover the dinner and talked about the college, As the train nears Taipei Station, (because there never are enough Angkor of Faith youth service trip, founded by the late Leo Corpuz.