Posts tagged Immigration
Mara Richards Bim on What Chicago Is Teaching Us
Mara Richards Bim on What Chicago Is Teaching Us

As immigration enforcement intensifies in cities like Chicago, people of faith are grappling with how to respond. In this episode, George Mason speaks with Rev. Mara Richards Bim—Justice & Advocacy Fellow at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas—about what she witnessed during a recent visit, where clergy and community members are confronting tear gas, chemical agents, and tactics that feel more like military operations than targeted law enforcement. Together they explore the theological stakes: What does it mean to love our neighbors—including ICE agents—while rejecting violence and mission creep? How do Christians read Scripture faithfully in a politicized moment? Mara also shares her call story, the need for public theology, and why clergy voices matter when “keeping the peace” isn’t the same as making peace.

Rev. Mara Richards Bim is an ordained minister, theater artist, and longtime advocate for justice and inclusion whose work bridges faith, art, and public engagement.

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advocacy, Faith, Immigration, ChristianityGood God ProjectJustice, Immigration, Faith, Chicago
From DACA to Dallas: Sandra Avalos on Faith and Immigration Organizing
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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advocacy, Faith, Immigration, interfaithGood God ProjectDallas, Justice, Immigration, Faith
Faith Over Fear: Rev. Eric Folkerth on Prayer, Immigration, and Moral Courage
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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advocacy, Faith, Immigration, interfaithGood God ProjectDallas, Justice, Immigration, Interfaith, Faith
Voting Rights, Immigration, and the Fight for Justice with Eric Cedillo
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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advocacy, Social justice, ImmigrationGood God Projectvoting, Civil Rights, Immigration
10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | On Immigration - Faith at the Border
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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politics, voting, Faith, Judaism, ImmigrationGood God Projectelections, voting, Good Politics, Immigration