Immigration

Recently, a gal named Carly Pritchard sent OSJ the best kind of email. It was a creative kind of email, asking if she and the coffee company she worked for might be able to help raise some financial support for the work that the OSJ does.

Um, yes!

But who is Carly Pritchard? And why does she, or her coffee company, care about the Christian Reformed Church and its engagement with justice? We were curious, and thought maybe you’d be curious too.

We bring our prayers to Creator God, who both "takes up our pain and bears our suffering" and will "let justice roll down like a river."

Protests Continue in Hong Kong

"For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face."  - Psalm 11:7

New York Passes Climate Legislation, Invests in Nation’s Largest Wind Farm

Last week, New York passed legislation — the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act — to pursue the nation's most ambitious set of climate challenges and goals, including cutting emissions 85 percent by 2050 and requiring utilities to get 70 percent of their energy from renewables by 2030. It will also pursue new wind energy projects, which aim to generate 9,000 megawatts with new turbines off the coast by 2035.

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. - Jeremiah 32:17

Changing Climate Leading to Drought, Crisis in Somalia

Part 5 in the Seeing Beyond the Immigration Rhetoric series.

I met Jorge (name changed) at the Newton Correctional Facility, where my husband and I planted a church 8 years ago. Jorge came to the United States from Guatemala. Unfortunately, Jorge’s life took a turn for the worse and he ended up in prison.

If you’re not sure what to say, or how to say it, when leading a prayer for the children who are still incarcerated in camps at the U.S. southern border, consider these words.  If you want more information about the crisis, see this Do Justice article.  

Part 4 in the Seeing Beyond the Immigration Rhetoric series.

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.   Leviticus 19:33-34

Part 3 in the Seeing Beyond the Immigration Rhetoric series

The following is a transcribed video interview between the Office of Social Justice (OSJ) and church partners at the U.S. southern border. OSJ’s Melissa Stek met them last month on a delegation trip to El Paso, Texas. These church partners have been providing relief to asylum-seekers arriving to Ciudad Juarez.

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." - Romans 12:10-11

German Ship Captain Threatened with Prison for Rescuing Migrants

The German captain of a ship that rescued 53 refugees at sea was arrested Saturday after she attempted to dock at a port in Lampedusa, Sicily.