It is hard to believe that among church members there are people who cannot see that most illegal immigrants here are also Christians. I recently moved back from San Diego, where my family and I attended a Brazilian church — all Christians. We don’t consider ourselves criminals for being here.
If Baptists can send missionaries to Brazil and convert 25 percent of the population, why do some people accuse immigrants of coming here and “chang[ing] our ways?” In some sense, American missionaries in Brazil also bring with them lots of American culture. We accept that. I work with many American missionaries in Brazil. I never thought they could be a matter of national security to our country. So why do some think that we are a matter of national security here? Can’t Christians see the difference in those who serve Christ and those who don’t?
Baptists must make a difference, at least to tell people to separate what is evil from what is good. Immigrants are not terrorists. We feel very offended by that. As a matter of being illegal or not, God’s people have been wandering in foreign lands ever since they were called by the Lord. In many circumstances, they were called criminals — not for being foreigners.
Eddie Alencar
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