June 19, 2017
As I look around at what is happening across this great nation, I can’t help but think that God is calling us out of our comfort zones, out of our complacency, out of that safe place of silence.
For such a time as this
Division, Hate, and Anger are the rule of the day. If there ever was a time for the church to be a voice in the wilderness, that voice of reconciliation; it is surely right now.
As Lutherans, we have a unique understanding of God’s grace that extends hope and peace to the entire world. Martin Luther once said, “The word of God, wherever it comes, comes to change and renew the world.”
For such a time as this
As Jesus began his Galilean ministry, he stood in the synagogue and read from Isaiah, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Over the last 2 ½ years, since God called me to this ministry, He has opened my eyes. The primary mission of the Church is to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Once I was blind, but now I see.
Sure the Church does a good job of feeding the hungry, assisting the homeless, and clothing those in need; but advocacy is about much more. Advocacy addresses the root causes of hunger and poverty, systemic injustices that can only be addressed through state and national public policy.
Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option; pick your passion and begin making a difference.
Did you know that, in Georgia, 80% of all people in prison or on probation failed to complete their high school education? Couple that with the fact that a child who is not up to grade level in reading by the third grade will most likely never catch up or graduate. That is inter-related; and it is fixable. But we must get involved.
Care for creation, migration, and human trafficking are also intimately related; and every one of these issues effects hunger and poverty. It is time to stop the political rhetoric and start talking about shared common values and real solutions.
Here’s is how to get involved:
2. While you are there, pinned to the top, you will find a link to a very simple fill-in-the-blank form to add your contact info to our new database. This is really important. We have grown so quickly as we expanded to all four states that it was necessary to develop a means for leaders in each state to communicate with the folks in their state.
3. Go to the Southeastern Synod website; under the resource tab, you will find our new Congregational Advocacy Guide. It has everything from great ideas on how to start the conversation about advocacy in your congregation to Biblical foundations to what to say (or not to say) to your Senator.
4. Contact Lutheran Services of Georgia to become a ‘Circle of Welcome’ congregation and help settle a refugee family.
5. Checkout AMMPARO ‘Welcoming Congregations’ and ‘Guardian Angels’ at http://www.elca.org/Resources/AMMPARO
We are currently looking for people to volunteer part-time to work with immigrants at the Atlanta Immigration Court.
6. Care for Creation with the Green Team.
7. Contact me or one of the members of the Advocacy Policy Council:
Hilton Austin Alabama Georgia
haustin337@att.net Pastor Tiffany Chaney Roxann Thompson
Carla Crowder Deacon Melanie Johnson
Mississippi Tennessee
Pastor Stacy Parvin Pastor Matt Steinhauer
Pastor Tom Clark Dawn Bennett
We look forward to working with you in making changes in both state and national public policy that reflect God’s vision of justice and righteousness and our shared common values.
Now is the time.
We Are Church For The Sake Of The World
For such a time as this