I grew up in the United Methodist Church, and the denomination itself was a huge part of my identity. You see, I was always told that my mom and dad had struggled with infertility for nine years of marriage, and were super-thankful that an unprepared teenage mom was taken in by The Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio, and was placing me for adoption. After a lot of counseling and assistance from their pastor, my parents made the road trip from Houston when I was ten days old, and I spent the next thirty-nine years faithfully attending the nearest UMC. (Well, I took a few Sundays off in college, but found my way back!) The ritual of baptism in our church was a very formal affair. On th

Martin Luther King spoke to the Jericho Road. He said that it's only a small act to play the good Samaritan, to give aid to those on the roadside, but it's a wholly other act to ask why the Jericho Road is dangerous. Once we understand the road's dangers we should go about re-paving it. Christ has put the onus on us, his followers, to repave such roads as we encounter them. The Samaritan on the road to Jericho didn't go looking for this sort of thing either, but once he found it he acted. Out of an overflow of our love and faith in Christ do we live the same principle; going an extra mile, turning the other cheek, working intentionally for the 'least of these'. Jesus loves them too. For the

(Abwe writes this letter to Congress, from March 12th 2019) To Our Esteemed Representatives and Senators, On behalf of the recently resettled refugees in Northwest Arkansas, I would like to present to you, our distinguished Members of Congress, our deep and sincere thanks for having facilitated our resettlement in your good and beautiful country. Your good will is a direct representation of God who had compassion on the children of Israel, who were in the extreme miseries of slavery, and helped them leave Egypt and brought them to a good and vast country, flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:7-8), and of His son Jesus who drew near to those who were weary and heavy burdened and promised the