From DACA to Dallas: Sandra Avalos on Faith and Immigration Organizing
How does someone move from living in the shadows to leading in the light? In this episode, Sandra Avalos shares how her experience as a DACA recipient shaped her calling as a community organizer and advocate for immigrant families. She and her church, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal in Dallas, have built a network of allies accompanying migrants through court hearings and confronting the human cost of our immigration system. Her story shows how faith can take shape in the small, brave acts of showing up for others—acts that quietly push back against fear and make room for dignity to take root.
Sandra Avalos is a Dallas-based community organizer, DACA recipient, and leader with Vecinos Unidos DFW and St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church.
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Faith Over Fear: Rev. Eric Folkerth on Prayer, Immigration, and Moral Courage
As fear and tension rise around immigration enforcement in North Texas, Rev. Eric Folkerth has helped lead an interfaith clergy vigil outside the Dallas ICE field office—an act of prayerful presence in the face of injustice.
In this episode of Good God, George Mason talks with Rev. Folkerth about what happens at these weekly gatherings, how they began, and why he believes prayer can be both faithful and prophetic. Together they discuss the growing anxiety among immigrants, the tragic shooting that drew national attention to the Dallas ICE facility, and the moral toll of policies that harm both migrants and public servants.
Grounded in scripture and compassion, their conversation calls people of faith to resist fear, welcome the stranger, and embody moral courage in public life.
Rev. Eric Folkerth is senior pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. A longtime minister, musician, and activist, he’s known for his work at the intersection of faith and justice.
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Voting Rights, Immigration, and the Fight for Justice with Eric Cedillo
Restrictive voting laws and immigration policies shape who has a voice in our democracy. Attorney and activist Eric Cedillo joins Good God to discuss his work expanding voting access, advocating for Latino communities, and pushing for immigration reform. He and George Mason explore the systemic obstacles that keep people from the ballot box, the political roadblocks to reform, and the power of grassroots action to create change. With the Super Mega Marcha approaching, this conversation is a powerful reminder that democracy depends on those who show up.
Cedillo is the founder of The Law Offices of Eric Cedillo, a professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, and a longtime advocate for victims' rights, civic engagement, and access to justice.
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10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | On Immigration - Faith at the Border
This episode reflects on immigration through the lens of faith, with the Faith Commons team exploring how religious stories emphasize compassion for migrants. Drawing on biblical narratives and personal experiences, the conversation addresses the realities of an unknown future and the complexities of immigration policy today, urging voters to consider the values of hospitality, justice, and care for the vulnerable as they head to the polls.
What is 10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division? Starting on September 2, 2024 and continuing every Monday for ten weeks through November 4, Faith Commons is offering ten 10-minute reflections on topics related to the upcoming election through the lens of religion. Our premise is that religion should be used to unite people and groups of people rather than to divide them, and that the founders of our country shared our view.
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Courageous Conversations: Sandy Ovalle Martínez on Responding to Social Injustice with Courage
Meet Sandy Ovalle Martínez, Sojourners' Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing. A mujerista theologian and an organizer, Sandy oversees mobilization and activist engagement around different justice areas including climate and environmental justice, immigration, women and girls, and peace and nonviolence.
In this conversation, Sandy and George explore how individuals and communities can equip themselves to respond effectively to social injustice, drawing on the rich teachings of faith to guide their actions. They trace the historical roots of immigration and examine the role of religion in shaping attitudes towards human mobility. Finally, they reflect on how we can harness our faith to navigate uncertainty and step boldly into a world in need of courageous advocates for justice and compassion.
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Hugo Magallanes reminds us that the gospel is offensive
Hugo Magallanes, Associate Dean of Perkins School of Theology and professor of Christianity and Culture, joins us today to discuss how he weaves the subject of immigration into his academic work.
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Tess Clarke on the importance of empathy
Tess Clarke, director of We Welcome Refugees, shares her most impactful stories, and stresses the importance of putting yourself in the shoes of an immigrant.
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Jesús Romero helps immigrants get out of the shadows
Jesús Romero is the director of the ISAAC Project, a San Antonio-based organization that can help churches become more involved in immigration aid. Hear his story as a first generation immigrant and advocate for the cause.
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Sid Earnheart sees the presence of God in immigration advocacy
Sid Earnheart is an immigration attorney and advocate for Texas Impact. He also has a ministry degree from Perkins School of Theology. Hear how he merges all three perspectives.
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Pia Orrenius is an open-hearted realist when it comes to immigration
Pia Orrenius, VP and senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas, discusses the economics of immigration. She and George also explain how migration is a central theme in the biblical story.
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Elket Rodriguez addresses misinformation about immigration
Elket Rodriguez, an immigrant and refugee specialist, works for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Fellowship Southwest. He addresses common myths about immigrants, and offers four practical suggestions for how you can help.
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Laura Collins says immigration is good for the economy
Laura Collins is the director of the Bush Institute, SMU Economic Growth Initiative. She shares compelling arguments as to why immigration is good for the economy.
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John Garland prefers the term "pilgrim" instead of "immigrant"
John Garland is pastor of the San Antonio Mennonite Church, and hospitality to strangers is at the heart of his work. Garland shares remarkable modern-day stories that sound like they were taken out of a page of the New Testament.
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Episode 79: Jorge Zapata
Jorge Zapata grew up on the Texas-Mexico border and lives there still, serving the refugees as they come to the area. He has firsthand insights about what it's like to be an immigrant from Central America and Mexico and how the rest of us, as U.S. citizens, can do better about welcoming them.
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Episode 68: Bill Holston on Immigration Part 2
Are you sure you're clear on how someone might immigrate to our country through a legal process? It's not as easy as you might think. Bill Holston from the Human Rights Initiative is back on Good God with some amazing stories about people he has represented in immigration court. Tune in to hear these stories and learn more about the real world of immigration.
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Episode 63: Bill Holston and Immigration
Bill Holston, a Dallas immigration lawyer at the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc., talks about his work with immigrants and refugees and helps educate us on what's really going on at our southern border.
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