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New York City New Sanctuary Coalition: A Ministry of Accompaniment and the Bold Prayer of Our Feet 

3/12/2015

2 Comments

 
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Praying for a humane immigration policy
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Jericho Walk - 2014

By Rev. David Rommereim

This Sunday, March 15, 2015, at Good Shepherd we will be honored with the presence of the Executive Director of NYC New Sanctuary Coalition, Ravi Ragbir. He will share stories about the status of the “ministry of accompaniment” that highlights the Sanctuary Movement in NYC and nationwide. He will also inform the broad reach of the coalition, as we have provided a public spirituality of justice and fairness in our dealings with an ever fearful community. The photos in this letter share with you the public work at Federal Plaza (ICE) through the bold prayer of encircling the plaza with faith leaders and migrants. This courageous prayer seeks a release of the barbarous grip in our national immigration policies that have injured families and communities seeking for a safe place to earn a living.


I asked Ravi to come and be with us so that those new to our membership may share an enlightened prayer, with and among the immigrant families both in our congregation, community, and city.

Good Shepherd is a founding member of the New Sanctuary Coalition. Since 2006 we have had various members of our “security team” learn how to accompany our members to Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). We have also been consistently informed as to the issues migrants face in adjusting to a new land, a new environment, and finding a safe place to participate in community life. That has been our commitment at Good Shepherd. It is one example of the ministry dedicated to the radical hospitality of Jesus.  

The members of Good Shepherd initiated this working relationship through a unanimous vote of our membership at our congregational meeting back in 2007. It was one of our saints, Walter Jensen, who reminded us that part of being a Christian, a faithful person of God, and an American, is remembering that we are all immigrants. Walter was 90 at the time he spoke those thoughts among us. He died three years later. 


He reminded us that he himself was a product of an immigration system that was not helpful to the sojourner. He remembered that his father was an undocumented migrant in 1918 - a fiddle player on a ship transporting people from Denmark to the USA. In 1918 he jumped ship and, as Walter shared, “went underground for eight years.” Walter’s father then decided to become a citizen and gained citizenship eight years later.  

At the time of our decision to enter the New Sanctuary Coalition our country was riddled with vitriolic political rhetoric from both sides of the Congressional isle. I received a few “hate mails” as we discussed this ministry with and among the migrants in our neighborhood. People thought the church was getting involved in politics. However, as was clarified through the actions of our members and sensitive neighbors - we were simply practicing our faith by “welcoming the stranger.”

At the time our congregation needed to make a decision about our involvement in such a politically hot-bed issue.  We were well informed and educated on the depth of immigration policy over the last 50 to 60 years. Each new policy since 1965 endangered the migrant and made it more difficult for them. What once was the hallmark of America, expressed in our beloved Miss Liberty in NY Harbor, has become extremely complicated for today’s migrant from the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, or points east. Our immigration laws are now punitive and harmful to families.

It was Mr. Jensen who invited our congregation to follow the pastor’s lead because, as he said, “We should practice our faith knowing that we are all immigrants.”  The ministry of accompaniment has inspired the community of Good Shepherd to learn how to welcome many who are searching for a safe place to raise a family, work honestly, and earn a fair wage.  

Ravi Ragbir will provide the stories of New Sanctuary this Sunday and share with us the powerful mechanism of accompaniment that serves those whose “backs are against the wall.”  
 
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2 Comments
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Pastor John Kinuthia Muregi
2/11/2020 09:53:28 am


Pastor John Kinuthia Muregi
Life Evangelism Ministry
P O Box 9479 -20112
Nakuru Kenya East Africa
Email:pastorjohnkinuthia@gmail.com
Moblie Phone:+254721683542 OR +254751345849

Brethren and friends allow Me To ask You Assistance?Help Me To Rasie Some Donation To Buy Amotor Bike For Evangelism it Will Help Me With My Wife Leah to do Evangelism i Will Reach Many Soul and bring Them to our Lord Jesus Christ.
l Greet You In The Name Of Our Lord Jesus Christ. My Name Is Pastor John Kinuthia Muregi, Born Again Christian Married And Blessed With Two Daughter.I'm Running Life Evangelism Ministry at Nakuru Town.Pastor I Would like to ask your well Credited Denominational,Church Or Ministries Assistance, Brethren and Friends Help Me To Rasie Some Donation To Buy Amotor Bike For Evangelism its Will Me I and my wife Leah we go Village to Village to Evangelism.we Walk 4 to 6 Kilometres to Evangelism.

I dedicated my life to the lord, I and my wife Leah we live by faith Trusting God for the Support.l'am full-time Pastor.friends my People are die with Alcohol Help me to Evangelism to them.dear friends help me to win soul and bring them to the lord.one month 8 people die with Alcohol,help me to Evangelism to them. Support me with a donation for Evangelism.you can save a life of somebody they need the Love of Jesus.Pastor You Can Share My desire With Your Congregation Or Ministries And Friends.

Brethren and Friends allow Me To ask You Assistance,Help Me To Rasie Some Donation To Buy Amotor bike For Evangelism it will Help Me With My Wife Leah to do Evangelism,i Will Reach Many Soul and bring Them to our Lord Jesus Christ.amotor bike Will Help me to go Village to Village Evangelism so That my Mission to Spread The Gospel as Many People as Possible.

Pastor i have a burden to do Evangelism Stand With Me as i Share The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Christ To The Sin ,Friends Support Me.
i desire that God use me to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.i beg you friends and brethren support me on this Evangelism l'am Praying daliy Brethren that God may use you to be a blessing to me and to enable me to fulfill Gods Vision and desire upon my life.
Brethren Sometimes i go to Prison and Hospitals and Orphans Home and Widowa Monthers to Evangelism to Them.i go and found they Need Soap e.t.c Read The Bible Friends Matthew (25)35,36, Naked And Ye Clothed Me:l Was Sick,And Ye Visited Me:l Was in Prison And Ye Came Unto Me.
With Your donation Of any Size, I Trust God My Friends You Will be My Partnership On This Evangelism Ministry. There is Power in Partnership Brethren,

We Will be More Than Happy To See You Stand With Us On This Evangelism,Brethren And Friends Sow a Seed and May The Good Lord Bless You.as you Sow a Seed To This Evangelism Ministry.Brethren Your Seed Can Save Somebody Life.Sow a Seed.

Kindly looking forward to reading from you at your earliest Convenience.
May The Good Lord Bless You
Your Servant Of The Lord
Pastor John Kinuthia Muregi

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  • Home
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    • What To Expect At Worship
  • Ministries
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      • Children's Chorus of Bay Ridge
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