At a time of political strife and mounting tensions among many communities, Brianna Looper feels a renewed call to focus on Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). It’s a reminder she felt as she listened to first-person stories shared during the recent event, “Loving Our Migrant God and Our Migrant Neighbor: A Christian Focus on Loving Durham’s Immigrants in a Time of Deportations.”
Brianna said attending became an encouragement for “us all to love our enemies” as she heard anecdotes of people impacted by immigration policies but still showed kindness toward those enforcing them. “This helped me to reflect on who I’ve distanced myself from recently and how I might choose to reach out — to get uncomfortably close to them,” Brianna added, noting the value of showing compassion even in challenging situations.
The event, hosted at Blacknall and sponsored by its ministry partner, the Mt. Level Community Partnership for Racial Justice, offered about 50 attendees the chance to learn how to be an advocate for our Durham neighbors. It also included presentations from Isaac Samuel Villegas, an author and pastor at Chapel Hill Mennonite Church, and Alexandra Valladares, president of Communidad de Durham, which works to expand health equity.
“The potential impact of one person engaging in friendship, being present, listening, crying, laughing, mentoring, and sharing resources of time and/or money should not be underestimated,” said Jim Demarest.
Sig Huitt said he was moved by how panelists and presenters called back to Scripture, “reminding us of the many times God’s people migrated,” from Adam and Eve getting expelled from the Garden of Eden to Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt. Sig said he was inspired when considering a moment from the Gospel of Luke when on the road to Emmaus, a man (Cleopas) addresses Jesus as a stranger — a migrant walking along the same road (Luke 24:18).
“This is a really tumultuous and uncertain time for community members who are immigrants, friends and advocates of immigrants, or perceived as immigrants,” said Elizabeth Brill, who also attended the event. “I'm grateful that Blacknall provided a space and the Mt. Level Community Partnership offered an event for believers across our city to be curious and prayerful about how Christians can engage well in this moment.”