This past week, 25 CCDA leaders from around the nation traveled to the southern border of Texas-Mexico to see first-hand what is happening with the unaccompanied children that are being detained as they attempt to enter the United States while fleeing their Central American homelands. What we saw was heartbreaking—and devastating.
While there, the small city of Ferguson, MO, became the focus of our nation’s attention when Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer.
“Standing by these children, and advocating for their well-being, safety, and flourishing is what we do as CCDA ministries. “
What has followed has been an uprising of outrage and protest—especially from young African-American men and women from Ferguson and from around the nation who are demanding justice for Michael Brown as a result of a police officer’s decision to shoot an unarmed young black man. Seeing the drama unfold everyday on the news, and hearing first-hand reports from CCDA leaders who have been present in Ferguson, have been heartbreaking and devastating.
Finally, worlds away, we are also seeing images of families and children in Iraq, Israel, and Gaza being killed and displaced by war and conflict. Again, the suffering of the children is heartbreaking and devastating.
Unfortunately, the leaders of our CCDA familia are accustomed to experiencing racial unrest, senseless violence, extreme poverty, police brutality, and a justice system that is bent towards injustice in our neighborhoods everyday.
What is breaking my heart today is the vulnerability of our children in each of these situations. Standing by these children, and advocating for their well-being, safety, and flourishing is what we do as CCDA ministries. To sit idly by would be to ignore Jesus’ exhortation to his followers that mistreating children and not coming to their aid is unacceptable:
Mark 10:13-14 (NIV)
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “
“13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:13-14, NIV)
Like Jesus, many of us feel indignant about what is going on in Ferguson. We hurt for the family of Michael Brown. We are gutted to the core about the vulnerability of our young black men—not only in Ferguson, but in urban and poor communities throughout our nation. And, our CCDA leaders are taking to the streets, raising their voices, and wielding their pens to write about their cries of solidarity for our communities—especially for our children.
Will you join us, if not via the pen or keyboard, by raising your voice to the heavens and asking God to intervene on behalf of our marginalized brothers and sisters and to be the just judge? Will you join us in praying for unaccompanied minors; Ferguson, MO; and the Middle East?
Deeply grateful to partner together in the work of the kingdom,
Noel
